VOLUME 8 NO.2 FEBRUARY 2008 ^^IH journal Association of Jewish Refugees

All Our Yesterdays - the 1960s

h, the Skties! Sex, drugs and rock PFLMCHN. Everything has changed, I have 'n' roll, all enveloped in a heady haze changed, everything will be as you want it. Aof reefer smoke. 'If you can Let us discuss things. Please telephone' remember the Sixties, you weren't there.' (March 1968) would have been inconceivable Seriously speaking, though, the Sixties were in a personal ad ten years earlier. a decade of fast-moving change, during One of the most striking features of the which entire areas of British society decade's rejection of established authority underwent a fundamental transformation. was the satire boom of the early 1960s. How did the refugees from Nazism react to Following on from the revue Beyond the the 'decade of revolution'? After all, they had Fringe (1960), in which Jonathan Miller, mostly arrived in Britain in the late 1930s; Peter Cook, Dudley Moore and Alan Bennett the society into which they had integrated made their names, a wave of savage political and with which they had become familiar satire found expression in the magazine was that of the Second World War, late Private Eye (founded 1961), with Gerald 1940s austerity and the cosy consumerism Scarfe's cartoons, the television show That The Beatles: 'Abbey Road' of the 1950s. The explosion of youth culture, Was the Week That Was (1962/63), of radical anti-establishment politics and of took little interest in fashion, commented on presented by David Frost, and the Soho club challenges to authority and convention the shortness of skirts, an indicator of new The Establishment, where the political and across the board, exhilarating though it was, freedoms that did not escape its (male) social establishment was mercilessly would have aroused mixed feelings in them, correspondents' eye. In October 1961, the lampooned. as it did in the over-30s generally. arts column written by PEM (Paul E. Reviewing the refugee performer Agnes Britain in the 1960s famously became Marcus) referred to the film Victim, in which Bemelle's 1963 one-woman show at The known as the 'permissive society'. As Philip a young barrister is blackmailed over a Establishment, in which she sang songs by Larkin put it sex began 'between the end of homosexual liaison; the reason for the report Brecht and other writers of the 1920s, AJR the Chatterley ban [1960] and the Beatles' was that the film had a refugee cameraman, Information's Egon Larsen saw London as first LP [1963]'. The decade saw social Otto Heller, but PEM made a point of call­ rapidly catching up, in theatre and satire, inhibitions loosened and social taboos lifted, ing the film 'the courageous Rank picture vsnth the Berlin of the 'Roaring Twenties'. The a relaxation in attitudes to sexual behaviour, [Rank was the distrfbutor of the.film] comparison between the cultural ferment of including the legalisation of abortion and starring Dirk Bogarde'. Victim is often seen that decade in Germany and the 'Swinging homosexuality, the liberation of individual as the first British film to treat the subject Sixties' in Britain, both remarkable for their lifestyles from the sometimes oppressive of homosexuality seriously and sympa­ exuberance, innovation and impatience with conformity of the 1950s, and the toleration thetically, a sign of the more liberal established authority, was to become routine: of activities previously condemned as attitudes that would lead to its legalisation interviewed on the BBC in 1968 before the immoral or anti-social. AJR Information is in 1967. first night of the musical Cabaret, which full of valuable information about refugee The new frankness about sex in the probably did more than anything else to attitudes, behaviour and lifestyles during the permissive society enabled Frank perpetuate the image of Berlin in the late Sixties, which are otherwise well-nigh Wedekind's sexually explicit play Spring Weimar years, PEM inevitably found himself impossible to reconstruct 40 years later. Awakening (Friihlings Erwachen) to be asked to compare Berlin's 'golden years' in The revolution in fashion that was so performed for the first time in London, at the pre-Hitler period with the London of the central a part of the Sixties image brought the Royal Court Theatre, with the refugee 'Swinging Sixties'. a riot of colour, energy and innovation to actor Peter Illing, as PEM noted in June 1965. One of the younger refugees, the the monochrome cityscapes of post-war A new note of openness also crept into some distinguished filmmaker Karel Reisz, bom Britain. It also heralded an era of liberation, of the advertisements in the personal in Ostrava in 1926 and one of the Czech- especially sexual liberation, symbolised by columns of the joumal: an expression of Jewish children rescued by Nicholas Winton, the miniskirt; t\tn AJR Information, which feelings as intimate as 'MARTITA continued on page 2 AjR JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2008

ALL ()1:R YESTKKDAYS - THE 1960s continued from page 1 made a fihn that accurately reflected the refugees adapted to Elvis Presley, Buddy timeless, putting everything that was mood ofthe mid-1960s, Morgan: A Suitable Holly and others in the first wave of fleeting, easy, "with it", superficial in its Case for Treatment (1966), memorable for American pop singers of the 1950s, it seems place i.e. nowhere.' the gangling, anarchic performance of David to have been left to their children, born The use of the currently fashionable term Warner as the main character. But Reisz had during and after the war, to revel in the 'with it' (in the sense of being attuned to the come out of the British New Wave cinema newly exciting British pop scene, where the latest modish trends) left no doubt that the of the late 1950s and early 1960s, having Beatles and Stones gave way to the Kinks target here was 1960s culture. Reviewing an already directed a seminal work of cinematic and the Animals and The Who - remember exhibition of paintings by Inge Sachs, a post­ social realism, Saturday Night and Sunday 'Talking 'bout My Cieneration'? - and to the war arrival from Berlin, in 1968, Rosenberg Morning (1960, with Albert Finney), and heavy rock of Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and again signalled his reservations about the produced This Sporting Life (1963, with Ten Years After. A 'Stairway to Heaven' novel formulations of the day, even as he Richard Harris). Reisz went on to make indeed for a generation that believed itself used them himself: 'There is something - to films like The French Lieutenant's Woman; to be recasting the world. But the Second use the fashionable jargon - psychedelic it was left to a non-refugee New Wave Generation in Britain produced no figure about her work', he said, with an almost director, Lindsay Anderson, to make the comparable to Daniel Cohn-Bendit, 'Danny audible gritting of his teeth. classic British film about rebellion against the Red', son of Jewish refugee parents from May 1968 was famously the month in authority, //... (1968, with Malcolm Germany and one of the leading figures in which student radicalism came to a head, McDowell). the French student movement. with the student revolts that broke out in One area where Sixties culture In tmth, the refugees, like most of the Paris and other Westem cities. Earlier that apparently failed to impinge strongly on the older generation in British society, looked year, the refugee writer Egon Jameson gave refugees was pop music - perhaps because on at the explosion of youth culture from a a lecture to Club 43 with the title 'Auf die they were already too old, even those who distance, with a mixture of Barrikaden, ihr Greise!' ('To the Barricades, had arrived as children before the war being incomprehension and somewhat derisive Old Men!'), a clear jibe at the slogans of the past 30 in 1963 and around 40 in 1970. That humour. The obsession of 1960s culture student revolution. Jameson's lecture, as made a difference at a time when the with fashion, its ability to create ever-newer PEM observed, brought out the element of generation gap was particularly wide, when and more outrageous trends, seemed to conflict between the generations: 'His attack youth was particularly determined to make them ephemeral, insubstantial, infatuated on today's overrated youth received an its own independent, insubordinate voice with its own trendiness. When Alfons enthusiastic reception from his audience.' heard and when young people were Rosenberg wrote a piece for AJR What was emphasised here was not the particularly heedless of their elders' Information in 1968 to mark the eightieth idealism, spontaneity and desire for change authority - 'trau keinem uber dreiBig* ('don't birthday of the Czech-bom refugee Bmno of the student activists, but their empty trust anyone over thirty'), as German Adler, who, under the pseudonym Urban rhetoric and the radical gesturing that student radicals declared. Roedl, had published studies of such literary passed for a political strategy. The I have read every issue of AJR figures as Matthias Claudius and Adalbert refugees' attitudes to radical left-wing Information in the 1960s from cover to cover, Stifter, he stressed that these were intensely politics will be the subject of my next and have found hardly a single mention of private writers, immune to the fads and article. the Beatles or the Rolling Stones. While fashions of their time: 'They were in a way Anthony Grenville

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AJR welcomes new AJR Directors Gordon Greenfield Head of Social Services Carol Rossen

he AJR is delighted to welcome sistant Clinical Dir­ AJR Heads of Department ector of the Raphael TMaisie Holland as its new Head of Maisie Holland Social Services Social Services. Maisie is very pleased Jewish Counselling Michael Newman Media and Public Relations to be taking over the job from Marcia Service. Maisie is Susie Kaufman Organiser, AJR Centre Goodman, who retired at the end of hoping to bring last October 'I am sure Marcia will be her knowledge, AJR Journal a hard act to follow!', she says. skills and experi­ Dr Anthony Grenville Consultant Editor Maisie has been trained as a Social ence to the Social Dr Howard Spier Executive Editor Worker, Counsellor and Supervisor and Work team and is Andrea Goodmaker Secretarial/Advertisements has been teaching counselling for sev­ looking forward to eral years. She has worked in health, meeting as many employment and in private practice as AJR members as possible very soon. Views expressed in the AJR Journal are not a counsellor as well as working as As­ necessarily those of the Association of Jewish Refugees and should not be regarded as such. A|R JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2008

n^OlHT What is Palestine and OFVlEvv who are the Palestinians? NEWTONS Leading Hampstead Solicitors by M. Storz advise on hat is the origin of the terms published in the Jewish Chronicle, an Property, Wills, Family Trusts Palestine and Palestinians? American public relations firm was and Charitable Trusts W The name Palestine is probably consulted by Arabs living in Palestine derived from the Hebrew Pleshet, the as to how best they should describe French and German spoken name given to a small coastal strip of themselves - they were advised to call land occupied by the Philistines themselves Palestinians. Home visits arranged (Ptishtim). The ancient Greeks called the Before the War, the inhabitants of 22 Fitzjohn's Avenue, land Philistia, but this name fell out of Palestine were always referred to as London NW3 SNB use until revived by the Romans much Arabs and Jews. There were occasional later. references to Palestinian Arabs - inhab­ Tel: 020 7435 5351 The Romans called the land Syria itants of Palestine belonging to the Arab Fax: 020 7435 8881 Palaestina and later simply Palaestina. race - and to Palestinian Jews, as one This name was given to the province of might have referred to German Jews or Judaea, which the Romans wanted to Russian Jews. In fact, the term Palestin­ clear of the presence of Jews after the ians could just as well be applied to revolt of Bar Kochba. It was first applied Jews, who were, after all, the inhabit­ to a small part of the land and only later ants of the land when it was called to the entire country. In Roman times, Palestine by the Romans. Instead, the JACKMAN- the term Palestine had no connection term is now applied exclusively to the witheitherArabs-or, of course, Muslims Arabs living in Gaza and the West Bank. SILVERMAN COMMERCIAL PROPERTY CONSULTANTS - and the land had then been occupied The Palestinians can call themselves mainly by Jews under Roman rule. whatever they like. True, but the con­ After the Romans, the name stant use of this term seems intended Palestine had no official status until it to imply that the Palestinians belong to was adopted after the First World War Palestine, that Palestine belongs to for a region mandated to Great Britain. them, and that they are the indigenous Following the rise of Islam, Arab people of the land - whereas the Jews 26 Conduit Street Muslims occupied Syria, including are alien intruders from Europe. London WIR 9TA Israel/ Palestine, and Iraq, together with In fact, it is unlikely that there are a vast area from Libya to Persia, which any indigenous people in Israel/ Telephone: 020 7409 0771 became the Arab or Islamic empire. But Palestine as the land has been occupied Fax: 020 7493 8017 the Arabs living in Palestine were not or conquered by so many races. The then called Palestinians in the way they original indigenous people were are so called nowadays. probably the Canaanites, who no longer People may be identified in two appear to exist. Also, a good percentage principal ways: by reference to the of Israeli Jews are Sephardim, many of country in which they live or to the race whom were driven out of the Arab AUSTRIAN and GERMAN to which they belong. When one talks, countries in which they had lived - in PENSIONS for instance, about Americans, one is some cases, such as Iraq, longer than referring to people living in America and their Arab neighbours. PROPERTY citizens of the USA, but this does not The problems of the Middle East indicate the race to which they belong. today probably cannot be solved by RESTITUTION CLAIMS This is why one also talks about Italian- claims of history or religion and there EAST GERMANY - BERLIN Americans, Jewish-Americans, etc. will have to be a solution catering for So does the term Palestinians refer the political aspirations and On instructions our office will to the land in which these people live humanitarian needs of the people assist to deal with your or to the race to which they belong? It involved. However, the Jews are fully applications and pursue the has been suggested that the entitled to emphasise their historical matter with the authorities Palestinians are the ancient Philistines, connection to a land in which they have but this seems unlikely as the present- been present for centuries, admittedly For further information day Palestinians are almost certainly the at times in small numbers, and to and an appointment descendants of the Arab Muslims who continued on page IC please contact: invaded the Holy Land in the seventh century. As for the Philistines mentioned ICS CLAIMS in the Hebrew Bible, it is doubtful Annely Juda Fine Art 146-154 Kilburn High Road whether any have survived, at least not London NW6 4JD 23 Dering Street (off New Bond Street) as a recognised group. Tel: 020 7629 7578 Fax: 020 7491 2139 Tel: 020 7328 7251 (Ext. 107) The term Palestinians appears to CONTEMPORARY PAINTING Fax: 020 7624 5002 have come into common use only since AND SCULPTURE the 1950s-60s. According to a report A|R JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2008

My grandparents' Stolpersteine in Austria

mong the first Stolpersteine I have priceless testimony in the form (stumbling stones) in Austria of letters and postcards which they sent A were those laid at a ceremony from Vienna to my Uncle Siegfried and in Modling, near Vienna, on 14 August Uncle Ernst in Shanghai, although not 2006 in honour of the memory of my all their letters got through. They speak maternal grandparents, Adolf and Rosa of their despair and lack of power over Kohn, and my uncle, Norbert Kohn, who their destiny. For example, in a letter were deported and murdered by the dated 13 April 1941 my grandmother Nazis. wrote to Siegfried and Ernst: Stolpersteine were the idea of My very dear children We are very sorry to hear again and again German artist Gunter Demnig and many The only surviving photograph, taken in 1937, had already been laid in Germany. My of Charlotte Lang with her grandparents that you are without mail from us. You will grandfather, who was secretary of the sympathise with us and realise how worried synagogue in Modling, lived with his times. I well remember my father we are, but we must leave everything in God's hands. Father went today to the family at Enzersdorferstrasse 44 and coming from his imprisonment with his Kultusgemeinde [Jewish community office] these three Stolpersteine were laid in head shaven and looking terrible. The in connection with the coming Holy Days the pavement outside his home so that conditions were so severe there that (Pesach). There is little hope we will be able their names would not be forgotten by many of the men died. to observe them. We have to abide by all who pass by. I would probably have suffered the God's will. I was born in Vienna before the war same fate as my grandparents and my Greetings and thousands of kisses My father was a Pferdehandter (horse uncle but for the foresight of my father, Your loving Mother dealer) in Wolkersdorf, a village north who placed an ad in The Times on 27 These letters and postcards began in of Vienna, where we lived in a comfort­ October 1938 which said: 'Reliable October 1939 and ceased in August able house with adjoining stables. He young couple, wife capable house­ 1941, when the end was near. As supplied the local farmers with horses keeper, husband expert in handling and inscribed on the Stolpersteine, my Uncle but, after the Anschluss, he was impris­ breeding horses, farmer, can drive car, Norbert was deported in 1941 to Opole oned and we had to give up our home seek posts. Siegfried Diamant, Heine- in Poland and was subsequently and the business. My mother and I went strasse 5/22, Vienna 2.' murdered. My grandparents were to stay with her parents in Modling but Luckily, a farmer in the west of deported in 1942 to Theresienstadt and worse was to come on Kristallnacht. England answered the ad and from there were sent to Treblinka, Like many other synagogues, my grand­ sponsored my parents and me. So it was where they too were murdered. father's synagogue was burned down that in May 1939, as a very small child, Despite all that happened to my that night. I clearly remember the Nazis I had to leave Vienna for England and family and myself in the Holocaust, I in their jackboots kicking down the door say goodbye to my grandparents and kept my Jewish faith and in 1962 I of my grandparents' house and arrest­ my uncle, never to see them again. We married David Lang. We had two sons, ing two of my uncles, Siegfried Kohn had to leave all our possessions behind. Michael and Paul, who were both and Ernst Kohn, who were sent to Life was not easy in England, but at barmitzvah and married at Golders Dachau. After six months, and with help least we were alive. Green synagogue. Now we have three from their family, they obtained papers Meanwhile, can you imagine what grandsons and the eldest, Jamie, was allowing them to go to Shanghai. life was like for my grandparents and barmitzvah in April 2006. Hitler did not The Jews were now forced by the my Uncle Norbert, who had to live in succeed in his evil intention of Nazis to live in cramped conditions in Vienna from 1939, unable to leave but destroying the Jewish people. Vienna and we had to move several not knowing what fate awaited them! Charlotte Lang (nee Diamant)

t began with an email. Esther Rinkoff, Yiddish at home and had never learnt the AJR's Southern Region Co­ to read or write. The more I thought Iordinator, told me that someone about it, the more possible it became called Erika Klausner had noticed my that, identifying with the outcast and name in the AJR Journal and thought I the vulnerable, they were the people must have some connection with the 'Sorry, nothing to do with me.' who had taken in little Erika. family which had fostered her when she Then I went to a concert. As I sat The next day things became clearer. had arrived on the Kindertransport. My listening to wonderful Mozart arias, A letter came from Erika outlining the immediate reaction was that this something crept into the back of my circumstances of the family that had couldn't be the case. Nobody had ever mind: we must be talking about my fostered her. She wrote of my mentioned anything like this, and father's family! They had come to this grandparents' surname and the first anyway my mother's family, who were country in 1911 from Russia and had names of their three sons - my father German refugees, were far too busy never left the Communist Party - which and my uncles. I was thrilled. I looking after themselves to take anyone somehow meant that they had never immediately rang my two cousins on else in. So I promptly replied to Esther: acquired British citizenship. They spoke continued on page 1l\ AJR JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2008

Second World War internee records for the Isle of Man by Alan Franklin

s is well known, the Isle of Man provided many additional names, mainly German and Austrian male (lOM) was used as a centre for although they include a number of refugees, who often stayed on the A holding enemy aliens during PoWs rather than just internees. island for a few months and do not both world wars. The Manx National Official Records for the lOM camps appear on any lists. I would speculate Heritage Library, located in the Manx are in two main series - those produced that the index for men probably now Museum in Douglas, receives a steady by the British Government and local includes about half of the estimated stream of enquiries on this topic. An records produced primarily by the Isle numbers of internees. There are male exhibition on internment held in 1994 of Man Constabulary. Experience has internees from at least 17 nationalities: with an accompanying booklet entitled shown that a large proportion of the Austrian, Belgian, British, Chilean, Living with the Wire^ and the libraries' UK records has been lost or destroyed Czech, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, selected bibliography Internment dunng or is subject to access restrictions. In Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Japanese, World Wars 1 & 2' increased the number contrast, much information relating to Luxemburgers, Norwegian, Polish and of enquiries received and led to the internees' time spent on the lOM has Russian. decision in October 2000 to establish a survived in the police Alien registration The gaps are one area which needs project to reconstruct as complete a list records. More details of the type of to be addressed by continuing to search as possible of men, women and children for records that have survived off-island interned or detained on the lOM in An exhibition on internment and by appeals such as that made via 1940-45. the AJR Journar° for information from Assembling the lists has been a held in 1994 increased the internees and their families to help painstaking process achieved thanks to number of enquiries received complete the lists. a volunteer, Gary Ellis, able to devote a The following section illustrates the few hours a week to reading through and led to the decision in types of records available for female files and inputting personal details into October 2000 to establish a internees and children in the police alphabetical lists. The major primary project to reconstruct as records. Extraction from these has now resource has been the wartime been completed. administrative records compiled by the complete a list as possible of On analysis, it would appear that only lOM Constabulary.^ The scope of the men, women and children about half of the entries for women in project was soon expanded to the list have record cards (3,267). incorporate names extracted from a intemed or detained on the However, most of the cards have a number of other sources already in the lOM in 1940-45. pencilled serial number on them - the Library collections. The combination of highest number noted is 4,043 for a Finn official and personal records served to records which have survived are given transferred to the lOM on 8 June 1945 add to, or clarify, details, such as where below, but the most significant are the who left on 26 July 1945. This implies two individuals of the same name could personal details provided by the Alien that some 776 are lost and that the not be clearly distinguished. Registration cards. actual percentage held may be around Initially viewed as finite, the project The lists produced so far are 80. It is also possible that children were has been further extended due to the substantial, consisting of 8,058 men given individual numbers but no record growth of information available and 7,019 women; numbers have cards were completed: they are usually particularly in memoirs, personal papers increased from 4,667 and 6,393 noted on the reverse of the mother's and published research." There has been respectively since January 2004. The card, sometimes just as 'and child/ren' a dramatic growth in the publication of records for women and children are without names - unless a ledger turns wartime experiences, which has led to much more detailed due to the survival up we may never know the exact total. a considerable expansion ofthe libraries' of many alien registration cards as A search using the word 'parent' stock. People released from the Manx illustrated below. These exist for 3,267 revealed over 200 entries, but most of camps are often mentioned, such as by women (some with details of their these are merely Applied for USA Visa Helen Fry in Jews in North Devon dunng children added). No trace of the Parent xxxx. Refining this to include the Second World War."" The rise of the equivalent for men has been found - children with a date of birth between internet has helped source accounts and these are believed to have been 1925 and 1944 has so far produced 71 allowed the acquisition of a number of destroyed. Details for men are names. Numbers were obviously out-of-print accounts.^ The National therefore often solely a name on a list substantial as J. W. Barwick (see below) Archives at Kew hold many records and with minimal information. Coverage of lists two kindergarten, two elementary its online catalogue has provided a male internees contains a very high schools and a boys' and a girls' school variety of sources. The December 2006 proportion of Italians,' who were and records 50 births to 1941. issue of Ancestors^ revealed the usually detained longer and therefore Barwick wrote in 1941 reporting existence of six nominal rolls at Kew of stand more chance of appearing in the approximately 3,000 women and Manx camps in 1943-45.* These records. This contrasts sharply with the continued on page 11 AJRJOURNAL FEBRUARY 2008

"iSitetei*-',?^"., The momentum created by Ronald's work for the AJR is likely to continue long after his retirement. lETTERS^ The Editor reserves the right Edward Timms, Research Professor Centre for German-Jewish Studies to shorten correspondence University of Sussex submitted for publication 'PEACE FOR OUR TIME' Sir - I refer to the article '"Peace for our time" rides again' in yourJanuary issue. One of the important reasons I have for not wanting to miss any of Dr Grenville's articles THE YOUNGEST KINDERTRANSPORT alien', writes Ernest G. Kolman (December, is the very informative and high standard REFUGEE? Letters). This gave me a feeling of deja vu of journalistic presentation of the truth that Sir - I was interested to read Erika for I too was sitting in the self-same place was hidden by the establishment during the Klausner's letter in the December issue. I in 1941, an extremely frightened 16-year- last war and, alas, I am still missing even arrived via Kindertransport at Cotton old schoolgirl, terrified in case she was more truth. Wharf, London, on the SS Warszawa on giving the wrong answer or making a bad This concerns Russia before Britain 16 February 1939 at the age of 20 impression. knew that the Soviet Union was misled months. I had the very good fortune of I had come along with my parents. We by a dictator possibly not known even to being accompanied not only by my three were sitting in the corridor outside the the heads of state at that time. Was the older siblings but also by my parents. They courtroom waiting for my name to be Fascist dictator Hitler less dangerous than had been given permission to travel with called out. After a while, we saw a young the Russian one? After all, one may us at the very last moment, because of girl emerge from there, sobbing assume that the intelligence departments my young age, from the refugee camp in uncontrollably and being led away by her in the Western world were able to expose Zbonszyn, where we had been since parents. It was heart-rending to watch anything contrary. They would surely have leaving Freiburg in October 1938. and it made my apprehension even more known all about the concentration camps Renee Moss (nee Irene Alpern) real. What grave crime might this young and the tragedies that were to follow. This Netanya, Israel girl have been accused of to deserve this, would have been more available if the I recall wondering. Fortunately for me, I Western states would have acted Sir - Erika Klausner was not the youngest seemed to find favour in their eyes and immediately to Russia's request to open Kindertransport refugee. My cousin, Zilla was classified as a 'friendly alien'. a second front. The war would have (Koppold) Weininger, was just under 7 (Mrs) Margarete Stern ended a few years sooner than 1945. This months old when she and her two brothers London NW3 would have saved six million Jews and - Siegman (Koppold) Silber and Harold millions of other innocent lives. However, (Tzvi Sh'daimah) Koppold - came to WHAT IS A JEW? England and other Western supporters England in the last week of August 1939. Sir - Harold Saunders, in your January had different long-term objectives. Siegman was 2 years and 10 months, his issue, equates Liberal Judaism (which A. Jonas brother Harold 6 years and six months. accepts the paternal line as valid for being Macclesfield, Cheshire Edith (Grunbaum) Maniker Jewish as long as the child is brought up 'Jewish'), with 'Jews for Jesus'. This is an Sir - There is a certain lack of clarity in KINDERTRANSPORT REFUGEES' appalling analogy and not worthy of any Anthony Grenville's article. As I understand UNHAPPY MEMORIES fair-minded person. If Mr Chapman did it, Dr Grenville is trying to equate the current Sir - I always enjoy reading the AJR not mean this comparison he should Eurosceptic line with appeasement, in that Journal, but Rubin Katz's article in your apologise. 'Jews for Jesus' is a cult. Liberal Eurosceptics don't want to be involved in December issue was of special interest to Judaism is a highly respected part of Europe and neither did the appeasers in me as I was one of Rabbi Schonfeld's Progressive Judaism. The comparison is 1938. But the two things are completely Kindertransportees, coming over on one insulting and odious. different. Appeasement allowed the of his Kindertransports in December 1938. Peter Phillips surrender to a bully on the basis that Mr Katz writes that many of the Anglo- Loudwater, Herts postponement was better than dealing with Jewish community did not consider Jewish the matter head-on. It was not necessarily refugee boys suitable escorts for their TRIBUTE TO RONALD CHANNING anti-Europe, simply putting Britain's own daughters. This brings back many unhappy Sir - May I add a footnote to your farewell interests first. The world paid the price for memories as the girls were also not tribute to Ronald Channing (January)? His this appeasement. considered suitable for their sons. When I outreach activities, which you rightly The Eurosceptic line is, I suggest, not first met my late mother-in-law, she was emphasise, included strengthening the necessarily anti-Europe per se. What it is so much against me that she told me no links between the AJR and researchers at opposed to is diktat by a few unelected son of hers would marry a refugee - but British universities who have become officials in Brussels who presume to tell we did marry and were married for 49 very increasingly interested in documenting the sovereign states what to do and how to happy years. My late mother-in-law and I experiences of refugees from the 1930s. run their lives. While some Eurosceptics may eventually became friends. I forgave her Here at Sussex, we have been fortunate favour a total withdrawal from Europe (and but I shall never forget the hurt. in having Ronald on the Steering there may be sound free-trade economic Trude Goldberg Committee for our project on British arguments for so doing), others would Leeds Archival Materials Relating to German- simply opt for a United Europe of States, Speaking Refugees (1930-1950), while he rather than a United States of Europe. MEMORIES OF A 'FRIENDLY ALIEN' was instrumental in helping us - with The light of freedom which has been Sir - 'I well remember appearing at an support from the AJR - to build up our the hard-won cornerstone and basis of life internment tribunal in Cambridge before programme of Holocaust education, in the United Kingdom for centuries, and a magistrate and two assessors who including well-attended public events to is respected the world over, is now in questioned me to decide my status as an mark Holocaust Memorial Day. danger of being extinguished once again AJRJOURNAL FEBRUARY 2008 by another subtler form of dictatorship - are only allowed in one day a month, 'MUSINGS FROM THE DEPARTURE that of a centralist, unelected, when it is closed to Arabs. Israel is entitled LOUNGE' uneconomic and corrupt bureaucracy. to maintain certain pockets for security Philip Goldsmith reasons under the Wye Agreement. Uzes, France Two years ago, when I travelled to Hebron, I had to do so in an armour- Sir - I think Anthony Grenville and his plated bus. The street Mr Prager refers to source book by Tom Seger (December as Shuhuda St (sic), Israelis know as King 2007) give too favourable a picture of David St. No doubt local Arabs call it that, British attitudes to the Palestinian Yishuv, as it stands for 'martyrs to the cause' or but I am not a historian! 'suicide bomber' street. In Arabic idiom, Martin Gilbert's Churchill and the Jews it is one and the same. describes Churchill's denunciation of the The deeply religious Jews who choose MacDonald White Paper as a betrayal of to stay there do so because after the Mandate, which he considered an Jerusalem this is their most revered site, obligation towards world Jewry, entered if not more so. There were Jews in Hebron Bettine Le Beau and Tom Conti at a charity upon during the First World War, and much long before King David made Jerusalem event at the Contis' home earlier, the massacre of the ancient Jewish his capital. And for Mr Prager to claim community in Hebron was not prevented that they all belong to the Kach Party, Sir - Victor Ross's article (January) made by the Mandate authorities. However, my which is outlawed, is simply an aspersion. me smile and I found myself nodding main grievance against the Chamberlain If they do belong to anything, it would approval of his comments, especially his government was their attitude at Munich, be to Yesha, the umbrella organisation for insight that 'we refugees [in my case. when they dismissed Czechoslovakia as a the communities of Judea and Samaria - Holocaust hidden child] are defined by age strange country of no interest to Britain. but to some that is equally a sin. as no others - you can't be a young refugee from the Nazis. I suppose the youngsters The attitude to the Holocaust, in which so I wonder which organisation sponsored among us are in their seventies'. many of my family died, was not just his daughter's 'study tour' of Hebron. How heartlessness - appeasement was an could she have come by that shocking By the will of G-d, I find myself single incredibly foolish and brutal policy. Friends street name unless it was from a suspect again and, whenever I meet a fanciable were sacrificed to keep the wolf from the source? I know she didn't get it from any contender, I can't even chop off a dozen door and - unsuccessfully - to avoid official map or street sign. She also told years as automatically mental arithmetic another world war her father that there was netting there to would come into play. C'est la vie! Kurt Metzer stop 'settlers' from throwing stones and Bettine Le Beau Watford rubbish at Arab shoppers - as if London N3 Palestinians never throw stones! The Israeli Sir - Your article in connection with the authorities put up netting where there's a Marxist family of Miliband stated that danger to the public. You will also find it SPRING David was part-Jewish. I am at the very top of the Western Wall, to stop flabbergasted. I have lived eight decades stones from raining down onto the GROVE but I have never heard of anyone being worshippers below - unless Ms Prager 214 Finchiey Road part-Jewish. In my beloved country, would have us believe that this is in place London NW3 people could be Jewish or outsiders, but to stop garbage from reaching to the top! London's Most Luxurious you were either of the Chosen People or I fear little will come of Annapolis, not of the Chosen People. Could you because resurgent Islam has amply RETIREMENT HOME kindly enlighten me on what is a part- demonstrated that it is unwilling to share • Entertainment - Activities Jew? What part of David is Jewish? a land with another people or religion, • Stress Free Living Joseph von Dombovary VBE least of all Jews. They are unable even to • 24 House Staffing Excellent Cuisine London N2 live in peace with each other, unless it is • Full En-Suite Facilities under an absolute dictatorship. Come on, AFTER ANNAPOLIS Mr Prager, open your eyes! Call for more information Sir - Just as I thought we were enjoying a Rubin Katz or a personal tour bit of a respite from Israel-defaming London NWl 1 020 8446 2117 letters, up pops Peter Prager's one-sided or 020 7794 4455 piece (January). Before he jumps to the [email protected] wrong conclusion, I would point out that Leo Baeck I'm not a kippa-wearing Jew. Housing Association Ltd He refers to a street in Hebron that he WANTED TO BUY claims is reserved for Jews only. Would it Clara Nehab House be so terrible if Jews had the one street? Residential Care Home German and But it's not true. The street in question is not closed to Arabs, but is subject to tight All single rooms w^ith en suite English Books security, as it leads to the small enclave bath/shower Short stays/Respite Bookdealer, AJR member, where Jews once lived, before they were and 24 hour Permanent Care. Large welcomes invitations to vievi/ and all massacred in 1929, and to the Cave of attractive gardens. Ground Floor purchase valuable books. the Patriarchs, from where Jews were Lounge and Dining Rooms. barred when it was controlled by Arabs. Lift access to all floors. Easy access to local shops and public transport. Robert Hornung At best, they were allowed to go as far as 10 Mount View, Ealing the 7th step - any further and you would Enquiries and further information please contact: The Manager, Clara Nehab House London W5 IPR have your throat cut. Under Israeli 13-19 Leeside Crescent, London NW11 ODA Email: [email protected] jurisdiction, Arabs have free access to Phone: 020 8455 2286 Tel: 020 8998 0546 Abraham's tomb, but Jewish worshippers Archive. Many of her sitters were contacts of her musician/writer/broadcaster husband REVIEWS e Hans Keller and her drawings of the musicians can be seen in the Wigmore Hall NOTES in London and the Palais des Beaux Arts in Poems that speak of the Gloria Tessler Paris. refugee experience Only two works at the exhibition relate KINDERTRANSPORT. BEFORE AND in any way to the Holocaust, which she and AFTER: ELEGY AND CELEBRATION. most of her family were spared. Flight, a SIXTY POEMS 1980-2007 ilein Cosman and her lithograph she did in 1941, won the Slade by Lotte Kramer sketchbook are rarely apart. Lithography Prize and was inspired by a edited with an introduction by Sybil Oldfield Even now, when the diminutive cousin's personal story. A pencil drawing M Centre for German-Jewish Studies, artist's eyesight is failing, it is an of Belsize Park Tube station, Shelter in the University of Sussex, 2007, Blitz, from this period does not quite convey opportunity to discover the 'abstraction' - xii -\- 76 pp. paperback, ISBN 978-0- or essence of the person. Her pen-and-ink the mass of sleeping bodies seeking shelter 9554114-2-7, £10 -i- £2.50 p&p drawings of the many writers, artists and in London's wartime underground. rawing on her many former musicians she has met, who include Iris 'I do not carry nature into politics, and it volumes, Lotte Kramer has put Murdoch, Francis Bacon and Igor is not right,' she says, while admitting that Dtogether the poems that speak the recurring dark, brooding clouds of the refugee experience. This book, over the Rhine - for example in an which has been brought out by the oil painting depicting her father - University of Sussex's Centre for may contain a hidden meaning. In German-Jewish Studies to mark this the AJR interview, she reflects: 'It year's 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht is a miracle for my generation to and the first Kindertransport trains to be allowed to go to art school when Britain, will evoke many echoes among horrendous things were happening readers of this journal. in Europe.' Today, you could The poems - gentle, sensitive, describe her drawings as rapid accessible - are preceded by an introduction by Sybil Oldfield, from leaps of faith - instantly grasping which we learn that Kramer came to this the energy of conductor Otto country at the age of 15 accompanied Klemperer, the profundity of by a teacher and four fellow pupils. Martin Buber, for instance. They were first given hospitality by a A near-death experience 'bohemian' upper-class Irish woman, propelled cyclist Tim Smyth into to whom Kramer dedicates one of her an artistic vision. The Nature of poems: she 'cooked huge meals on her Machines launched the opening of kitchen range/ In a slapdash manner a new West End photographic each day' and her 'Schubert songs and gallery, Rathbone, in Windmill her Dickens' regaled their evenings. Street, where Smyth's broken Sadly, Lotte Kramer's formal educa­ fragments of vehicles in which tion had come to an end with her departure from Germany and she people lived and died bear no seems to have worked hard through­ Franz Kafka by Milein Cosman resemblance to their scrap metal out the war. Her second home here Stravinsky, demonstrate this economy of source. The indentation and pock marks was as a mother's help. Nevertheless, line in order to capture the intellectual arising from these often tragic accidents the Oxford 1940s Kramer describes is intensity of her sitters. form what he describes as a photo an oasis of peace and tranquillity: 'The Cosman's exhibition at the Austrian documentary. He accepts that the epiphany colleges were locked facades to me ... Cultural Forum, presented by the Jewish which led him to photography can be But still regarded with romantic Museum, Lifelong Impressions: morbid. Tim uses old technology to achieve awe.' She finds treasured second-hand Paintings, Prints and Drawings, runs this organic art, rejecting the digital camera books - 'An early Schnitzler with the until 26 March. The artist's life story, from for the old bellows and tilted lens. spine in shreds' - and discovers the her birth in Germany in 1921 to her There is a simple aesthetic in Scott delights of the British restaurant. Yes, once the bombs had stopped falling, fortuitous arrival in Britain to study art at Schwager's exhibition at the Arts Club, England was an almost dreamy place: the Slade, in London and Oxford during the Dream Imagery and the Art of 'War was somewhere else.' war, were described in our January issue. Disguise. His Symbolist drawings of Kramer did not start writing until This energetic artist discusses her art entwining hands and birds suggest a rite of quite late in life, but she is now being and philosophy in a 123-minute interview she passage, and his abstract paintings, such as translated into German and Japanese. gave the researcher Bea Lewkovicz as part Circle of Life, reprise this theme in brilliant However, the Holocaust was not a sub­ of the AJR-sponsored Refugee Voices colours. ject matter until she came across the AJRJOURNAL FEBRUARY 2008 powerful poems of the late Karen Nevertheless, a mature perspective is A Story of missed Gershon. The latter breached a wall of needed to monitor his journey. opportunities silence. This starts with the promotion of The poet writes of the love affair (alas, Bruno's father, following a dinner in THE HOLY SEE AND HITLER'S unreciprocated) that many German Jews Berlin attended by no less than 'The GERMANY had with the country of their birth; of Fury'. And it is not only Bruno who is by Gerhard Besier and hand-made objects - utterly useless but none too happy. 'That a son of mine Francesca Piombo cherished as keepsakes; of German should be ... ', Bruno recalls his grand­ Palgrave Macmillan, 2007, 272 pp., friends who remained faithful; of small mother fuming, before his father retorts $35.00 hardcover things and great. 'A patriot.' The grandmother storms out his is a story of missed Perhaps her strongest poems recall of the house after a robust rejoinder, opportunities and timid represen­ her childhood: the mother waving at ending with the words 'And to see you T tations against an iniquitous some prisoner-convicts from a train - in that uniform makes me want to tear regime. The details of the strands of 'poor men'; their maid 'broad on her the eyes from my head.' policy are of Byzantine complexity, but stool, (coffee)machine placed firmly That Boyne, through the freshness the main drift of the information we between thighs'; the grandfather 'smell­ and innocence of his child protagonist's are given in this book strikes many ing of sausages and fresh air'. Above all, perspective, succeeds in conveying the chords in the minds of victims of the she remembers her father, who in his subtle and complex distinctions that Holocaust. younger days had written plays: 'old exist, even within a Nazi environment, Gerhard Besier, Director of the manuscripts/ Yellowed and mourned is no mean accomplishment. For, more Hannah Arendt Institute for Research ...' The father too who in the poem than any of the other characters, it is in Totalitarianism at the Technical Non Emigrant missed his quota for the Bruno who sees people as they are. University of Dresden, and Francesca US, who chose to 'stare the madness His father, for example, does not Piombo, a researcher based at the same out'. need to compensate for his mother's institution, take us through the The volume includes his last Red 'treacherous' opinions by indulging in turbulent times of the 1920s and early Cross letter. If nothing of his early work excessive sadism. The same cannot be 1930s. Initially, there is resistance by survives, that letter ought to be carved said of Lieutenant Kotler, a particularly some Church leaders to the Nazis' racial in stone: 'Unser Wohnsitz andert unpleasant young officer whose policies, but these voices are stilled as sich. Alles Gute, bleibe gesund professor father, it appears, left opposition is ruthlessly suppressed. A geliebtes Kind. Gottes Segen wird mit Germany for Switzerland in 1938. From plea by New York's chief rabbi to the Dir sein ... Dich in Liebe gedenken Dir the outset of their acquaintance, Bruno Pope to intervene against Hitler's ill- immer - Deine Eltern 30.3.42.' hates and fears Kotler, while his elder treatment of Jews has little effect. The Gerda Mayer sister is all too keen to flirt with him Vatican does, however, show particular and his parents treat him with great concern over the inclusion in the civility. It is Bruno's judgement that is Nuremberg Laws of converted Jews verified in instances throughout the such as Edith Stein. Endless food for thought book. Eugenio Pacelli, as Papal Nuncio in As a child, too, Bruno lacks the snob­ Munich (later to become Pope Pius XII), THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS bery and prejudice of his elders, is aware of the bullying and hostility of by Joh>n Boyne enjoying a friendly relationship with the the Nazi Party, but he and Pope Pius XI Black Swan (Random House), 2006, maid, Maria, and Pavel, the Polish are swayed by reports of its popularity 224 pp., £6.99 paperback 'waiter', who, he learns, was formerly with German Catholics. Cesare novel with a Holocaust theme by a doctor Where, unsurprisingly, he is Orsenigo, also a Papal Nuncio, says it is a non-Jewish author seen naive is in his total ignorance of the his impression that there are 'scarcely Athrough the eyes of a nine-year- rationale and purpose of 'Out-With', any German non-Jews' who disapprove old German boy? Surely there must be even after his father explains that the of the Nuremberg Laws. He notes that some mistake! But this is, in fact, the mass of people Bruno views 'beyond the Jews are being held responsible for essence of John Boyne's powerful and the fence' from his window are 'not the doctrine of Communism and adds haunting work. And when Bruno, the people at all'. prophetically: 'If, as looks likely, the boy in question, forced to leave his Instead, the lonely child envies the Nazi government [lasts], then the Jews happy home in Berlin for some people in striped pyjamas the possibil­ are bound to disappear from the godforsaken dump in Poland he ity of enjoying life in a community and nation.' believes is called 'Out-With', turns out sees no significance in the pillars of Orsenigo seems to view this to be the son of the commandant, the smoke emerging from the same direc­ possibility without alarm and feels the plot and circumstances of the novel tion. The focal point of the book is the time is not ripe for a confrontation with could not be more remarkable. intense friendship he forges with the Nazi regime. Since the Church's Though the publishers are ostensibly Shmuel, a Polish-Jewish boy of exactly main fear is of the spread of a division of Random House Children's his age whom he encounters on a visit Communism, it treads an uneasy path Books, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas to the fence. of accommodation with the dictators. can by no means be considered a novel The book's devastating conclusion It even gives way on allowing members for children - for teenagers, maybe. leaves the reader stunned, while of the Nazi Party to attend mass in While Bruno is not the narrator, the providing endless food for thought. uniform. Hitler blows hot and cold reader is guided by what the boy sees. Emma Klein Reviews continued on page 10 I

9 AJRJOURNAL FEBRUARY 2008

RI'^X'IF^W.S colli ill lied from page .9 POINT OF VIEW continued fom page 3 indicate that the Arabs originate from towards the Church but, once he of Auschwitz' and led to the rescue of Arabia and that all the countries they declares his desire for friendly relations 120,000 Budapest Jews who were to be now occupy, except for Arabia, were with the Vatican, a Concordat which is deported. acquired by invasion and conquest. supposed to protect the rights of Wetzler and Vrba were worried they Some Palestinians, such as Hamas, Catholics in worship and education is would not be believed. The Prague deny the historical connection of the agreed. The Concordat is frequently correspondent of a Swiss newspaper breached. Jews to the land of Israel, or Palestine, questioned the validity of their escape: and seek to turn this land into an Islamic Finally, the Holy See expresses more 'So how did you manage if it's so province of Greater Syria. The Jews are openly its disapproval of Nazi racial difficult?' The two men found the entitled to point out that their connec­ policies and threats towards journalist's disbelief unbearable but, as tion to this land, as described in the neighbouring nations in the encyclical the title of one chapter says, there are Hebrew Bible, is much older than that Mit Brennender Sorge - but this has limits to human imagination. of the Arabs - and that this is the only itself been watered down and is It was finally agreed that Wetzler and land they claim as their homeland, completely ignored. Informed about Vrba should write their report, which whereas the Arabs have more than 20 the atrocities of Kristallnacht, it remains was to be sent to Moscow. The original other lands, all of which, with the ex­ silent. In March 1939 Pacelli, who has typed version is reproduced in the ception of Arabia, were acquired by by then succeeded Pope Pius XI, seeks Appendix. 'The Protocol of Auschwitz' conquest. to bring about a peace conference, but reached a worldwide audience in 1985 his efforts are overtaken by events. as a central part of Claude Lanzmann's This book makes us well aware of the documentary S/)oah. Originally released Normal Adolescence tightrope the popes were walking, but by the Washington War Refugee Board demonstrates that ultimately politics in 1944, the document is brutally fac­ by Lili Hart always overcame morality. It stops short tual, though containing a number of Up in the clouds, joyous and gay of describing the role of the Pope in the anecdotes. One such touched on the Dotvn in the dumps the very next day Second World War and the Vatican's fate of four Dutch Jews invited to visit New interests, new hobbies without any shameful collusion with fleeing Nazis. Auschwitz in 1943. Following a show of limits Dropped just as fast within a few One cannot help wondering whether a well-fed Dutch prisoners, the men minutes more forthright denunciation of Hitler's signed a statement that everything was policy by the Vatican might not have Young minds in revolt, hating authority in good order But on their arrival at Can't wait to be free, to reach their done something to stop the Holocaust. Birkenau, which they had insisted on majority Martha Blend seeing, they were murdered. A telegram Intolerant, opinionated, knowing it all was allegedly sent to Holland claiming Criticising their Elders with never a pall they had been the victims of 'an unfor­ Noisy and proud, restless and rude tunate automobile accident'. With their continually changing mood Yet decent and generous, fair and kind Limits to human This book first appeared in 1964 Though often and easily changing Imagination under Wetzler's Slovak resistance name their mind ESCAPE FROM HELL: THE TRUE STORY of Jozef Lanik. The author was Capricious, emotional, quick, effervescent OF THE AUSCHWITZ PROTOCOL determined to tell the world what he The problems and trials of each by Alfred Wetzler had witnessed. adolescent! Oxford and New York: Berghahn Laraine Feldman Books, 2007, 288 pp., edited by Peter Varnai, foreword by Sir Martin Gilbert, introduction by Robert Rozet, translated by Ewald Osers SIBELIUS: 50 YEARS ON lfred Wetzler, who died in 1988, peaking to Club 43 on the 50th present, Mr Holm insisted that Sibelius did was one of five surviving anniversary of Sibelius's death, at the not belong to the first rank of symphonic Aescapees from Auschwitz. His Sage of 91, Gerald Holm focused on the composers. At the same time, in the handling companion, Rudi Vrba (b. Walter Finnish composer's late symphonies, and of the orchestra and as 'pure music', the Rosenberg), died in 2006. In 1944 the the symphonic poems, playing extracts symphonic poem Tapiola was 'a masterpiece two men hid under planks covered with from the mighty Fifth Symphony with its of the first order'. tobacco and soaked in benzene to mesmerising, climactic final movement. Mr With regard to Club 43 matters generally, confuse tracker dogs, secured by Soviet Holm, a specialist on matters Scandinavian, Chairman Hans Seelig was pleased to point prisoners. After three days the hunt was maintained that the highly idiosyncratic to the considerable coverage the called off. Having left Auschwitz, they character of many of Sibelius's organisation's activities had recently walked through Nazi-controlled compositions - in particular their bleak, received in the German and German-Jewish territory for 18 days, a harrowing austere tone - owed its existence in large press. Further, he mentioned that the journey during which Poles and Slovaks part to the influence on the composer of Austrian Ambassador to the UK had agreed risked their lives to help them. Their the primal, yet dark nature of the Finnish to speak to the group, possibly in May, under report, including information provided landscape, as well as a sense of long- the provisional title 'How the Austrians by two other escapees, Mordowicz and suffering oppression. Discovered Democracy'. Rosin, became known as 'The Protocol Albeit not with the agreement of all HS

10 AJRJOURNAL FEBRUARY 2008

A HAPPV REUNION cont fom page 4 Refugees from Danzig/Gdansk - my father's side. They both had a vague London visit by City President idea that there had been a young girl from Continental Europe - a bit older In March 2008, the President of the City of been great friends! than us - who was briefly strongly Gdansk (formeriy Danzig) will be coming As an aside: Mietek Abramowicz was connected with our grandparents. to London to meet ex-Danzigers who left part of the hosting party which celebrated Immediately I rang Erika, things slotted the city before the war, either on the Danzig writer Gunter Grass's 80th into place. In early April 1939 Erika had Kindertransport or earlier (as I did in 1938). birthday. He took Grass (who had served come, aged three and probably the This meeting is being organised by as a boy in the SS forces) to the new youngest child on the Kindertransport, Mietek Abramowicz, a Jewish Gdansk Gdansk synagogue, where Grass attended to England to stay with my grandparents, John and Devora Ungerson. Erika told me historian and writer, together with Frank a service. she was a strong-willed little girl and had Meisler (ex-Danzig), who will be hosting I ask all ex-Danzigers, whether made it clear that she missed her parents the President. It is therefore imperative members of the AJR or not, to very much. So my grandparents, who that we find as many ex-Danzigers as contact the AJR or me direct. lived in a modest bungalow in Eltham, possible. I have located two: Renee Martin Alex Lawrence agreed to sponsor her parents. In this (nee Berendt) from Sheffield and Ina Fryer 38 Claremont Road, way, the Klausners were able to leave (nee Braude) from London, both members Marlow SL7 IBW Vienna and arrive in England in August of the AJR. I introduced them to each other tel 01628 485737 1939. This small, recovered family lived and, to their surprise, their parents had with my grandparents for about a year aless 1 @hotmail.com and then moved out and formed their own household elsewhere in London. The October day in London, four ladies of taken different paths in our lives, and Klausners had kept in touch with the a certain age met in a posh hotel in it was a deep pleasure to find this long- Ungersons until the mid-1950s, when the Richmond and swapped photographs forgotten, common foundation to our Klausners briefly emigrated to Canada. and memories. It was a remarkable beginnings. Erika and I talked a long time on the feeling to look at and listen to some­ Professor Ungerson is currently under­ phone that evening - she remembered one who had known our grandparents taking research into the Kitchener my grandparents well as well as meeting so well and whose little family had Camp. Funded by the Central British my own parents (and presumably me) been rescued by them. We told her Fund for German Jewry, this was a refu­ when my parents visited my grandparents what had happened to John and gee camp for Jewish men in Sandwich during the war and into the 1950s. And, Devora and the three Ungerson sons from February 1939 to May 1940. In its of course, she remembered my two and caught up with our own 'stories later stages, it became a Pioneer Corps cousins, whose parents had lived closer so far'. And, as is the way when four camp. If you have memories of this to my grandparents and so had visited middle-aged ladies meet, we talked of camp and/or documents relating to it, them more often. grandchildren (not hers or mine) and please telephone Professor Ungerson Thus it came about that on a misty husbands and ailments. We have all on 01304 617801.

ISLE OF MAN continued fom page 5

children in the Rushen Camp," whilst a smaller pool of nationalities - http://www.bookfinder.com/; and Charmian Brinson notes that by mid- predominately German and Austrian Amazon at http://www.amazon.co.uk/ ' Roger Kershaw, 'Lock them upl' in 1940 some 3,600 women were placed with a large proportion of refugees. Ancestors, National Archives Magazine, in category B and that estimates of December 2006, pp. 36-41. internee numbers vary with 4,000 Footnotes 8 The National Archives, HO 215/469,471, ' Living with the Wire: Civilian Internment usually cited, although Cuthbert stated 473, 475, 478, 502. in the Isle of Man dunng the two World in 1947 that there were 5,000 with a ' Due to the survival of a 1940 camp Wars (Douglas: Manx National Heritage, nominal roll for the Palace Internment maximum capacity of 5,200 for Rushen 1994), ISBN 0-901106-35-6. Camp MNHL MS 10147 acquired in June camp.'^ This would confirm that the ^ Internment dunng World Wars 1 & 2. 1999 and the large number of Italians in numbers above do contain a number Available on MNH website at http:// the later camp nominal rolls for 1943- www.gov.im/mnh/heritage/library/ 45 mentioned above. of duplicate entries, which may be bibliographies/internment.xml slightly reduced as more detail comes '" Letter from Rudi Leavor, AJR Journal, ^ MNHL - MS 09310, received November October 2007. to light. Of course, with internees 1986. " J. W. Banwick, Report on Alien Intemment coming and going, the figure of 5,000 •• A good example is the series of yearbooks Camps in the UK (April 1941), Library Ref. may have been an estimate at the time, published by the Research Centre for Bl 15/77. German and Austrian Exile Studies. '^ Charmian Brinson, 'In the Exile of perhaps reflecting the peak of numbers. Volume 7 contains a series of articles Some statistics for Rushen Camp are in Internment', extract from Politics and about the lOM. Culture in Twentieth-Century Germany the records (a hand-written table) and 5 Helen Fry, Jews in North Devon dunng (2003), Library Ref 8115/76. these give a total for those in camp and the Second World War (Tiverton: The second, and concluding, part of this already released or transferred of 4,150 Halsgrove, 2005), ISBN 1-84114-437-1. ^ Internet sites include Abe Books at http: article will appear in next month's issue in October 1941. The women are from //www.abebooks.co.uk/; Bookfinder at of the Journal.

II Essex talk by former mayor of Southend Dr Alan Crystal, former mayor of South­ end, spoke about his duties as a liberal councillor on the planning and licencing committees. Members mentioned that in the last few years Southend has had Manchester Chanukah Social quite a few Jewish mayors. Dr Crystal said Our popular Chanukah Social was this was because Jewish people were attended by more members than ever more caring and liked to help their com­ Entertainment was provided by Carol munities. Larry Lisner Jason, a most accomplished musician, Next meeting: 12 Feb. 6th Birthday Yorkshire Chanukah Party: Bronia Veitch, accompanied by Peter Lingwood, a Party Rachel Hunter and Annie Perez - all born in Belgium - enjoy the opportunity to musician with theatre and broadcasting speak French and Flemish again experience. Susanne Green gave us a Oxford Chanukah Party progress report on the Manchester Do you know the difference between a Memorial Book, which, hopefully, will go menorah and a chanukia? Do you know Cleve Road guest speaker: into print early in 2008. Werner Lachs your blood group? A 'mixed subject' quiz George Layton entertained us at our Chanukah George Layton told us his parents were Hendon: 'Refugees in the celebration - with doughnuts of course. born in Vienna but managed to get here British Army' Anne Selinger from Prague before the war with his elder Speaking to us to about her book The Next meeting: 5 Feb. Details sent out brother Peter. George has frequently King's Most Loyal Enemy Aliens, Helen Fry appeared on stage and television and is said she had found that one in seven of Radlett update on AJR activities also an author, having written many the 75,000 German and Austrian refugees Several more members joined our second comedy series. He read us his short story. who came to Britain in 1933-39 enlisted monthly meeting, at which Michael The Back Bedroom. Future meetings are in Britain's forces in the Second World Newman updated us on the various to be held on the last Tuesday of each War By the end of the war, she said, the services the /UR provides. month. David Lang refugees had distinguished themselves Eric Newman Next meeting: 26 Feb. Alan Cohen, out of all proportion to their numbers. Next meeting: 20 Feb. Rabbi Simon 'What is Art?' Francis, 'The Jews of Greece' Annette Saville Belated Chanukah Party Next meeting: 25 Feb. Kurt Wick, 'The Weald of Kent Chanukah Party Jews of Shanghai' in Edgware A most enjoyable Chanukah Party and quiz It was a belated Chanukah Party with Wessex Chanukah Party with an abundance of 'eats' for all. Myrna all the trimmings of the festivity except Myrna had brought sheets of Chanukah told us how the customs of the festival had the Ma'oz Tzur. Naomi Hyamson with songs, which the 25 members present developed. It was a joy to meet friends her beautiful voice, accompanied by sang with enthusiasm. We were then again - particularly those who had Harold Lester on the keyboard, treated entertained by Naomi Hyamson, recovered from illness. Edith Brown us to a variety of musical tastes. As usual, accompanied by Jennie Gould, to a most a most pleasant afternoon. enjoyable recital of operatic arias and Wildly divided opinions in Felix Winkler piano solos. George Ettinger Wembley Next meeting: 15 Feb. Jerry Lewis, 'The Next meeting: 19 Feb. Details tba We met again in the homely surroundings Board of Deputies' of Harris Court with a lively discussion on Yorkshire Chanukah Party whether the term Holocaust should Liverpool progress report on NHD Over 40 of us enjoyed a Chanukah Party include other genocides - opinions were A well attended meeting was given an at Mornington Hall in Shipley. Members wildly divided. As usual, Myrna provided update on events at the National travelled from Hull, Sheffield, Leeds, Elland, a delicious tea and we all went home Holocaust Memorial Day in Liverpool on Grassington, Shipley, Baildon and Brad­ happy. Tom Heinemann 27 January. Most of our members are ford. Musical entertainment was provided Next meeting: 13 Feb actively involved in the many events by Geoff Menzer and Les Sans Nom. Ruth taking place during January. Musical Rogoff explored the origins of Chanukah llford Chanukah Party entertainment was provided by Tamar and Rudi Leavor sang Ma'oz Tzur. Some Our Chanukah Party was well attended, Guido Alis members were enjoying Chanukah for the with the usual Chanukah fare served by first time in many years. Albert Waxman four of our stalwart members. Myrna gave Brighton and Hove Sarid us a general knowledge quiz. An enjoyable Chanukah Party Pinner Chanukah Party morning for all. Meta Roseneil A jolly time was had by all. Latkes, There were about 70 of us for our Next meeting: 6 Feb - tba doughnuts and a game of Dreidel, plus a Chanukah Party and 10th birthday We well organised quiz by Myrna, proudly were splendidly entertained by the Kingston CF international won by Alfred Huberman. Wishing Fausta Glasson Duo, who played pieces ranging gathering a speedy recovery! Esther Rinkoff from Dvorak to Strauss to Scott Joplin to The meeting, in Edith's flat, was attended Next meeting: 18 Feb. Social Get- Kurt Weill. Then we got down to the by a dozen members who hailed from all together lighting of candles, singing and the over Europe, including Austria, Germany, serious business of eating latkes and the Czech Republic, Denmark and Poland. Cambridge educated and doughnuts. We were delighted to Future outings were discussed, and it was entertained welcome /UR Life President Ludwig Spiro. decided that Kew Gardens were to be We were both educated and entertained Paul Samet visited on 30 April during the bluebell by Michael Berkson on the subject of the Next meeting: 7 Feb. Alf Keiles, 'An season. Alfred Kessler Board of Deputies. It was an organisation Afternoon at the Movies' Next meeting: 2 April that was there for the benefit of all Jews,

12 AJRJOURNAL FEBRUARY 2008 regardless of their affiliation, he told us. Second Generation Hazel Beiny Paul Balint AJR Centre Next meeting: 14 Feb. Howard gathering in tlie Mortli 15 Cleve Road, London NW6 Falksohn, 'The Wiener Library' Our next meeting will take place Tel: 020 7328 0208 on Sunday 24 February 2008. North London belated Chanukah We are looking into alternating Party between Manchester and Leeds. AJR LUNCHEON CLUB Our last meeting of the year was a belated For information, please contact Barbara Wednesday 20 February 2008 Chanukah Party with excellent Dresner Dorrity on 0161 368 5088 or refreshments. We enjoyed a general [email protected] Professor Leslie Brent knowledge quiz in the capable hands of 'Poland and Immunology' Myrna Glass. Stuart Willner Please be aware that members should not Next meeting: 28 Feb. Jerry Lewis, 'The HOLIDAY FOR automatically assume that they are on the Board of Deputies' Luncheon Club list. It is now necessary, on receipt NORTHERN MEMBERS of your copy of the AJR Journal, to phone the West Midlands (Birmingham): Sunday 20 July 2008 - Centre on 020 7328 0208 to book your place. Holocaust education Sunday 27 July 2008 Karen Pollock of the Holocaust AT THE FERNLEA HOTEL KT-AJR Educational Trust explained lucidly the 11/17 South Promenade, St Annes continuing need for Holocaust education Tel 01253 726 726 Kindertransport special and the sensitivity it was necessary to The cost, including Dinner, Bed and interest group bring to the undertaking. We also had the Breakfast, is £495 per person Monday 4 February 2008 pleasure of welcoming Head Office's The hotel charges a supplement per Abbi Benari Esther Rinkoff. Philip Lesser room for sea view or deluxe room Next meeting: 5 Feb. Radio presenter Programme includes 'New Dimensions in the Middle East' Adrian Goldberg ENTERTAINMENT OUTINGS KINDLY NOTE THAT LUNCH WILL BE SERVED AT ALSO MEETING IN FEBRUARY MEET OLD AND NEW FRIENDS 1.00 PM ON MONDAYS HGS 11 Feb. Alan Cohen, 'What is Art?' Travel to St Annes by RAIL, Reservations required Herts 21 Feb. Social Get-together NATIONAL COACH or CAR Please telephone 020 7328 0208 Temple Fortune (Inaugural Meeting) Please contact Ruth Finestone on 020 8385 3070 21 Feb. Details sent out Monday, Wednesday & Thursday 9.30 am - 3.30 pm 'DROP IN' ADVICE SERVICE Members requiring benefit advice please telephone PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CENTRE IS Linda Kasmir on 020 8385 3070 to make an CLOSED ON TUESDAYS AJR GROUP CONTACTS appointment at AJR, Jubilee House, Merrion Avenue, Bradford Continental Friends Stanmore, Middx HA7 4RL February Afternoon Entertainment Lilly and Albert Waxman 01274 581189 Brighton & Hove (Sussex Region) Mon 4 KT LUNCH - Kards & Games Klub Fausta Shelton 01273 734 648 Liverpool Tue 5 CLOSED Bristol/Bath Susanne Green 0151 291 5734 Wed 6 Simon Gilbert Kitty Balint-Kurti 0117 973 1150 Manchester Thur 7 Geoffrey Strum Cambridge Werner Lachs 0161 773 4091 Mon 11 Kards & Games Klub Anne Bender 01223 276 999 Newcastle Tue 12 CLOSED Cardiff Walter Knoblauch 0191 2855339 Wed 13 Anita Elias Myrna Glass 020 8385 3077 Norfolk (Norwich) Thur 14 •Jen Gould Cleve Road, AJR Centre Myrna Glass 020 8385 3077 Mon 18 Kards & Games Klub Myrna Glass 020 8385 3077 North London Dundee Jenny Zundel 020 8882 4033 Tue 19 CLOSED Susanne Green 0151 291 5734 Oxford Wed 20 LUNCHEON CLUB East Midlands (Nottingham) Susie Bates 01235 526 702 Thur 21 Mike Mirandi Bob Norton 01159 212 494 Pinner (HA Postal District) Mon 25 Kards & Games Klub Edgware S/era Gellman 020 8866 4833 Tues 26 CLOSED Ruth Urban 020 8931 2542 Radlett Wed 27 Madeleine Whitson Edinburgh Esther Rinkoff 020 8385 3077 Thur 28 Margaret Opdahl Franqoise Robertson 0131 337 3406 Sheffield Essex (Westcllff) Steve Mendelsson 0114 2630666 Larry Lisner 01702 300812 South London Glasgow Lore Robinson 020 8670 7926 Claire Singerman 0141 649 4620 South West Midlands (Worcester area) Hazel Beiny, Southem Groups Co-ordinator Harrogate Myrna Glass 020 8385 3070 020 8385 3070 Inge Uttle 01423 886254 Surrey Myrna Glass, London South and Midlands Hendon Groups Co-ordinator Edmee Barta 01372 727 412 020 8385 3077 Hazel Beiny 020 8385 3070 Temple Fortune Susanne Green, Northem Groups Co-ordinator Hertfordshire Esther Rinkoff 020 8385 3077 Hazel Beiny 020 8385 3070 0151 291 5734 Weald of Kent Susan Harrod, Groups' Administrator HGS Max and Jane Dickson Gerda Torrence 020 8883 9425 01892 541026 020 8385 3070 Hull Wembley Esther Rinkoff, Southern Region Co-ordinator 020 8385 3077 Susanne Green 0151 291 5734 Laura Levy 020 8904 5527 KT-AJR (Kindertransport) llford Wessex (Bournemouth) Andrea Goodmaker 020 8385 3070 Meta Rosenell 020 8505 0063 Mark Goldfinger 01202 552 434 Leeds HSFA Child Survivors Association-AJR West Midlands (Birmingham) Henri Obstfeld 020 8954 5298 Trude Silman 0113 2251628 Ernest Aris 0121 353 1437

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FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS Birth MOCK SEDER ARE YOU ON A LOW Mazeltov from all at the AJR to our Thursday 17 April 2008 INCOME AND IN NEED Chairman, Andrew Kaufman, and Susie on OF HOMECARE HELP? becoming grandparents to Ella Grace. 12.00 for 12.30 pm Led by Rabbi Katz AJR might be able to offer you £ 10.00 per person financial assistance for cleaning, gardening and caring. LEO BAECK payable in advance Members who might not HOUSING ASSOCIATION First-come-first-served basis otherwise be able to afford BUNGALOW TO LET Please send cheque payable to AJR homecare please contact: to AJR, 15 Cleve Road, GOLDERS GREEN AREA Estelle Brookner, Secretary London NW6 3RL LARGE LOUNGE AREA, AJR Social Services Dept BEDROOM WITH FITTED WARDROBES, BATHROOM WITH SHOWER, Tel: 020 8385 3070 FULLY FITTED KITCHEN/DINER 24-HOUR CALL BELL SYSTEM FOR FURTHER INFORMATION London Visit SWITCH ON ELECTRICS AND VIEWING CONTACT Dinner with DAVID UGHTBURN Rewires and all household ON 020 8455 2286 Baroness Neuberger electrical work 4-6 March 2008 PHONE PAUL: 020 8200 3518 Mobile: 0795 614 8566 The AJR are organising a 3-day visit QcJt^HA^ Home Care to London for members from the Care through quality and South and West of England. PillarCare professionalism The visit will include museum and Quality support and care at home Celebrating our 25th Anniversary theatre outings, a luncheon and Hourly Care from 1 hour - 24 hours 25 years of experience in providing the dinner with Baroness Neuberger highest standards of care in the comfort Live-In/Night Duty/Sleepover Care of your own home For further details, please contaa Convalescent and Personal Health Care Susan Harrod on 0208 385 3070. Compassionate and Affordable Service Professional, Qualified, Kind Care Staff Registered with the CSCI and UKHCA LEO BAECK HOUSE Call us on Freephone 0800 028 4645 & OSMOND HOUSE Studio 1 Utopia Village 1 hour to 24 hours care Offering expert residential and nursing care 7 Chnlcot Road, NWl 8LH for refugees and survivors of the Holocaust. Registered through the National Care Standard Commission I 24-hour empathetic, knowledgeable care ACACIA LODGE Call our 24 hour tel 020 7794 9323 I En suite facilities www colvin-nursing.couk Mrs Pringsheim, S.R.N. Matron I Activities & outings For Elderly, Retired and Convalescent I Shabbat & festivals celebrated (Licensed by Borough ol Bamet) For more information • Single and Double Rooms. LEO BAECK HOUSING • Ensuite facilities, CH in all rooms. ASSOCIATION LTD call Jewish Care Direct • Gardens, TV and reading rooms. SHELTERED ACCOMMODATION on 020 8922 2222 • Nurse on duty 24 hours. ONE BEDROOM FLAT TO LET • Long and sfiort term and respite, SITUATED NEAR SWISS COTTAGE In partnership with the Otto Schiff Housing Association including trial period if required. LOUNGE • BEDROOM WITH FITTED Between £400 and £500 per week WARDROBES JEWISH CARE 020 8445 1244/020 8446 2820 office hours • BATHROOM WITH SHOWER 020 8455 1335 other times • FULLY FITTED KITCHEN OSHA Charity Reffstration Numt>er 210396 37-39 Torrington Park, North Finchley • RESIDENT WARDEN Jewish Care Chanty Registration Numt>er 802559 London N12 9TB • CAMDEN CARE LINE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIEWING CONTACT DAVID Sometimes life is easier LIGHTBURN ON 020 8455 2286 ?^ with a little bit of help ANA ADVERTISEMENT RATES ANA Nursing can provide professional carers FAMILY EVENTS First 15 words free of charge, and nurses to help with any of your needs. £2.00 per 5 words thereafter 24 hr service, 7 days a week. Personal care, CLASSIFIED, SEARCH NOTICES Respite care, From 1-24 hours £2.00 per 5 words call US on: BOX NUMBERS £3.00 extra DISPLAY ADVERTS 020 8905 7701 Per single column inch 65mm £12.00 COPY DATE 5 weeks prior to publication

14 AJRJOURNAL FEBRUARY 2008

Central Office for Holocaust Claims Michael Newman

We have received the following statement from the Claims Conference in connection with the proposed litigation in the United States against the Italian insurance company Assicurazioni Generali. AJR members are advised that anyone who has already received a settlement in respect of a policy issued by Generali cannot receive a second award in the event that the proposed litigation is successful. The AJR would also like to point out that we are not involved in the litigation. Statement by the Claims Conference on Holocaust-era insurance

he Holocaust Insurance Accoun Foundation provided a DM 10 billion information regarding Jewish policy­ tability Act (H.R. 1746) proposed fund, primarily for former slave and holders. Even assuming that European Tlegislation currently pending in forced labourers. data protection hurdles could be Congress would reopen processes that In the end, ICHEIC distributed overcome, most of the policies which were established to deal with Holocaust- approximately a half-billion dollars in would be disclosed would not be Jewish- era insurance policies through the payments to Holocaust-era insurance purchased policies; many of the policies International Commission on Holocaust policy-holders and heirs of policy-holders would have been paid; and many of Era Insurance Claims ('ICHEIC'). and in funding for critically needed those not paid would have been The mission of ICHEIC was to identify homecare for thousands of elderly and previously compensated. Thus, we are and compensate previously unpaid, pre­ ailing Holocaust survivors. In addition, concerned that the huge expectations war Jewish insurance policies, at no cost through the efforts of ICHEIC, the names that the legislation will generate on the to claimants. However, the ICHEIC proc­ of over 500,000 (most likely to be part of survivors will simply not be met ess covered only part of the European Jewish) Holocaust-era policy-holders - leading to upset, disappointment and Insurance market. Many European insur­ were published. frustration. ance companies were not part of the We are concerned that the proposed Finally, the proposed insurance ICHEIC process. Ultimately, five large Eu­ legislation, though intended to assist legislation will, by effectively reopening ropean insurance companies survivors at a time when they need it previous agreements, significantly dam­ participated in ICHEIC, in addition to the most, will have negative consequences age vital, on-going Holocaust-related German insurance companies which par­ for survivors worldwide and will negotiations with Germany and other ticipated as part of the agreement with ultimately cause serious harm to the governments for the continuation and the German Foundation. The German common goal of all who are involved in expansion of hundreds of millions of this issue, especially to the critical efforts dollars in crucial funding for the needi­ ARTS AND mm DIARY - [[BRUARY to assist the neediest survivors. est survivors in the United States and First, although the ICHEIC claims and worldwide. At the same time, it will un­ appeals processes have concluded, the dermine the support the U.S. To 26 March 'Lifelong Impressions: Paintings, Prints and Drawings by insurance companies which participated government provides to survivors as Milein Cosman', Austrian Cultural have made commitments to continue to other governments lose faith in the abil­ Forum, 28 Rutland Gate, London SW7. accept and process remaining Jewish ity of the U.S. to keep its promises. Tel Dina Wosner on 020 8371 7371 Holocaust-era claims - applying the As a result, and most significantly, we To 10 February 'Champion of the Child ICHEIC standards in their decisions - at urge the U.S. Congress to concentrate its - Janusz Korczak' Manchester Jewish no cost to the claimants and without re­ efforts on one of the highest priorities Museum, tel 0161 834 9879 gard to any statute of limitations. for Holocaust restitution - the failure of To 9 February 'Faces in the Void' A joint Second, we believe that the proposed many governments in Eastern Europe to photography and poetry exhibition. Two legislation may well raise the adequately address the issue of Jewish Czech Torah scrolls that survived the expectations of survivors only, in the end, Holocaust-era property. Holocaust led photographer Marion to disappoint them. The costs, time and Roman Kent, Treasurer, Davies and poet Jane Liddell-King to the effort required to engage in litigation, Claims Conference Czech Republic. The exhibition combines as the legislation provides, will be image and text to reflect on the Written enquiries should be sent to Central universal themes of loss, survival and excessive, if not prohibitive. In addition, Office for Holocaust Claims (UK). Jubilee regeneration. Venue: Michaelhouse, the mandatory publication by the House. Merrion Avenue, Stanmore, Middx Trinity Street, Cambridge, Monday to insurance companies of all policy­ HAl 4RL. hy fax to 020 8385 3075, or by Saturday, 9.30-5.00, tei 01223 309 147 holders will, at this point, yield little new email to [email protected] Mon 4 Barbara Bland, 'Outposts of the French Revolution: Germany and Others' Club 43 Studies/Leo Baeck Institute/Frankfurt Contemporary Anti-Semitism and Mon 11 Jim Burtles KU, FBCI, 'The Jewish Museum Lecture Series 2007-08. Racism, 'Are the Middle Eastern Conflicts People, Plants and Animals of Venue: Wiener Library, tel 020 7580 3493 the Source of Recent anti-Semitism?' Namibia (formerly German South Venue: Wiener Library, 7.00 pm. In West Africa)' Club 43 Mon 25 Dr Edward Batley, 'Confront­ conjunction with Kingston University. Tel ations with Mortality: Friedrich Neil on 020 7636 7247 Mon 18 Prof Michael Alpert, 'Jews in Schiller's Affinity with Freemasonry' the Spanish Civil War' Club 43 Club 43 Club 43 Meetings at Belsize Square Thur 21 Prof Tilman Allert, 'The Fuhrer Thur 28 Professor Dina Porat, head of Synagogue, 7.45 pm. Tel Hans Seelig on Gruss' Joint Centre for German-Jewish Stephen Roth Institute for the Study of 01442 254360

15 A|R JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2008

Newsround LETTER FROM ISRAEL 'Righteous diplomats' The Foreign Off­ ice is to erect a Bible reading ceremony brings elevated status commemorative plaque in hon­ our of British =—;—j^-,— hen I contemplate my time at boy answered 'Abraham' when asked who ,. , ^ , Frank Foley the Jewish primary school I had destroyed the first Temple. At the end diplomats who saved Jews and other victims of Nazi per­ Wattended in north-west London of this part of the evening, the rabbi took secution before and during the Second some 50 years ago, there are few incidents the children to the Ark of the Law and World War The plaque will list between of note that reman in my memory. Dull showed them the scrolls inside, even open­ six and eight diplomats known to have lessons, stultifying routine and hackneyed ing one up for their inspection. I was later helped Jews flee Germany before 1939 or countries threatened by German invasion custom are all that swim into my ken. I informed that one little boy, who had in­ during the war The most prominent of do not recollect a single outing to any of sisted on coming despite not being well, the diplomats is Frank Foley, who is the myriad sites of interest or cultural vomited on the carpet and had to be taken thought to have saved at least 10,000 Jews, issuing visas, helping people forge enrichment in which London abounds. I home. Fortunately, the rabbi had left by passports and even hiding Jews in his own hope things have improved today. then. home. I very much fear that in Israel this is Then everyone proceeded to the hall also largely the case. In my own small downstairs, where the parents sat on Record number of visitors at way, I have attempted to remedy the chairs in a circle and the children Auschwitz museum A spokesman for the museum at situation as far as my own children and performed dances and sang songs that Auschwitz-Birkenau has said that more grandchildren are concemed, but this is, were connected with the subject. Most of than 1.2 million people visited the death of course, on a very minor level. the songs were modern Israeli ones camp in 2007, the largest number since Last week, however, I was made aware containing only a very vague association the museum was founded in 1947. Most visitors were from Poland, mainly because of a welcome interruption to my smaller with anything biblical - and the dances schools often require a visit to the camp granddaughter's mundane school routine even less so. But it was an opportunity for its students. when I was invited to attend the ceremony for the teacher and her wards to show Ariel Muzicant confirmed as marking her and her class-mates' their prowess in both those fields. head of Austrian Jewish graduation to the elevated status of being The children were very sweet and well- community able to read the Bible. They are now in behaved. The teacher and her helpers The board of Vienna's Jewish community the second form and are considered were proud of their performance, and of has confirmed Ariel Muzicant, who has sufficiently proficient in reading and course the parents and relatives also been its president since 1998, for a writing. The school does not belong to the enjoyed the event, in the preparation of further five-year term. Vienna's Jewish community is the largest in Austria, religious education stream so that, while which considerable effort had evidently which numbers some 15,000 Jews, half the pupils are taught about their cultural, been invested. of whom are registered members. historical and spiritual heritage, they are The festivity ended with each child Muzicant also heads the Austrian Jewish not subjected to sermonising and no belief being called by name to receive the treas­ community. system is inculcated. ured book, after which they all read out Anne Frank tree rescued The event was held in a local syna­ its first sentence in unison. It was a very A steel frame has been designed to gogue. It began in the synagogue itself, touching moment and reminded those support a diseased chestnut tree that is with the children sitting in the centre and present that nowhere else in the world next to the Anne Frank Museum in Amsterdam and which featured in the the parents and guests sitting at the back today is it possible to find six- and seven- young girl's diary. The cost of the frame and along the sides. The rabbi, a bearded year-olds reading and understanding a is reported to be 50,000 euros (approx young man in modem clothing who spoke text that is over 2,000 years old. £36,000). in a relaxed, everyday manner, quizzed Since no event in Israel is complete Percentage of world Jewry the children on their knowledge of some without food, the evening ended with living in Israel on the rise basic religious concepts. These involved pupils, teachers, parents and guests all According to a report by the Jerusalem- such terms as kiddush, the Temple, the falling eagerly on the tables laden with based Jewish People Policy Planning centrality of Jemsalem, the Torah, and the sandwiches, cakes and other goodies that Institute, the world Jewish population in patriarchs (but not the matriarchs). He had been prepared by eager volunteers. 2007 is estimated at 13.2 million, a rise of some 200,000 over 2006. Israel is now was somewhat taken aback when a little Dorothea Shefer-Vanson the home of 41 per cent of world Jewry.

Published by the Association of Jewish Refugees in Great Britain, Jubilee House, Merrion Avenue, Stanmore, Middx HA7 4RL Telephone 020 8385 3070 Fax 020 8385 3080 e-mail [email protected] Website www.ajr.org.uk

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