VOLume 16 NO.6 JUNE 2016 journal The Association of Jewish Refugees

Second generation memories s it passes into middle age and 1946 proved traumatic. Thereafter, however, Kahlenberg and the Leopoldsberg, to enjoy beyond, every generation looks they took annual holidays in Austrian resorts the spectacular views across Vienna and its back on its own stock of memories, like Kitzbühel and Pörtschach am Wörthersee, surroundings. I learnt that in 1683 the King Asometimes embellished, sometimes of Poland, Jan Sobieski, had launched his diminished, sometimes transmuted and even attack on the Turkish forces besieging Vienna falsified by the passage of time. In this respect, from the Kahlenberg and that much of the the memories of the second generation, the Höhenstraße had been built in the 1930s to children of the Jewish refugees who fled from provide work for the unemployed during the the Nazis, have arguably taken on a special Great Depression; both these topics came quality. Born and brought up in their parents’ across to me as almost equally remote historical countries of refuge – in the case of most of our episodes from a distant past. What relevance readers, Britain – many of them retain links could they have to an English schoolboy? through family memories to aspects of their Only many years later did I realise that I parents’ past in their native lands. had been shown nothing at all relating to our But the Nazi years and personal family history, apart from the family created a gulf between the post-war British firm. Not until I saw my father’s documents present and the pre-war Continental past. This decades later did I find the address where was partly the result of the destruction of the he had lived with my grandparents, in the Jewish communities in the German-speaking Hedy Lamarr (Kiesler), 1914-2000 Hohenstaufengasse in the First District; and lands, along with their entire culture and way of while I had picked up that my mother had life, which could be recreated only very partially the kind of resorts where prosperous Austrian- been brought up in the Hörlgasse, one of the in the countries like Britain where Jewish Jewish families had enjoyed leisured vacations streets in the Ninth District running parallel refugees had settled. The fact that National in the vanished era before March 1938. As my to the Berggasse where Freud lived, I did not Socialism, dedicated to the elimination of the father had regained possession of the family know her exact address. I had no idea that my , had originated and come to power in firm in Vienna, he needed to go there quite parents had lived as a young married couple , later including , formed an often on business, sometimes accompanied in the Capistrangasse, in the Sixth District, almost insuperable barrier to the emotional by my mother. just off the Mariahilferstraße. My parents and psychological reconciliation of the Jewish My parents first took me to Vienna as a boy had systematically avoided taking me to any refugees with the societies of their former in 1958. They showed me all the city’s sights locations connected to their pre-emigration homelands. – the Spanish riding school, the big wheel at past and in particular to their parents, who At least as important as a barrier between the Prater, St Stephen’s Cathedral, the Hofburg had all been deported and killed. past and present for members of the second and Schönbrunn palaces – they let me roam At home, in the same way, my parents never generation was the psychological impact of around the Innenstadt, the city’s First District, spoke about the family and the Holocaust. their parents’ inability to speak about the fate and they took me along the Höhenstraße Of course, I realised as a child that I had no of their family members who had died in high above the city, from the Cobenzl to the grandparents and was able to work out the the Holocaust. That suppression of painful reason why. But I also understood instinctively memories, often amounting almost to a RELOCATION OF AJR that I must never ask my parents about it. Even taboo, affected many refugees, though they the photograph of my maternal grandfather had not themselves directly experienced the HEAD OFFICE playing chamber music with Einstein stood wartime death camps. The second generation, The AJR’s Head Office will be mutely on the mantelpiece in my room, never born between the 1940s and the 1960s, often moving at the end of June 2016 to commented on. I assume that my parents grew up in households where the absence of Winston House wished to shield me from the horror of my grandparents, for example, was never spoken 2 Dollis Park grandparents’ fate. I also assume that it was about openly, but remained suppressed and simply too painful for them to talk about it N3 1HF unarticulated beneath the surface of everyday openly. As a result, the entire area was subject normality. The new address is close to Finchley to an unspoken but rigorous interdict and Central Tube Station, Northern Line, My parents, if I may use my family as an relegated to a forbidden zone. As a schoolboy, and is on a number of bus routes. example, accustomed themselves to return visits I once complained about our school food, to Austria quite quickly after the war, though The AJR’s telephone number will likening it to the food in POW camps (which remain 020 8385 3070. my father’s first journey back to Vienna in late continued on page 2  journal JUNE 2016

Second generation memories Gustav Machatý, and Hedy Kiesler went on  continued to become Hedy Lamarr, star of numerous Hollywood movies and celebrated for her I knew about from popular books like The beauty; ruminating in The Mating Season Eastbourne Wooden Horse and Colditz), and, when that (1949) on the person that he would most had no effect, to the food in the concentration like to accompany him to a desert island, P. Lansdowne Hotel camps (about which I knew nothing). Sharply G. Wodehouse’s Bertie Wooster nominates Sunday 3 July to reprimanded, I gathered that this was a taboo Lamarr, whose charms excel even those of the Sunday 10 July 2016 area, though I didn’t at that stage understand delectable Cora ‘Corky’ Pirbright! Sadly, the Come and join us for a week why. films in which Lamarr acted are now mostly Make new friends and meet up When I was a student at Oxford, my mother forgotten; unlike Marilyn Monroe in The with old friends took me aside and showed me the few scanty Seven Year Itch (1955) and Some Like It Hot £425pp for twin/double documents that passed as death certificates for (1959), she had no director like Billy Wilder £450 for single room my grandparents. She kept them hidden from to maximise her acting abilities. Sea View rooms an additional my father and impressed on me that I must The Luithlen girls socialised with those £15 per room per night never tell him about them. We never broached from the Schwarzwaldschule, a renowned Prices include transport to and from the subject again. To my lasting regret, I Eastbourne from Jubilee House, Stanmore and progressive school for girls run by the Finchley Road (behind Waitrose). followed the unspoken injunctions of my educationalist Eugenie Schwarzwald. The childhood and never asked my parents about Dinner, bed and breakfast plus cards and writer Hilde Spiel has left a vivid description entertainment in the evenings. their pre-1938 past. Consequently, I am reliant of the school in Die hellen und die finsteren Carol Rossen will be among those for what I know about their life in Vienna on Zeiten: Erinnerungen 1911–1946 (The Light accompanying the trip memories of scattered incidents mentioned in and the Dark Times: Memoirs 1911–1946) Space is limited so book early random conversations that I heard or overheard (1989). I remember my mother telling me more than half a lifetime ago. Did my father For further details, that one of the Schwarzwaldschule girls that please telephone Lorna Moss play tennis for Hakoah, the Jewish sporting she knew had married, in London, the ruler on 020 8385 3070 club? Did my mother leave Vienna illegally of a Malayan state. Unlikely as it may seem, in summer 1938, after the Nazi authorities that was Marcella Mendl, the sixth wife of had refused her a passport, to ensure that my the much-married Sultan Ibrahim of Johore father returned to Vienna from a business trip (1873-1959), a playboy and one of the richest 75th Anniversary to Britain? Or are these embellishments added men in the world. Mendl, born in Vienna in on to stories that I heard as a child and that 1915, is usually described as Romanian, but of the AJR have been magnified in my memory over the that was merely the nationality of her father, SCOTLAND REGIONAL course of time? Second generation memories, who left his family when his daughter was five Wednesday 8 June 2016 suppressed and sometimes distorted by the years old; she was brought up in Vienna. She in Edinburgh blanket of silence cast over them, are frequently fled Vienna after the Anschluss and met Sultan Special guest speaker subject to such vagaries. Ibrahim by chance in London in 1940. The Olivia Marks Woldman Two of my youthful recollections of my most recent object of his affections, a 27-year- Chief Executive, Holocaust Memorial Day Trust mother’s stories concern her school friends. old showgirl called Lydia ‘Cissie’ Hill, had been 'Football, Cement and a Wooden Spoon' My mother was sent to a select private school killed in Canterbury by a German bomb. He Three-course lunch for girls, the Mädchenmittelschule Luithlen, promptly married Marcella, 42 years his junior; Film by young film-maker Misha Cooper at Tuchlauben 14, in Vienna’s First District. she bore him a daughter and remained with My Dearest … Originally founded as one of the ‘Höhere him until his death. In these cases at least, my Transport will be provided For further details contact Töchterschulen’ (schools for the daughters memories hold good. [email protected] or tel 07908 156 361 of the better classes), by the 1920s its intake Anthony Grenville was heavily Jewish. In a class just below my mother’s was, she told me, a girl called Hedy Kiesler, who while still a teenager caused a NORTHERN REGIONAL MANCHESTER scandal by appearing naked in a film. That Tuesday 19 July 2016 film was Ecstasy (1933), directed by the Czech Please join us at our annual Northern Regional Get-together Our keynote speaker will be Mike Levy, AJR Chief Executive Michael Newman playwright, journalist and educator for the Holocaust Education Trust, Finance Director whose subject will be ‘From Hitler to Hi-de-Hi’ David Kaye This is the story of the Warner’s Camp which was used as a transit camp for the first Heads of Department wave of Kindertransportees in December 1938 and later became the location for the Karen Markham Human Resources & Administration Sue Kurlander Social Services BBC TV series ‘Hi-de-Hi’. Carol Hart Community & Volunteer Services The day will include refreshments and lunch, discussion groups and musical entertainment. AJR Journal We will also have a demonstration of SPF Connect, a new project funded by Six Point Foundation Dr Anthony Grenville Consultant Editor Dr Howard Spier Executive Editor to help older people get online by providing a free, easy-to-use touch-screen computer and Karin Pereira Secretarial/Advertisements training.It’s an excellent opportunity to meet and socialise with friends old and new. Views expressed in the AJR Journal are not For full details and an application form, please contact necessarily those of the Association of Jewish Refugees and should not be regarded as such. Wendy Bott on 07908 156 365 or at [email protected]

2 JUNE 2016 journal COMBATTING ANTISEMITISM was invited to write an article for the challenging Ken Livingstone demonstrates. AJR Journal about our recent important To consider Hitler At the parliamentary level, my All-Party Group Iand successful conference in Berlin as anything other than a Against Antisemitism has helped secure but so much has changed since March changes in the approach taken by the that I thought it useful to broaden racist, genocidal despot is historically police, government, CPS and many other my reflections and cover not only our untrue. Britain – including many Jews – institutions. achievements abroad but what we will fought against the Nazis for our vision of The challenge now is that the various seek to achieve at home too. democracy and paid a high price for ongoing inquiries, if they are to have value, I launched the Inter-Parliamentary should command the total confidence of the Coalition for Combatting Antisemitism in doing so. Jewish community. As I have said elsewhere, London some seven years ago with a number if Labour cannot combat racism then we of other parliamentarians from across the are nothing – and racism always includes internet hate in Europe needs parliamentary world. Our aim was simple: to learn from one antisemitism. attention and so we will be seeking to another about successful models in facing When I was growing up, it was ingrained shine a light on the internet companies down and beating antisemitism in our own in me that I must always stand up to racism. and their efforts on the Continent. We saw countries. The London conference concluded For 110 years my family have done this in an opportunity to address antisemitism in with the publication of a ‘London Declaration’, the Labour Party. At every point, shoulder-to- sport, particularly football, and have already a paper that has been welcomed, signed and shoulder with Jews. I give you this promise. engaged FIFA about what more can be done. adopted by political leaders from across the We are the majority in Labour and we will not Finally, we agreed to seek to better understand globe, from Britain to Costa Rica and Australia. concede one inch to the antisemites and their migrant antisemitism – the scope and nature Our London event was followed by a apologists. Swift, decisive and unequivocal of the problem and how it might be handled. second in Ottawa, Canada. This conference led leadership is required. It is now or never. The international gathering was an early to the establishment of a permanent working John Mann high point in the year and we were especially group, based in the with the John Mann is the Labour MP for Bassetlaw pleased to launch a British ‘best practice’ aim of engaging, collaborating with but also and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group guide on combatting antisemitism which set challenging directly the various social media Against Antisemitism and the Inter-Parliamentary out the approach and successes achieved by companies to do more to tackle the scourge of Coalition for Combating Antisemitism the All-Party Parliamentary Group Against cyberhate. The results have been good and the Antisemitism. Regrettably, only months later companies are already showing some signs of we had a new set of challenges to deal with maturity in their approach. at home. OUTING TO KENWOOD HOUSE This March we were hosted by the German After prolonged complaints about Bundestag and Government for the third & GARDENS antisemitism in the Labour Party, Ken international conference. The more than 100 Livingstone exacerbated matters when he FOLLOWED BY TEA parliamentary delegates who attended were questioned Hitler’s ideology. To consider Hitler addressed by Chancellor Angela Merkel, Tuesday 28 June 2016 2.00 pm as anything other than a racist, genocidal the Foreign Minister, the Parliamentary despot is historically untrue. Britain – including Join us for a Kenwood Highlights Guided President and many more top German political many Jews – fought against the Nazis for our Tour – an introductory tour of the house leaders. Current and former Justice Ministers vision of democracy and paid a high price for from Canada, , Australia, Italy, , and its superb collection of artworks and doing so. We will not allow any rewriting of Germany and the UK discussed the various furnishings. the history of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party’s legal approaches to tackling antisemitism We will then have tea in the Old Kitchen and racist ideology. and a number of other significant figures, you can admire the gardens at your leisure. People remain rightly shocked at the including UNESCO Director Irena Bokova and level of anti-Jewish hatred and Holocaust For details and a booking form, please European Commissioner Frans Timmermans, revisionism that is going on and so we have call Susan Harrod on 020 8385 3070 offered their thoughts on combatting this been demanding leadership. A number of or email [email protected] evil racism. inquiries – parliamentary and Labour Party- Most importantly, we established our specific – have been launched. My advice is onward work. We decided that work to combat simple. The Jewish community now needs to say to the Labour Party ‘This is your problem – sort it out now and forever!’ need not be worried about their position at home in the UK. Decent JOIN US FOR A DAY TRIP TO people in this country abhor antisemitism, EU REFERENDUM as my constituents’ response to my WESTCLIFF ON SEA IN? OUT? SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT! Tuesday 14 June 2016 Monday 6 June 2016 PROPOSED TRIP TO BETH Coach Leaving Finchley Road at 12.00 pm and Stanmore Station SHALOM FROM NEWCASTLE at North Western Reform Synagogue, Alyth First Stop Gardens, Temple Fortune, London NW11 7EN & SURROUNDING AREAS Southchurch Hall, Guest speakers Sunday 10 July 2016 a Grade 1 Listed Medieval Moated House Mike Freer MP We are arranging a trip to Beth Shalom, Guided Tour followed by a Delicious Fish and Sir Bernard Zissman The National Holocaust Centre, in Chip Lunch with a sea view at Simply Sea Newark near Nottingham. Food at Leigh on Sea A sandwich lunch with tea and coffee will Fish and Chips • Dessert be served after the debate The AJR will arrange a return coach £7.00 per person payable on the door and lunch at Beth Shalom, including Second Stop Booking is essential entrance, at a cost of £13.00 per person. Walk along the promenade for Ice Cream Please contact Susan Harrod If you are interested For a booking form and full details on 020 8385 3070 or at please contact Agnes Isaacs at please contact Susan Harrod on [email protected] [email protected] 020 8385 3070 or at [email protected] or email [email protected] or on 07908 156 361 or email [email protected]

3 journal JUNE 2016 ‘The Blue Danube’ Rudolf Kauders is a survivor. He was I took, waves of nausea and blackness really confused. Was this the path the born in 1920 in Vienna, where both swept over me. I was suffering from brigade had come in on yesterday? I of his parents were tram conductors. severe diarrhoea and had almost no searched around for clues but was soon He spent a happy childhood until the drinking water left. My tongue was exhausted and hungry and, to make Nazi takeover, when the family’s small swollen to a large, dry lump and my matters even worse, there wasn’t a council flat was ‘aryanised’. His Jewish mouth was parched. My pulse was single drop of water left in my canteen. father lost his job and was later to pounding in my head and I’d hardly Still, I forced myself to keep moving become a slave labourer. slept in weeks. I was a wreck. and wandered along without seeing Arriving in Britain as a refugee in a single living soul, which all in all June 1939, Kauders was assigned to was probably just as well as the farm work, where he was called a Then the most area was said to be crawling with ‘bloody Jerry’. In May 1940 he unimaginable thing Japanese jungle fighters. I knew was interned, spending 13 my gun would be of little use months on the Isle of Man. happened. This furrowed, rugged face as protection with all the thick He joined the British army in with innumerable wrinkles on the forehead, undergrowth surrounding 1943 in the hope of fighting protruding cheekbones, white wispy hairs in the me, stretching in places all the Nazis – only to be sent the way down to the river, so to Burma to fight the middle of the chin and on both cheeks, flashing eyes, I decided to keep a grenade Japanese. Having survived dark skin covered in strange tattoos, long unkempt handy just in case I should the Burma campaign, hair, and a mouth red from betel nut juice – this come face-to-face with the he returned to Austria in enemy. I searched along the December 1946 with his mysterious, inscrutable face suddenly lit up bank of the river, desperately new wife, fellow refugee Mela and the old man began in an odd sort of hoping to find tracks or some Katz. He completed his studies in falsetto voice to hum ‘The Blue signs of where my unit had gone, 1950 while also publishing articles but found absolutely nothing. and short stories before starting a Danube’. Suddenly, just ahead of me, where career as an industrial chemist and the river made a sharp turn, I saw a technician, eventually becoming a small clearing – a rice field! I took a pioneer of energy conservation and Gradually I recalled that College Boy, deep breath and put together the environmental protection. my trench mate, had been replaced Burmese words I would use on the The story below is an extract from by a soldier who was suffering from first local I came across, muttering Donauwalzer am Irawadi: Exil in even worse diarrhoea than he was, a to myself as I walked ‘Have you seen , Kampf in Burma, Rückkehr man who kept dozing off and couldn’t white people marching by? In what nach Wien (‘The Blue Danube’ on manage to stay awake to keep his direction did they go?’ Finally, I spotted the Irrawaddy: Exile in England, stint on watch. We were supposed to an ancient-looking farmer bundling rice War in Burma, Return to Vienna) be alert and ready to fend off silently straw together. (Vienna: Mandelbaum Verlag, 2011, advancing Japanese soldiers so there I went straight up to the farmer and ISBN 978-3-85476-372-7). The book was nothing to do but take on his gave him a reassuring smile. He seemed is an account of his life in exile and watch in addition to my own – which to have no problem understanding early years in Vienna, illustrated by of course meant I had to stay awake my question but, when his gaze fell his own drawings and cartoons. The through two shifts, each four hours on my weapon, his facial expression story, typical of the book, is told in an long. changed to a scowl: ‘People with informal style giving a light touch to That morning in the jungle I simply guns not good.’ ‘Japanese not good’ I its serious subject matter. wasn’t able to get up and could added. ‘Neither good’ was his laconic Rudolf Kauders still lives in Vienna, hardly keep my eyes open. I couldn’t retort. As we talked, I learned that the as do his two daughters. For further figure out if I’d just been sleeping entire community of his village had information, please contact Lilian really soundly or had actually fainted. been wiped out because of the war. Kauders at [email protected] Finally, sometime around noon I came He regarded neither the English nor the Richard Dove to and found myself lying near a tree, Japanese as friends. ‘Burma should be with my rifle propped up beside me. Burmese, not English, not Japanese!’ still have nightmares about my Clearly I couldn’t have been lying there he said. Actually, as the word Burma experience of waking up one day and all night: I would never have made simply means ‘the land or the country’, Ifinding myself alone in the dangerous a decision on my own to leave the the people of Burma do not need a and hostile jungle. Absolutely no sign trench so someone must have carried special word for their country. For of the brigade anywhere! In front of me out and placed me beside the tree. them it is simply ‘the land’, their home, me were two paths that cut across each I managed to pull myself together and Burma, the country. other, presenting me with four possible went looking for my trench, where I I kept asking him where the white directions to choose from but no way found my trench mate still there, lying soldiers had gone and the old man of knowing which one the brigade had at the bottom with no sign of life. He eventually pointed in one particular taken. What had happened? Where was neither moving nor breathing: direction. I was about to go on my way was everyone? he was dead, obviously having fallen but decided to turn back and speak to Slowly I realised what had happened. victim to dysentery. him again. I was so happy to be finally I remembered I’d been really ill for After a really deep sleep, akin to the on the right track that I felt it wouldn’t several weeks, so ill I couldn’t walk sleep of the dead, I felt a little better hurt to spend a few more minutes without staggering, reeling and and decided to take the widest of the chatting with the old farmer. I racked swaying like a drunk. With every step paths in front of me, but my mind was continued on page 5 

4 JUNE 2016 journal A magical summer t was in May 1928, when I was eight Ball (Her First Ball) and it was in May ‘Einatmen, ausatmen!’ (Breathe in, years old, that I stopped being ‘ein of that year, just before the end of my breathe out!). All I learned was the Ibesseres Kind’. To be ‘ein besseres third school year, that he decided that breast stroke but it was enough to Kind’ a bathroom and a live-in maid Vienna cramped his style and that we turn me into a fervent and intrepid were de rigueur and I was to lose were going to live in Salzburg. He gave swimmer and, though Lake Traun is both. up our nice flat in the 9th District, sold one of the coldest in Austria, I swam I forget what my father was dealing the furniture, and pocketed some ‘key in any weather. in then – was it shoes or watches? – money’. Mutti and I walked in the woods but he decided he wanted to be a full- I remember nothing about our stay and picked mushrooms and cyclamen time librettist. I believe it was at the in Salzburg except my father saying and my father sometimes rowed us beginning of my second school year, there were too many anti-Semites over to Gmunden, the nearest town, in September 1926, that his operetta there and that he couldn’t write in where we had coffee and cake. Or I Das Land der Liebe (The Land of Love) such a hostile atmosphere. What played with local children who had was performed at the Bürgertheater followed were some of the happiest befriended me. in Vienna. The composer was the months of my life. I also remember an odd episode. then popular and successful, but now We travelled to Altmünster, A friend from Vienna brought us a totally forgotten, Edmund Eysler, also a village in the Salzkammergut, young pigeon, which was intended a Jew, whose non-Jewish wife was Austria’s Lake District, surrounded by to serve us as a meal. We put it in a to save him from deportation by the mountains and rented rooms right by cage, fed it regularly, and became so Nazis. Lake Traun. fond of it that it was with reluctance There I was, sitting in a box with I was enrolled in the local school that we eventually released it. Mutti and my father at the premiere but after a few days the teacher My father, an early riser, walked for of the operetta and I do remember told my father that my presence at least an hour before breakfast. It my intense pride at seeing my father, demoralised my classmates because I was on those walks, he said, that his together with Eysler, on the stage at was too ‘advanced’ and she wanted best lines occurred to him. By the end the end of the play bowing repeatedly me to leave. I obliged happily. It of the summer he had almost finished to hearty applause. The play was well meant three-and-a-half months of the libretto of ‘Her First Ball’, which, received and my father anticipated total freedom! however, was not to be performed for wealth and fame but it was not to The lake beckoned and I begged some years. be. The theatre got into financial my parents to let me learn to swim. I An enchanted summer had come difficulties and the show closed, was taught by the Herr Bademeister to an end and it was time to return with the theatre, after very few himself. He fitted an elastic band to Vienna, homeless and practically performances. round my waist and attached to penniless. At the beginning of 1928 my father it a long rod by which he guided But that’s another story … started writing the libretto of Ihr erster me. I can still hear his instructions: Edith Argy

 ‘The Blue Danube’ continued my brains for something friendly to say ‘The Blue Danube’ waltz, but I couldn’t wanted to invite me into his house but oddly enough the only thing I could go on, partly because my lips were so but I had to be on my way. ‘No, no, come up with was ‘You Burmese know dry and cracked but also because I no!’ he screamed. ‘Yes, yes, yes!’ I how to cook really well. I much prefer could hardly keep from laughing. shouted laughing over my shoulder. your food to that of the English.’ His Then the most unimaginable thing The old farmer ran after me, holding face lit up. I praised the excellent taste happened. This furrowed, rugged on to me by my clothing and letting of the rice and the Burmese custom face with innumerable wrinkles on fly a torrent of words, the only one of of preparing so many different dishes the forehead, protruding cheekbones, which I understood was ‘dschapani’ for a meal. I added that I felt I was in a white wispy hairs in the middle of (Japanese). position to speak with some authority the chin and on both cheeks, flashing Eventually it dawned on me that on the subject of gastronomy as I eyes, dark skin covered in strange the old man had taken me for an came from a country where people tattoos, long unkempt hair, and a Englishman – one of those foreigners prided themselves on their cuisine and mouth red from betel nut juice – this who, he said, wanted to take his devoted a great deal of time to the mysterious, inscrutable face suddenly country away from him. And so he’d preparation of fine food. lit up and the old man began in an decided to send me in the wrong This seemed to make a great odd sort of falsetto voice to hum ‘The direction, straight into the arms of the impression on him. He clapped one Blue Danube’. His rendering of the Japanese. hand to his forehead and pointed to melody had something of an oriental I soon caught up with my unit me with the other, asking in an almost flavour about it but it was clearly and and was given a wildly enthusiastic screeching voice ‘What, you are not unmistakably Johann Strauss! welcome. It was very rare that someone English?’ ‘No’ I said grinning and love It turned out that the farmer had who got lost made it back to the unit of my country welled up in me like a learned the tune from a record because after such a long time but I‘d been fountain. Though it seemed highly he had been so taken with how it lucky. I thought to myself ‘Sometimes unlikely that this old Burmese man had sounded. ‘And that’s where you come it is indeed good to be an Austrian!’ ever heard of Austria I whistled, with a from, where they sing this song?’ Rudolf Kauders great deal of effort, the first few bars of he asked. He was very excited and (Translated by Karin Millet)

5 journal JUNE 2016 didn’t add the label but did write the price on it. The case was empty. I was fascinated and shocked to find the case as my husband, Wolf Blomfield, came to England on the Kindertransport in March 1939 from Berlin. We still have the case Wolf carried but on our last move it managed to get buried under boxes in the loft! So I have been searching for it for a while now. Seeing a case in a charity shop reminded me how easily these precious The Editor reserves the right objects can get mislaid or discarded. to shorten correspondence Can readers help me reunite this case submitted for publication with its owner or family? It has made at least one extraordinary journey and deserves to be back with those who can value its history. ‘REFLECTIONS OF AN UNREPENTENT GERMAN JEW’ Luci Blomfield, London SW4 Sir – Victor Ross’s article ‘Reflections nursery songs we can both recall. My of an unrepentant German Jew’ in late husband always said that’s when I PADDINGTON BEAR AND THE KINDERTRANSPORT your April issue shows only negativity sound just like a five-year-old! Sir – Readers may recall my musings (AJR and nostalgia in remembering the My late Mutti had exceptional recall Journal, January 2015) that the common past and what might have been and could quote the wonderful poetry perception and image of Paddington Bear had the Nazis not come to power – of Goethe, Schiller and Heine. Her bring to mind a Kindertransport child – sent without even questioning how they rendition of ‘Die Glocke’ and excerpts away alone from a faraway land, a sign did come to power despite all the from ‘Faust’ were fantastic and when hanging around the neck, carrying a worn cultural inheritance of Heine, Goethe, she got to ‘Rübezahl’ there wasn’t a dry suitcase, and arriving bewildered at a main Beethoven, etc. Just to blame it on the eye in the room. station in London following a long journey ‘mustachioed monster’ is not good She was full of aphorisms always by boat and train – a stranger in a strange enough. so apt and I remember these with land, to be met by new ‘parents’. Clearly Mr Ross must agree that pleasure but also some pain. She would Michael Bond, the author of the there is no Jewish future in Germany admonish my brother and me with ‘Der Paddington stories, claimed that he had , but why the continued negative Klügere gibt nach’ and one of us would been inspired by the sight of evacuee speculating that the current century have to give in. ‘Kommt Zeit, kommt children passing through his local station will bring no joy for us Jews? He, like Rat’ was another of her wise sayings. in Reading and that the character of Mr all UK voters, can think positively about ‘Den Teufel an die Wand malen’ was a Gruber in his books was based on his own how he can vote on 23 June for the warning to be heeded. ‘Auch ein blindes literary agent Harvey Unna, who as a Jew had fled Nazi Germany and arrived virtually future good of Anglo-Jewry. On my Huhn findet mal ein Korn’ was another penniless in London. assessment, it’s a no-brainer to free of her favourites. A further connection emerges with the country from the shackles of the At times I like to test myself on my the recent death (March 2016) of Peggy non-democratic EU elite, but he could German: can I remember the words Fortnum, aged 96, the original illustrator also find that the intellectual vibrancy for ‘disappointment’ or ‘surprise’? I of the Paddington books, whose beloved of Jews of all denominations that he am delighted when I come up with drawings have provided readers with their is missing is alive and thriving in Israel ‘Enttäuschung’ and ‘Überraschung’, visual image of the Bear. Following the today. This is notwithstanding the words obviously still deep in my memory. start of the Blitz, Peggy joined the Auxiliary ill-informed views expressed in some Although I quite often visit a number Territorial Service but was injured one letters in your columns, particularly with of German-speaking refugees in my role night when run over by a truck. The Army regard to the erosion of democratic as AJR volunteer befriender, most of admitted liability and gave her a grant to values in Israel. By comparison, the these would rather speak English. No study at the Central School of Art in London, democratic values in the EU have lain doubt their mother tongue recalls only where she became good friends with Judith in the dark for ages now. sad times and they like to show their Kerr, the German-Jewish refugee who with Peter Simpson, prowess in English. I regret not having her family had fled from Nazi Germany and many opportunities to air my mother arrived in London. Judith is, of course, very tongue but I too have developed a great well-known as the writer and illustrator of The Tiger Who Came to Tea and When Hitler Sir – Victor Ross’s article rang a lot of passion for the English language. Stole Pink Rabbit and is still writing today. bells for me. I too am haunted – in I thank Victor Ross for highlighting Perhaps there is more of the refugee child the best possible way – by my German the memories and voices of our from Nazi Europe in Paddington Bear than childhood. childhood – now after so many years one had previously thought. When I meet a Landsmann we almost another life altogether. David Wirth, London SE21 invariably end up singing ‘Kommt ein (Mrs) Meta Roseneil, Vogel geflogen’ and various other Buckhurst Hill, Essex EDITH NUSSBAUM Sir – The Wiener Library has received documents pertaining to Edith Nussbaum KINDERTRANSPORT CASE FOUND IN which were discovered among a collection CHARITY SHOP of philatelic material purchased by Sir – I found the pictured case in an RSPCA someone who subsequently donated it shop in Earlsfield in south-west London. to the Library. It measures 16in x 11in. The label is as I Edith was born on 14.9.1907 into a found it and appears to have been added Jewish family in Dortmund. Her father at some point in the past – perhaps to was Moritz Nussbaum, a businessman, remind future generations of the case’s born 14.5.1878, died 12.5.1943 in Terezin. significance? The charity shop told me they Her mother was Jenny Nussbaum, née

6 JUNE 2016 journal Plaut, born 30.3.1883, died 15.5.1944 in a memorial for those sent to the camp of Nebuchadnezzar. Auschwitz. because of their sexual orientation. This concept emerged from the Serbian Edith is described on documentation Wide-ranging and reliable research in military. It is a successor to the Nazi term prior to emigration in 1938-39 as a the 1960s established that in any human judenrein (clean of Jews). If it is cleansing Kindergarten teacher. She became a community there will be about 5 per cent to be rid of a certain ethnic group, then naturalised British citizen in 1947 and of people whose sexual practices will differ that group itself is presumed to be dirty. was then resident in north London and from those of the rest. This 5 per cent So ‘ethnic cleansing’ is a thoroughly racist described as a teacher. does not choose to be different – they term and it is very disappointing that it has Should readers have any further are born different. The discovery of this got into normal usage. Surely we should information on Edith could they please laid the foundation of the creation of the have the awareness to resist adopting it. contact me directly. enlightened laws that we have today. Michael Levin, Forest Hill, London Howard Falksohn, Archivist, The Wiener Applying the crucial 5 per cent test to Library, London WC1, tel 020 7636 7247 large groups of people, we can safely say Sir – I must complain about the ‘Letter [email protected] that out of the 6,000,000 Jewish victims, from Israel’ in your March issue. The approximately 300,000 had a different contents of the ‘Letter’ have nothing to do ‘ARNHEM 1944’ sexual orientation from the rest of this with Israel. Surely it should provide some Sir – Anthony Grenville’s article in your group. information on happenings in Israel, not May issue was a reminder of the desperate Conservatives among us may feel comments on articles from the Financial fight of the 1st Airborne Division against uncomfortable with this fact. But it is a Times. impossible odds. A number of refugees fact all the same. The knowledge of this Felix Sturm, London NW4 were a part of this as members of the 21st may spread some tolerance over an area of Independent Para Company (Pathfinders). human activity that badly needs it. ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PROBLEM Its job was to drop in advance of the main Nicholas Pal, London NW6 Sir – In response to the invective over body, secure, clear and defend the drop the Israel/Palestinian problem recently or landing zone, and bring in the paras or ANTI-SEMITISM THEN AND NOW expressed in your letters’ pages by the self- gliders by means of a radio beacon. The Sir – Anti-Semitism on the Labour left has, regarding Jenny Manson and Dr Jennifer job done, the company, like the glider quite rightly, been strongly condemned. The Langer, maybe they have an approach we pilots, fought as infantry. Jewish Chronicle has made Ken Livingstone don’t know of with regard to negotiating Three of the refugee Pathfinders died and ‘Enemies Number 1 with Palestinian hardliners. Also, maybe at Arnhem: John Rodley (Rosenfeld), Tim and 2’. they could ask Corbyn and Livingstone to Bleach (Bleichroeder) and Walter Landon I don’t disagree with this – Livingstone advise them while we observe. (Lewy-Lingen), who was recommended is undoubtedly a rabid anti-Semite – but I Yvonne Klemperer, London NW6 posthumously for a high decoration. Other would remind readers that this is not the refugees at Arnhem in the 21st were Chris first time that the Labour Party has shown Sir – No doubt Jennifer Langer is well- Blakely (Bachwitz), Martin Lewis (Lewin), its ill feeling towards Jews. Clement Attlee intentioned when writing about the so- George Bruce (Preger), Harold Bruce and were hardly sympathetic. called Jungle in Calais and the plight of the (Schilling) and John Stanleigh (Schwarz). Attlee’s government prevented survivors on the West Bank. However, her The 21st’s experience of combat had from the SS landing in Israel; Bevin good intentions are going to be counter- been as a spearhead of the Allied advance conspired with Syria to try to ensure that productive to us living in England and to into Italy, landing at Taranto and driving when the 1948 partition came into effect people living in Israel. up past Foggia. Two of its three platoons the Palestinians would come out winners. All The camp in Calais is populated by mostly returned to the UK and these fought at Corbyn did was to call Hamas and Hezbollah economic migrants, not genuine refugees. Arnhem. One platoon stayed in Italy and ‘friends’! By all accounts it includes a number of later dropped into the South of France (Le Also, please recall the more discreet anti- people returning from Syria after being Muy) and Greece (Megara). Three refugees Semitism of the late 40s, 50s and even 60s. trained there to commit atrocities here. fought in this little 1st Para Platoon, There were Jewish quotas in the Civil Service, As for the poor Palestinians occupied dropping first in the South of France (Le schools, universities and clubs. We took it – by Israel, they are not doing that badly Muy) and later in Greece (Megara-Athens). quietly. Perhaps we were still traumatised by considering what problems, and by what They were Mike Compton (Hoffmann), the Holocaust and were therefore immune methods, they cause innocent Israelis. I John Melford (Mendelsohn) and myself to these insults. Remember the sign in a know the argument ‘What came first – the (name unchanged). hotel in Bournemouth ‘No dogs, no Jews’. chicken or the egg?’ Had the let Israel Peter Block, London SE24 Our race laws would today forbid quotas live in peace, had they not turned Gaza into YOM HASHOAH ‘RAZZMATAZZ’ and rude signage but it was there then. a terrorist state, they could have had a better Sir – I think Steven Frank (May, Letters) is Is today’s anti-Semitism worse? It’s more life. Mind you, I have yet to hear about the speaking on behalf of most camp survivors. overt but I doubt if it’s much worse. At mass emigration of Palestinians from the I went for years to the commemoration least, anti-Semitism is being condemned by West Bank to other Arab countries. I suspect at Mauthausen Camp, from which I was most of the media and there’s going to be one of the reasons for this is that they are liberated by the US Army. But in recent a commission to look into it. not welcome there. years I have stayed at home lighting candles I am, however, still troubled by anti- Dr Langer, may I suggest you concentrate and remembering the 50 members of my . Some say it’s synonymous with your efforts on more deserving causes family, whose names are in Yad Vashem in anti-Semitism. Indeed, on social media the closer to home? Israel, rather than be with people who have word ‘Zio’ is being hurled as abuse more Janos Fisher, Bushey Heath, Herts nothing to do with my experience. often than ‘Yid’. I can understand anti-Israeli sentiments but I don’t understand anti- Clare Parker, London NW11 Sir – If Dr Langer was shocked at what she Zionism. Zionism was a movement for the saw last summer in Hebron she would be SPREADING TOLERANCE liberation of Jews and to provide Jews with even more shocked to learn that it is a city Sir – The moving and accurate report a homeland. Would anybody deny Zionists of very ancient and purely Jewish lineage. in a recent issue of the Journal on the this right? It was there that Abraham purchased the commemoration of the 70th anniversary Peter Phillips, Loudwater, Herts of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen also field as a burial place for his wife Sara, and makes it very tempting to step closer to ‘LETTER FROM ISRAEL’ that David was anointed king and ruled the identities of the victims. Sir – I always enjoy Dorothea Shefer- there for seven years. Jews lived there The majority were Jews. There are Vanson’s ‘Letter from Israel’ but was continuously throughout Byzantine and separate memorials for the Roma and disappointed by her use of the term ‘ethnic Turkish occupation until the by for the political enemies of Nazism and cleansing’ (April) to describe the actions continued on page 16 

7 journal JUNE 2016

the pile. And, as curator Andrew Wilson explains, if a thing is organic it is capable of change and equally of decay. So it was a REVIEWS case of to try or not to try. My companion was first in line to grab one, and others The remarkable life and ART achievements of Harry followed hesitantly, eying each other and NOTES then tentatively picking an orange from Jacobi the middle of the pyramid. I wonder how RESPONDING TO THE CALL: A LIFE GLORIA TESSLER much, if anything, is left of it today. OF LIBERAL JEWISH COMMITMENT. A But apart from the oranges, a mirror, FESTSCHRIFT IN HONOUR OF HARRY JACOBI MBE a large jet-black oblong described as t’s not about answers, it’s about edited by Danny Rich possessing colours I couldn’t see, and a questions. It questions ideas, it London: Liberal Judaism, 2015, 208 questions form. If form exists it is huge piece of multi-media propaganda pp. paperback, £9.99, ISBN: 978-0- Margaret organicI and does not occupy a fixed place on behalf of Homeworkers by 9934458-0-4 F. Harrison in time. Puzzled? , there wasn’t a great deal to he term Festschrift has a long You may well be but Conceptual Art catch the eye. academic tradition and refers to a Richard Long in Britain, 1964-1979 at Tate (until There’s ’s A Line Made Tcollection of essays or articles written by Walking, which literally shows the path to honour a living person prominent in 29 August 2016) tells the story of the his or her field. It is not a biography Conceptual movement from its birth in his feet carved out of a landscape: a man burying himself in a deep hole in the turf. although the writings usually make Britain’s art schools, such as St Martin’s reference to that person’s achievements. School of Art, the Royal College of Art Or the same photograph of three animated This volume, which follows this tradition, and Coventry School of Art, from the people, each bearing a different caption. is written to honour Rabbi Jacobi’s mid-1960s to the late 1970s. Then there’s the clever stuff – words 90th birthday. There are 15 essays The development occurred at a stretched right across a wall in the format by authors who are themselves pivotal time in the West when intense of musical notation minus the double clef. Michael prominent in the political and social change followed the The wittiest exhibit was Craig-Martin’s An Oak Tree (1973). Well, Progressive Jewish devastation of war 20 years earlier. The movement. The lure of the market place, the rise of youth actually it’s a glass of water pitched high Introduction is by culture and populism all began to change on a glass shelf. Rabbi Danny Rich, thought patterns. Harold Wilson’s Labour Now the important question: did I also the book’s Government gave way to the election of take an orange? I’ll leave you to guess … editor. I declined. It is difficult in Margaret Thatcher. only five pages To many people though to cover the the Conceptual movement is remarkable life and epitomised by Tracy Emin’s achievements of unmade bed – a parody of Harry Jacobi but, to provide background the seductive nudes portrayed to the reason for this book, the first by Goya or Velazquez, Ingres article is a short biography, written by his granddaughter Abigail Jacobi. As an or even Picasso. Emin’s bed additional update, in November 2015 was in every sense a naked Rabbi Jacobi, aged 90, still recited El expression – baring all except Mole Rachamim while officiating at the nude herself. It is pure the annual AJEX Remembrance Parade. Conceptualism. Just as More recently, in March 2016, he had Duchamp’s urinal showed a the pleasure of blessing his first great- thing to be just the thing in grandchild, the grandson of Rabbi Richard Jacobi. itself, or Damian Hirst’s dead Two of the essays are written by Harry animals in formaldehyde tried Jacobi’s children, Rabbi Dr Margaret to make us see the organic Jacobi and Rabbi Richard Jacobi. Margaret matter in everything that lives Margaret F. Harrison Homewreckers 1977 discusses the evils of the biblical city of – or once lived – and breathed. Sodom in the context of their relevance If you want to call it art – and many don’t in the present day. She suggests that – it is an art of ideas, of interchangeability, many things seem to have changed little since biblical times, with an emphasis of concepts, just as it says on the tin. Fine Annely Juda Fine Art on material possessions and an unfair Art had already reached its zenith. What 23 Dering Street distribution of wealth, mistreatment more to say? of the poor, rejection of strangers, and The first thing you can’t miss at the (off New Bond Street) misuse of the justice system. Richard exhibition is a pyramid of oranges by Tel: 020 7629 7578 introduces a very thoughtful discussion Roelof Louw – a triangle of perfectly Fax: 020 7491 2139 about the form of prayers as printed symmetrical fruits. Because this art form and the response of those who pray. He feels that the current Liberal prayer can be participative he invites you to take CONTEMPORARY book should be revised to make it more an orange – obviously from the top of PAINTING AND SCULPTURE relevant to present-day ‘pray-ers’.

8 JUNE 2016 journal Rabbi Frank Hellner puts forward a successful in commerce. This to leave the country. The strong argument for bilineality, i.e. that was also the case with Peter’s visas for the parents and authentic Judaism can be passed on family, who dealt in malting. children were forthcoming, equally through the mother or the father. Peter touches on life and but the grandparents were Another essay expressed from the Liberal art in late 19th- and early not included. Jewish angle is by Danny Rich, Senior 20th-century Vienna, which There followed an Rabbi and Chief Executive of Liberal saw a remarkable blossoming uneventful, albeit nervous, Judaism. This discusses the history of and of culture, mentioning the journey to England. Here, relationship between Liberal and writers Schnitzler and Zweig, the family split up, with various United Synagogue chief rabbis the painters Klimt and Schiele, Peter being sent to boarding since the beginning of the last century. and the composers the Strauss school in Sussex. Later he By no means all the essays are primarily family, Lehar and Kalman. joined the RAF. In 1951 he Liberal Jewish. Rabbi Andrew Goldstein, The personal story of Peter’s obtained a university place for instance, writes an appreciation father is interwoven with the history in for a three-year chemistry of the remarkable life of Rabbi Dr of the times. The number of Jews in course. Richard Feder, who survived the Shoah Olomouc may be guessed by the erection It would have been interesting to read in Czechoslovakia and did much after of the beautiful synagogue, which in greater detail of the author’s travels the war to restore life to the Jewish accommodated 1,500 worshippers. with his French girlfriend and his parents community there, eventually becoming Sadly it was burned down during the – preferable to the endless descriptions the country’s chief rabbi. On a biblical Holocaust. His parents married in this of friends and relatives. theme, Rabbi Dr Charles Middleburgh’s synagogue and a beautiful dedication Ending the book with a highly essay concerns the teachings of his by the officiating rabbi to his mother is appreciative and loving portrayal of his favourite prophet, Jeremiah. In an quoted along with an illustration of it. parents, Peter expresses regret that, like interesting discussion it also relates to An interesting episode is Peter’s father so many of his generation, he did not the depictions and interpretations of leaving alone for the Sicilian town of ask them more about their past and the Jeremiah by Rembrandt and Chagall. In Taormina in 1931 to celebrate his son’s many problems they had faced. His hope an essay on ‘The Enigma of Ecclesiastes’, birth. Not something that would be is that his family’s younger generation Rabbi Rachel Benjamin discusses her tolerated by wives today, I guess! will read his book, which should help interpretations of what is probably In 1935 the villa which provides the them learn where they came from and one of the most interesting, but also title of the book was built. Pictures of the tragedy that befell their ancestors. challenging, books in the Bible. it feature prominently in these pages. An informative and ultimately moving The final essay in the Festschrift In reality, it was a house with two volume. (alphabetical order of writers’ names) is apartments on two floors. Peter’s Janos Fisher by Rabbi Alexandra Wright and is entitled grandparents lived on the ground floor; ‘A History of Judaism in One Object’. The his parents and he and his sister Hana Rabbi refers to the series of broadcasts lived on the top floor; their housekeeper on ‘The History of the World in a Hundred Anezka occupied the basement. Peter spring grove Objects’ and her search for which single and Hana led an idyllic life, unaware of London’s Most Luxurious object would best represent Judaism. She political developments. considers many symbolic and historical The author’s father travelled on RETIREMENT HOME 214 Finchley Road objects and comes to a surprising yet business fairly often. On one trip he met London NW3 very appropriate conclusion: Why not Joe Gilbert, a distant relative who offered read the essay to find out? a guarantee for the family to come to  Entertainment The above summaries cannot cover London. Joe was subsequently to found  Activities all the 15 essays but are intended to the Hillel Foundation and Carmel College  Stress Free Living give a flavour of the variety and high in the UK.  24 House Staffing Excellent Cuisine level of the contributions to this tribute. In April 1939 the idyllic life came to an Although the Festschrift may appear to end with a knock on the door of the villa.  Full En-Suite Facilities be of particular interest to members of An SS man arrived with the message that Call for more information or a personal tour Progressive synagogues it contains many the commandant of the local Gestapo 020 8446 2117 ideas and points for discussion which wanted the villa for his own use. His or 020 7794 4455 will also appeal to many in the wider father was in no position to object but [email protected] community. shrewdly asked for visas for the family George Vulkan An informative, moving book THE HOUSE THAT SAVED US by Peter Briess London: LifeBook, 2015, 197 pp., www.lifebookuk.com he author begins with a dedication to his parents, Hans and Else Briess, Tto whose foresight he owes his life, and to those relatives who perished in the Holocaust. What follows are interesting details concerning the history of Olomouc, the Moravian city in which he was born. As in Yom HaShoah commemoration, London 2016 Carol Hart, the AJR’s Head of Volunteer in so many parts of Europe, Jews in what and Community Services and a member of the Organising Committee of Yom HaShoah is now part of the Czech Republic were UK; Sadiq Khan, the newly elected Mayor of London; Lord Levy

9 journal JUNE 2016 LUCKY TO HAVE A DANZIG PASSPORT THE AND ITS JEWS, 1920–1939 f all the new national entities retain their German citizenship. However, cemeteries, for 330,000 Danzig Gulden. created in Europe after the First the League of Nations insisted that they Additional funds were raised from the OWorld War, the Free City of become citizens of the new city-state of American Joint Distribution Committee, Danzig (German: Freie Stadt Danzig; Danzig, a decision that almost certainly which in return took to New York Polish: Wolne Miasto Gdansk)’ was saved the lives of many Jews. all the synagogue valuables: ancient the smallest and most short-lived. Before the First World War, the Jewish books, Torah scrolls, and antique silver Following a decision made at the Paris population was about 2,700 but by 1929 collections. Peace Conference of 1919, Danzig was it had grown to over 10,000 as a result The Danzig authorities demanded established as an independent city-state of a large influx from Russia and Poland that, in order to help the Jewish on 15 November 1920 and placed under as well as some Jews from West Prussia, community to emigrate, all members the protection of the League of Nations. which had come under Polish rule. It is should commit as a body to leaving the The intention was to safeguard this estimated that around 60,000 Jews came state. On 17 December 1938 the Danzig affluent and strategically important port to Danzig between 1920 and 1925, the Jewish community agreed to this course city on the Baltic from the expansionist majority of whom then moved on to the of action at a meeting held in the Great aims of Germany. The League appointed USA and Canada. There was considerable Synagogue. High Commissioners to oversee its tension between the German Jews, who The plan was to charter large boats administration and to ensure compliance had previously been in the majority, and from the Black Sea or Mediterranean with obligations stipulated in the Treaty the new Ostjuden (something still seen ports and unload them illegally in of Versailles. The land area of the today with the immigration of Russian . This was a double win for the Free City was just under 2,000 square Jews to Germany). Nazis: making Danzig judenrein and kilometres and consisted of the town of In 1933 the Free City of Danzig elected frustrating the British! Danzig, the seaside resort of Sopot, and the Nazi Party by a majority, which they did The first transport of 500 people left about 200 villages and hamlets. not achieve even in Germany. The Danzig Danzig on the night of 2 March 1939. Before the First World War, Danzig Nazi Party had racist policies similar to A second transport left via Trieste in was a prosperous Hanseatic city, part those of its German counterpart but in September 1939, and the third and final of Germany. It had earned its wealth many important respects treated the Jews one left Danzig on 26 August 1940, from its position at the head of the river of Danzig differently to the way Jews in arriving in on 24 December 1940. Vistula, which drains half of Poland. Germany were treated. There were also four Kindertransports to The population of the Free City of Jews in Danzig did not have a ‘J’ England, the last of which left Danzig on Danzig was about 400,000 and largely entered in their passports and did not 23 August 1939. German-speaking. Although it was called have to change their names to include Danzig was abolished as a Free City a ‘Free City’, it had all the attributes ‘Israel’ or ‘Sara’. The Danzig government by the Nazis on 2 September 1939 of an independent state. It had its facilitated the sale, at knock-down prices, after their invasion of both Danzig and own currency, the Danzig Gulden, as of Jewish-owned property to local people Poland. For the remainder of the war, it well as its own postage stamps and or institutions. Kristallnacht came to was part of the German Reich. passports. Peculiarly there were two Danzig three days after the German My grandfather, Leo Anker, and postal services: one Danzig, the other pogrom and the main synagogue was his nephew, Erwin Lichtenstein, were Polish. The railways were Polish, as spared thanks to the actions of the Jewish intimately involved with the Danzig was the main railway station. This was population. community and the exodus. I am important to Jews as they were able to Most remarkably, after Kristallnacht the planning to write their story, and freely congregate there and eat at the City of Danzig facilitated the emigration that of the Danzig community in the station restaurants, which they were of the remainder of the Jewish community Nazi period, and would be pleased to unable to do in the rest of Danzig under who had not already fled. In order to hear from any readers with first-hand the Nazi regime. fund this exodus, the Danzig government information, either through the AJR or The vast majority of the population of purchased the various properties of at [email protected] Danzig, including the Jews, wanted to the Jewish community, including the Leslie Michaels

Thank-Offering to Britain Award 2016-17 he Thank-Offering to Britain form a growing field of scholarship – identification capacity with the support Fellowship for 2016-17 has been hence the importance of describing the of diplomats, deportee organisations T awarded to Dr Jean-Marc Dreyfus post-Holocaust and post-deportation and the families of those missing. Work of the University of Manchester. The search missions in Europe. In the final was carried out all over Germany but Fellowship, which is awarded by months of the war, deportees’ bodies not further east. Few corpses were the British Academy, was originally were no longer incinerated due to the found in individual graves: most of funded by donations from the Jewish absence of fuel (wood or coal) for the the 50,000 were exhumed from mass refugees from Hitler. The fundraising incinerators – as in the ‘camp hospital’ of graves and the sorting of bones was a was organised by the AJR and the Vaihingen (Neckar Valley). The corpses of difficult operation. Beyond the French proceeds were handed over to the prisoners who fell in the death marches search mission, the project will consider British Academy in 1965 as a token of were abandoned by the roadside or three similar endeavours: the British, the refugees’ gratitude to Britain to buried quickly and anonymously by local Belgian and Italian ones, the latter be used for research in the humanities communities. known as ‘Onorcaduti’. and social sciences. Dr Dreyfus has After liberation, the French state, like Two questions arise: 1) What was at contributed this description of his most other European states, decided stake in the exhumations of deportees’ research project. to recover the corpses of deportees – corpses – what meaning did they hold, Disclosing post-Holocaust and all, even the Jews, seen as Resistance humanitarian or nationalist? 2) Why deportation exhumations: the fighters – and to repatriate them. were these enterprises forgotten by example of the French national From 1945 to the late 1950s, this the Holocaust memory culture that search mission for corpses, 1945-58 search mission devoted considerable developed from the 1980s on? My Studies that investigate the significance resources to strengthening its forensic study aims to address anew the topic of the corpse in war and mass violence techniques, earthmoving equipment and of the aftermath of the Holocaust.

10 JUNE 2016 journal Travels into a Bohemian past had being toying with doing a ‘Who grandparents, who had not been willing to Do You Think You Are’-style family leave for London in 1939, were deported I trip to the Czech Republic for some to Terezín in 1942; they never returned. I years but it was my Grandma Anne’s doubt the woman had been more than a death in 2012 that really got things child in the 1940s but her half-memory moving. My grandfather, who died added a bitter aftertaste to the pleasure when I was young, had brought her of finding the place. to London in 1939 as his then fiancée. Attending Kabbalat Shabbat at the Born ‘Anna’ in the German-speaking Altneuschul in Prague was similarly Sudetenland, she had met my Grandpa evocative. It is Europe’s oldest active Frank (‘Franz’ in German, ‘František’ in synagogue, with a beautiful mediaeval Czech) while studying at Prague’s Charles gothic interior. But looking towards the University. But like many in her circle of tiny openings in the mechitza wall, I was mitteleuropäische refugee friends, who rather distracted by Grandma’s prized religiously completed their German anecdote of visiting as a secular law Jamie and father David in front of family crosswords while chatting in Czech and student, wandering straight into the main shop German over coffee and strudel, she was shul and sternly being shooed towards the often reluctant to discuss the past. women’s section. streets surrounding the grand synagogue So the tools with which I, my brother Locating the grave of Grandma’s father, it was still possible to imagine what once Simon and my Dad set out on our trip Rudolf Selikovsky, in the huge Prague New had been. were limited. The Czech Republic is Jewish Cemetery (where Franz Kafka is also In all, from the shock of imagining geographically small and, while our buried) was another success. But outside my grandfather, at almost my exact age indispensable family tree, dating back Prague things were a little trickier. Without of 30, being uprooted from his home, to 1700, showed connections in most our guide, for instance, it would have been family and country, to the fascination corners of Bohemia, we decided to base difficult to access the Jewish cemetery in of discovering my own Czech heritage, ourselves in Prague for the six days. Our Golcuv Jeníkov, from where much of the the trip was something of an emotional aims were modest: to get a feel for the Munk family originated. It was strange to rollercoaster. But, like Grandpa, I’m country, see what signs we could of our think that the sleepy market town once normally pretty OK after a hearty plate family’s footprint, and leave enough housed a Jewish community said to date of goose, dumplings and red cabbage time to enjoy the local beer. back to the 1400s, in whose yeshiva the washed down with a large glass of Pilsner. We had an early triumph in Prague’s American Reform movement’s founder, Jamie Munk Jewish Quarter. Armed with an old Isaac Mayer Wise, studied. But in the photo of the ‘Max Munk’-labelled shopfront of my great-grandfather’s leather business, above which my HITCHEN LAVENDER FARM grandfather had been born, we located AJR FILM CLUB a fragrant day out the shop, almost identical in its new Please join us at guise as a hair salon, only now in Thursday 21 July 2016 one of Prague’s swankiest districts. Sha’arei Tsedek North London Standing outside, cameras in hand, it Reform Synagogue, Following a tour of the farm and a was hardly surprising to be approached by a man who lived in the building with 120 Oakleigh Road North, Whetstone, N20 9EZ stroll around part of the lavender his elderly mother. The mother had on Monday 4 July 2016 at 12.30 pm field, we will hear about the history of lived there for decades and seemed A lunch of smoked salmon bagels, Danish lavender in the area, its benefits and to recall the name Munk. My great- pastries and tea or coffee will be served first. uses, and how to grow and maintain ‘The Comedy Harmonisters’ it. We will be shown a selection of the 65 varieties that grow on the farm This fascinating film tells the story of and discuss the wildlife it attracts. the famous German sextet the Comedian Picking a bag of fresh lavender is Harmonists, three of them Jewish, from the included in the tour. KT LUNCH day they first met in 1927 to the day in 1934 Wednesday 8 June 2016 when they were banned. Lunch in the Farm café and travel at Alyth Gardens Synagogue £7.00 per person by coach are provided. 12.30 pm Booking is essential For further details, please contact Please call Susan Harrod on 020 8385 3070 We are delighted that we will be Susan Harrod on 020 8385 3070 joined by Austrian Ambassador or email [email protected] or email [email protected] to the Dr Martin Eichtinger. He will be speaking about his diplomatic career and AJR CARD AND GAMES CLUB will be open to questions. Prior to moving to the UK, Dr Eichtinger Please join us at our new Card and Games Club held various positions in the Austrian on Monday 11 July at 1.00 pm Government, with a career spanning at North Western Reform Synagogue, over 30 years. Alyth Gardens, Temple Fortune, London NW11 7EN Card games including Bridge, Backgammon, Scrabble – you decide. For further details and booking, Games are dependent on numbers being sufficient. please contact Susan Harrod at A sandwich lunch with tea, coffee and Danish pastries will be served on arrival. AJR on 020 8385 3070 or email £7.00 per person [email protected] Booking is essential – when you book please let us know your choice of game. We look forward to seeing you Please call Susan Harrod on 020 8385 3070 or email [email protected]

11 journal JUNE 2016 out strongly against Jewish refugees places of birth. A discussion ensued over entering Britain, declaring this would a delicious lunch and Sam was left with increase anti-Semitism. Nonetheless, 70 much to consider. Thanks go to Ruth per cent still managed to arrive, thanks and Werner Lachs for their hospitality. mainly to Winston Churchill. A sobering Wendy Bott morning! Meta Roseneil

INSIDE KENSINGTON Visit to Israel CAMBRIDGE A Wonderful Jewish the Recounted in Glowing Terms Lady We met once again at Ruth and Peter David Barnett spoke about Lady AJR Krauss’s lovely home. David De Haas Judith Montefiore, a truly wonderful told us about his and his wife Judy’s Jewish lady who was extremely well recent visit to Israel, describing the educated and multilingual. She and her country and its achievements in glowing EDINBURGH The ‘Animal Years’ financially successful husband had many terms. Peter Wayne recommended the Karl Stern gave us an entertaining benevolent achievements to their credit specially adapted easy-to-use computers whirlwind of a talk on the ‘animal years’ not only in the UK but also in other supplied by SPF Connect. of his adventurous life. His childhood European countries and the Holy Land. Eva Stellman passion for animals, especially snakes, Ruth Clapham had taken him far and wide collecting, lecturing and getting caught up in escapades. His talents had served GLASGOW A Super Pesach Lunch ESSEX (WESTCLIFF) Extraordinary him equally well working in childcare A large group of Glasgow members Story and now in his retirement as a gifted were joined by two Edinburgh members Our newest recruit Naomi Angel spoke contemporary artist specialising in at Mark’s Deli in Giffnock. We enjoyed about her German-Jewish mother collagraphs. Jonathan Kish a super Pesach lunch and chatted to and how she came to be adopted a friends old and new. We were happy to week after her birth. Fifty years later welcome Yvette to the Group. Looking she discovered her two brothers in AJR FILM CLUB Nowhere in Africa forward to a Pesach outing to the Deli Israel. We were moved to tears by the Meeting in Whetstone, 25 Film Club next year! Anthea Berg extraordinary story and the photos and members enjoyed Nowhere in Africa, documents, including Naomi’s own expertly introduced by Martin Aaron. NEWCASTLE Behind the Headlines painting of a sculpture of a mother and The film is based on Stefanie Zweig’s Sunday Post former deputy editor Colin child made by her birth mother. autobiography, in which she recounts Grant gave us an often amusing talk Susie Barnett her family’s flight from Nazi Breslau to on his life in journalism. He illustrated Kenya, where hankerings after the lost this with many intriguing stories such German life and marital tensions are set NOTTINGHAM (EAST MIDLANDS) as his brush with British intelligence as in beautiful landscapes. A Nice Social Afternoon Meeting a result of acquiring unique photos of Henry Cohn Some 17 members from three counties the terrorist attack on Glasgow Airport. came along and we had a nice social Later David Biermann entertained us afternoon meeting. We very much with a medley of tunes from around the EALING ‘Don’t Write Me Off Just Yet missed Esther Rinkoff but welcomed world on his violin. Alan Cahill – Jewish Nonagenarians’ Kathryn, our AJR Social Worker. The Having interviewed a number of amazing venue and a very nice lunch were Jewish individuals who had passed the PINNER History of London Cinemas generously provided by the son and age of 90, Lawrence Collin told us his Our Blue Badge Guide Rachel Kosky daughter-in-law of a member. interviews suggested a positive attitude: kept us entertained about the history Bob Norton pursuing and supporting particular of cinemas in London. We all remember causes and having a good family life the Picturehouses and it was a delight to were often key factors in achieving a be reminded of the days before multi- CHESHIRE CF Until the Next Time great age. Leslie Sommer screen cinemas. Walter Weg Ernie and Vivienne Hunter’s lovely home was the venue for our meeting. We chatted over lunch about places GLASGOW SPF Connect KINGSTON/SURREY Increasing Circle we had visited that had left us with a Six Point Foundation’s Susan Cohen We sadly missed Bronia and Tom Snow. lasting impression. Time flew by too spoke to us about all the great work they Tom had recently passed away but they quickly until it was soon time to say ‘au have done and the many good causes have always been an essential part of revoir’ until the next meeting. they have helped. Their latest project, the Group and we send our sympathies Wendy Bott SPF Connect, a simplified computer, to Bronia. But the ever-decreasing was demonstrated at the meeting by circle was increasing for a change and Natpoint. These easy-to-use computers we were delighted to welcome new are personalised to the individual’s RADLETT A Remarkable Woman participants from the Kingston Group. Dr Barnett gave an account of the life of needs and interests and are on offer Edmee Barta to first-generation . Lady Judith Montefiore, who was very Agnes Isaacs active in supporting or starting many PRESTWICH CF How Holocaust charitable organisations mainly for the Survivors View Their Places of Birth benefit of the Jewish poor. She also left EALING A Sobering Morning We were joined by mature student us the first Jewish cookery book! Dr Before the war, Lesley Urbach told Sam Elkin, who as part of his Master’s Barnett spoke with great warmth about us, Herbert Morrison MP was friendly degree was interested in finding out this remarkable woman and brought her towards Jews. However, he later spoke how Holocaust survivors viewed their vividly to life. Fritz Starer

12 JUNE 2016 journal WELWYN GC Varied Subjects of charoset, matso breis and kneidlach. We of literary London through visits to Discussion concluded with a quiz. Underground stations. He was very ably Though a bit depleted in numbers on Shirley Huberman assisted by Vincent, who read extracts this occasion, we enjoyed discussing from poems and books. topics ranging from the EU referendum HULL CF A Good Mix Ruth Pearson and the London mayoral candidates to Meeting around the lunch table at family matters and other varied subjects. Olive’s, we chatted about celebrities PROVOST HOSTS Eva Stellman who had recently passed away, e.g. Terry Wogan, Paul Daniels and Ronnie HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR GLASGOW CF FILM CLUB Woman in Corbett. We also discussed other news Gold items and talked about our favourite A good number of members turned holiday locations. A good mix, all up to Anthea’s house, which had been agreed! Wendy Bott converted into a mini-cinema for a showing of the excellent Woman in Gold EDGWARE Vintage Wedding starring Helen Mirren. Much discussion Glamour ensued about where people came from Vintage Wedding Glamour in London’s and looted family treasures. East End is a collection of wedding Anthea Berg pictures with a Hollywood-style backdrop taken by Boris Bennett. Michael Greisman traced the history BROMLEY Wishing Lianne Better ast Renfrewshire Provost Alistair of Boris’s work from the time he and Looking Forward to the Next Carmichael hosted a civic afternoon immigrated from Poland to his achieving tea in honour of Judith Rosenberg, Meeting E fame with his own ‘Boris’ studio in 92, one of only two remaining survivors We met again in the lovely comfort Whitechapel from 1927 to the mid- of the concentration camps living in of Lianne’s home but sadly Lianne 1950s. A most enjoyable afternoon! Scotland. Also present at the tea were Paul was unable to be there due to illness. Alice Fraser Morron, President of Glasgow’s Jewish However, her daughter Laura was kind Representative Council, Stanley Lovett, enough to host the afternoon, at which Honorary Consul of Israel in Scotland, and WEMBLEY Tour of Literary London no less than four members of the second Judith’s friend Ethne Woldman. Nick Dobson gave us a fascinating tour generation were present, allowing tea and conversation to flow. We wish Lianne better and look forward to the JUNE GROUP eventS next meeting. Esther Rinkoff Ilford 1 June Kathryn Prevezer: ‘Highlights of Trips to , USA and Barcelona’ BRIGHTON Pesach Subjects Glasgow Book Club 2 June Social With our eagerly awaited nonagenarian Pinner 2 June Gabriele Ferrario: ‘Fragments of History – the Cairo speaker caught up in heavy traffic, we Genizah’ enjoyed a discussion on diverse subjects. We discussed age, which was considered Ealing 7 June Eva Clarke: ‘Born Survivors’ (life story) no bar to achievement, as well as Pesach Harrogate 8 June Trip to Harlow Carr Gardens and the seder plate, including recipes for KT LUNCHES 8 June Austrian Ambassador Dr Martin Eichtinger Wessex 9 June Summer Outing to Upwey Wishing Well CONTACTS Essex (Westcliff) 14 June Annual Lunch Radlett 15 June Lynn Julius: ‘Jews in the Arab World’ Susan Harrod Lead Outreach & Events Cambridge 16 June Louise Heilbron: ‘The First Woman Rabbi in England Co-ordinator – Rabbi Jackie Tabick, Her Legacy and Her Role Models’ 020 8385 3070 [email protected] Imperial Café 16 June Lunchtime Social Get-together Wendy Bott Brighton 20 June Lynn Julius: ‘Jews in the Arab World’ Northern Outreach Co-ordinator 07908 156 365 [email protected] Cheshire 20 June Social Agnes Isaacs Edgware 21 June Louise Heilbron: ‘The First Woman Rabbi in England Northern Outreach Co-ordinator – Rabbi Jackie Tabick, Her Legacy and Her Role Models’ 07908 156 361 [email protected] Marlow 21 June Lunch and Film Afternoon Kathryn Prevezer Southern Outreach Co-ordinator Glasgow 22 June Film Club 07966 969 951 [email protected] Kent 22 June Lunch Esther Rinkoff Welwyn GC 23 June Social Southern Outreach Co-ordinator 07966 631 778 [email protected] North West London 27 June Michael Myers: ‘My Time with the IDF’ Eva Stellman Prestwich 27 June Social Southern Outreach Co-ordinator Leeds 28 June Chazan Alby Chait accompanied by Phil 07904 489 515 [email protected] Cammerman on piano KT-AJR (Kindertransport) Susan Harrod Book Club 29 June Social Discussion 020 8385 3070 [email protected] Wembley 29 June Lesley Urbach: ‘Herbert Morrison – Labour MP and Child Survivors’ Association-AJR Campaigner’ Henri Obstfeld North London 30 June Lesley Urbach: ‘Herbert Morrison – Labour MP and 020 8954 5298 [email protected] Campaigner’

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Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Did we save Abbey for The National Holocaust Centre your family? and Museum CONFERENCE We can help piece together your The Dean of Westminster, The Very Reverend WELCOME TO BRITAIN? REFUGEES THEN AND NOW family record, like we did for Jerry John Hall, is honouring the Centre’s In the 1930s and 40s, World Jewish Relief rescued tens of thousands of people from 20th Anniversary by holding a Service of In Memory of the Nazis. We have the digitised family Thanksgiving and Re-commitment. records of those we helped. Now we want Eleanor Rathbone, 1872-1946, to give them back to you, for free. The Service is on Sunday 26 June at Find out if we helped your family at: 6.30 pm. It will champion what has been ‘The MP for Refugees’ www.worldjewishrelief.org/archives Tel: 020 8736 1250 achieved by the Centre over the past 20 20 June 2016, 9.00 am - 5.00 pm years but will also look to the future with a at re-commitment to challenge prejudice and King’s College London, Strand Campus promoting understanding. Keynote Speaker: School children, survivors and the founding Baroness Helena Kennedy QC “ These papers are family will be involved in what will be an a piece of family £20.00 inclusive history which I will inspiring and important day in the Centre’s treasure forever” history. To book, please contact Lesley Urbach at Jerry Springer The service is open to everyone. [email protected] or on 020 8346 2256 WJR_Archive Campaign_125x185 ad.indd 1 18/01/2016 09:49 To book your seat please visit www.rememberingeleanorrathbone. www.westminster-abbey-the-national- wordpress.com WORLD JEWISH RESTITUTION ORGANISATION holocaust-centre.eventbrite.co.uk CALL TO ACTION For details of the WJRO’s campaign to raise awareness of the outstanding issues CLASSIFIED of Holocaust-era property restitution HOUSING ASSOCIATION and to join our campaign, please visit CLARA NEHAB HOUSE Joseph Pereira (ex-AJR https://www.change.org/p/property- RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME caretaker over 22 years) is now restitution-for-holocaust-survivors Small caring residential home available for DIY repairs and with large attractive gardens general maintenance. close to local shops and public transport No job too small, 25 single rooms with full en suite facilities. ‘I AM A REFUGEE‘ 24 hour Permanent and Respite Care very reasonable rates. Entertainment & Activities provided. The ‘I am a Refugee’ campaign will Ground Floor Lounge and Dining Room Please telephone be launched on 20 June 2016 for • Lift access to all floors. 07966 887 485. International Refugee Day. This campaign For further information please contact: aims to challenge xenophobic rhetoric The Manager, Clara Nehab House, against refugees and asylum seekers 13-19 Leeside Crescent, London NW11 0DA by celebrating their contribution to the Telephone: 020 8455 2286 UK and will remind the public that those we give sanctuary to give back in return. JACKMAN . A number of refugee ambassadors will SILVERMAN be recognised by plaques on buildings switch on electrics where they have lived or worked. Rewires and all household We need your support to raise a COMMERCIAL PROPERTY CONSULTANTS minimum of £21,863 to make this electrical work campaign a reality. PHONE PAUL: 020 8200 3518 To donate please visit http://campaign. Mobile: 0795 614 8566 Telephone: 020 7209 5532 justgiving.com/charity/jointcouncil- [email protected] welfareofimmigrants/iamarefugee PillarCare Quality support and care at home www.fishburnbooks.com Books Bought Jonathan Fishburn  Hourly Care from 4 hours – 24 hours Modern and Old buys and sells  Live-In/Night Duty/Sleepover Care Jewish and Hebrew books,  Convalescent and Personal Health Care ephemera and items of  Compassionate and Affordable Service Jewish interest.  Professional, Qualified, Kind Care Staff He is a member of the Antiquarian  Registered with the CQC and UKHCA Eric Levene Booksellers Association. Call us on Freephone 0800 028 4645 020 8364 3554 / 07855387574 Contact Jonathan on PILLARCARE [email protected] 020 8455 9139 THE BUSINESS CENTRE · 36 GLOUCESTER AVENUE · LONDON NW1 7BB or 07813 803 889 PHONE: 020 7482 2188 · FAX: 020 7900 2308 I also purchase ephemera www.pillarcare.co.uk for more information

14 JUNE 2016 journal ObituarIES Feodore Kahn, born Trier 15 December 1909, died London 13 November 2015 n 13 November 2015 Feodore Kahn a renowned girl’s school on from the First World War passed away after a short illness. Born the South coast, and then in onwards, fascinated a constant in 1909 in Trier, Germany, she was London. In these early years stream of visitors. A younger theO eldest of three daughters of Salomon, a in England she taught, helped generation of Germans, keen cattle dealer, and Selma Joseph. Unusually for other refugees, including her to ‘set the record straight’ and the times and their background the two eldest own parents, to master English, establish worthy memorials, daughters went to university (the youngest had and bore two children. found their way to Feo and she her education interrupted). Feo studied French Leo and Feo’s circle of friends, contributed much to articles, and English at Cologne, with terms spent at during the war and afterwards, museum exhibits and a book Freiburg and Paris. Her doctoral thesis, on including the Rosenstocks, about a murdered uncle. the French Jewish poet André Spire, had sadly Weissenborns, Spiros, Meidners Feo rejoiced in her family, to be left unfinished – the family still has the and Jack Bilbo, sounds like a her two children, her four draft. As a young and recently qualified teacher roll-call of the early days of the grandchildren and five great- she taught at the Jawne, a Jewish high school émigré community and the early grandchildren. News of an in Cologne. Among her colleagues was the history of the AJR. imminent sixth arrived just in time! Although painter Ludwig Meidner. Many of her Jawne Feo successfully continued her teaching career scattered geographically, they were devoted to pupils came to England on the Kindertransport well beyond normal retirement age. While her her and made frequent trips to Wembley. A year and some remained in touch with her until main subject was French she also taught German ago what had once been a scattered remnant, recent days. and, when needed, Latin and Spanish. Strict in but was now again a small and intense tribe, Feo fled to England in 1938 with her her approach to linguistics and grammar, she gathered in a country house to celebrate her husband Leo. Happily her parents, her sisters was a kind and tolerant teacher who gained the 105th birthday. Feo’s comment afterwards was Hilde and Ruth and their husbands (Hans devoted loyalty of her pupils. ‘When can we have the next party?’ Jacobi and Rudolf Graupner) also emigrated As if full-time work, bringing up her children Feo remained lucid, mentally active and and for many years they formed a tight-knit and running a household were not enough, she fiercely critical virtually to the end. With her group in Wembley. Leo worked for a time at also managed to carry out other activities, such as passing a chapter of history closes. Over a long House. He was interned on the Isle occasional court interpretation and, in later years, and eventful life, she contributed much and to of Man, an experience he recorded in his novel lecturing in schools on her personal experiences many. She was surrounded by the admiration Obliging Fellow. Rather than re-qualifying as a under Hitler and as a refugee. She was even of acquaintances, the affection of friends of lawyer, he became the archivist at the Wiener interviewed for German television. several generations, and the love of her family. Library and subsequently was in charge of the Following Leo’s death in 1989, Feo continued Her memories survive in the memories of Nuremburg Trials archives at the Imperial War to remain intellectually and physically active. those she passed them on to. She loved and Museum. Her mind remained clear and shrewd to the was loved. Feo initially found a teaching job in end and her memory of events and of people, Stephen Kahn

Marianne Krausz, born Berlin 4 July 1919, died London 22 March 2016 arianne was the only proudly used to tell us, within a same year George won a prestigious composers’ child of Gertrud (née week of arrival she had found work competition. Part of the prize was a bursary to Borgzinner) and Leo and lodgings in Hampstead, which study composition in Italy, which he took up Prochownik,M who lived in the remained a favourite part of London. in early 1961. Whilst spending time in Europe, Wilmersdorf district of Berlin. Gertrud remained in Berlin as George found it better for professional reasons They had decided to wait until the the Social Care office still needed her. to remain in Britain and Marianne, Gertrud and close of war before bringing a child By 1943 she heard that the Gestapo the girls joined him in London in 1962. They into the world. Marianne, an only were looking for her, following the bought a house with a large garden in Kingsbury child, grew up surrounded by a large deportation to Auschwitz of her and Marianne developed a love of gardening. family of aunts, uncles and cousins. sister and brother-in-law. She was In 1978 Marianne was involved in a serious Her father Leo was an illustrator luckily able to go into hiding. She car accident. Despite severe head injuries she and painter in the Expressionist survived the war in Germany due to was able to recuperate over many months and style. Her mother Gertrud, very unusually for the help of several people, one of them Dr Lothar return home to live with George. In retirement those days, went to work as a social worker and Kreyssig, whose family remain in contact with she and George were able to enjoy many happy eventually took charge of the Jewish Social Care ours to this day. years together including re-visiting places from bureau. When in 1933 the Nazis came to power During the war Marianne began training as a their youth in Europe. Their first grandchild life became increasingly difficult for them. Leo nurse in Harefield Hospital and in August 1946 Daniel was born in 1993. Sadly George passed was banned from working and in 1936 he was she and her mother were reunited in London. away suddenly in 1995 and did not see the birth diagnosed with cancer. He died not long after They emigrated to Sydney, Australia, in 1947 to of two more grandchildren, Adam and Rosza. in that same year. start a new life far from the turmoil of Europe. Marianne moved to a retirement flat in Marianne, along with many young Jewish Marianne worked as a nurse and truly loved the Preston Road and continued to enjoy visiting people, started training to gain the skills she Australian way of life. She met her future husband exhibitions, attending concerts and reading. needed for work abroad. She learnt English and George Krausz at the ‘All Nations Club’, where She remained independent until the final three basic seamstress skills. many Jewish refugees would congregate during years of her life. She died peacefully surrounded In early 1939 Marianne was able to obtain the 1950s. George was a successful classical by her family. She will be missed by all of us. a visa to come to Britain. Many of her friends musician of Hungarian origin. In 1958 Marianne Jennifer Krausz and were already here or arrived soon after. As she gave birth to twins Julie and Jennifer and that Julie Krausz-Rogerson

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Sabra contemporaries have served in the army (though I myself have not) and my children and grandchildren have and still Dorothea Shefer-Vanson do. We tend to avoid discussing politics when we meet as the subject is either too boring and depressing or might arouse The Israel I live in tension – not good for our blood pressure. ’ve been called many things in my wanted was to join the ranks of those who Politicians all over the world, including in lifetime but this (a letter in the April had undergone what we dismissively called Israel, tend not to be models of probity and issue of the Journal) is the first time embourgeoisement and so I emigrated to it is disingenuous to expect anything else. II’ve been derided as being ‘bland’ or even Israel. But becoming bourgeois, sadly, is I know there are problems in Israel but ‘beige’. That is perhaps the unkindest cut generally what tends to happen to anyone I accept my inability to do anything about of all, whether justified or not. who marries and has children. Acquiring them. I’m still waiting for someone to show Over ten years ago I was asked by property is necessary in order to put a roof me a country that has no problems. We vote the then editor of this journal to write a over your child’s head, gaining an education when the elections come round but have monthly column about life in Israel. There is necessary in order to get a job and put stopped going to political demonstrations, was no reference to my political views or any food in your child’s mouth, and the process which anyway tend to be futile. Those of the many current events which overtake is more or less inevitable. demonstrations in which I participated in us on a weekly, daily and even hourly basis. In the initial stages of our life as a family my youth achieved either nothing or the Any attempt on my part to keep up with my husband and I worked and studied, opposite of what I desired. The overall all or any of these in this column would brought up three children, and struggled situation in Israel and the Middle East is be futile, particularly in view of the fact to pay the mortgage and put food on the too complex for me to determine what is the that the printed format of the AJR Journal table. Gradually, however, the economic best solution. Once I thought that a two-state requires that copy be submitted well in situation in Israel improved, and so did our solution would resolve matters but today advance of its publication. own. Today, as a retired couple, we enjoy that does not seem to be feasible. In order So I write about the more mundane or the benefits of the national health system, for that to be a viable solution a great many less controversial events and happenings private and state pensions, and an extensive things would have to change on all sides. that I encounter. And I must admit that I circle of relatives, friends and acquaintances, That’s my two-pennies’ worth, for live a very pleasant and relatively uneventful most of whom enjoy material circumstances what it’s worth, and I would suggest that life at the heart of one of the most turbulent that are more or less like our own. anyone seeking a more sensationalist text regions of the world at a particularly chaotic The Israel I live in is one in which and rabid opinions should look elsewhere. time in its pretty chaotic history. people enjoy a comfortable standard of I feel that by living and writing in Israel I apologise in advance if what comes living, consume cultural events, enjoy an I am making my own small contribution next sounds complacent and anodyne active social life, and on the whole are not to the present and future of the Jewish but that is the nature of bourgeois life beset by financial worries. We have almost people. My Israel is a place where life is anywhere in the world. When I graduated all lived through wars, have children and pleasant and the sunshine is plentiful. from a rather left-wing university some grandchildren, and are not unaware of That probably explains why my mood is 50 years ago the last thing in the world I what is happening around us. Many of my sanguine and my opinions bland.

 letters to the editor cont. from p.7 Palestinian Arabs in 1929 which killed 67 with some. Looking at it another way: no shekels. Not much but a beginning. Another Jews and forced the remainder to flee. That murders, no walls. example of cause and effect. occurred during the Mandate. As for water shortages experienced by Frank Bright, Martlesham Heath, Suffolk For the concrete walls, checkpoints, Arabs, this is an old canard: the PA, not watchtowers, etc to which Dr Langer objects, Israel, has been the water authority on the Sir – I am responding to Hanna Nyman's one has to go back to 1687, when Newton West Bank, so-called since Oslo. It is corrupt, letter in the April journal. published his Principia, among these being doesn’t mend leaks, allows illegal boreholes, I agree that under the fourth Geneva the law that for every action there is an equal and refuses to accept offers of help and to Convention it is legal to try Palestinians and opposite reaction. Between January and adopt methods of recycling, conservation living in the West Bank in military courts as December 2002 Arabs killed 472 Jews and and in agriculture, where Israelis are experts. there is a military occupation of the area. injured 2,109 in 134 incidents. These were The supply of electricity raises hopes. The problem is the pick-and-choose nature the ‘actions’. The ‘reaction’ was the walls, Until now Palestinians have not paid a that the Israeli Government has towards the etc. Between April and December 2013 (my penny for it and their debt to the Israel convention as the settlers are tried in civilian latest figures) Arabs managed to kill a mere Electricity Corp. has risen to 1.76 billion courts. The legal reason for this distinction six Jews in six incidents but it wasn’t for shekels (£310 million). A series of power is hard to find. The justification seems to want of trying. The reduction is statistically reductions reminded the PA that their free lie in politics: Israeli citizens would not find significant. The walls etc saved lives – even if ride is unsustainable. In April this year the military courts satisfactory. only Jewish ones – and that may not count PA agreed to reduce their debt by 20 million Jenny Manson, London NW11

Published by The Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR), a company limited by guarantee. Registered office: Jubilee House, Merrion Avenue, Stanmore, Middx HA7 4RL Registered in England and Wales with charity number: 1149882 and company number: 8220991 Telephone 020 8385 3070 Fax 020 8385 3080 e-mail [email protected] For the latest AJR news, including details of forthcoming events and information about our services, visit www.ajr.org.uk Printed by FBprinters LLP, 26 St Albans Lane, London NW11 7QB Tel: 020 8458 3220 Email: [email protected]

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