AJR Information

Volume XLV No. 7 July 1990

£3 (to non-members)

Don't miss . . . Privatising hate

A saving remnant p. 4 No end to history AGM Report p. 9 ast autumn an American political scientist put Internment forward a thesis that briefly earned him 43rd ANNUAL CHARITY CONCERT overseas p. 11 Lextensive media attention, not to say guru status. The thesis was that the collapse of We are proud to announce that this October 14th Communism spelt the end of East-West our guest artists will be: confrontation and that, with the end of this Raphael and Peter Wallfisch conflict, history itself was coming to an end. Since then, we have all sobered up. For one. Tickets will be available from September. Communism has not completely collapsed in the See August edition of AJR Information for ticket Soviet Union. It fights a stubborn rearguard action application forms. in alliance with Great Russian nationalism. Such nationalism has diverse spokesmen. One is Valentin Rasputin, a writer of Slav Schollenromane, threatened for 5 May (Karl Marx's birthday) did extolling traditional village life. Since Rasputin's not take place. Satisfaction over its non-occurrence, work carries intimations of blood and soil, his however, is tempered by the fact that the Soviet appointment to Gorbachev's Presidential Council authorities confront lethal antisemitic threats - was disquieting, to say the least. Other spokesmen when they actually do confront them — as a law- for Russian nationalism are, of course, the Pamyat and-order issue. The moral dimension of the thugs. The pogrom those bloodthirsty Jewbaiters problem is glossed over; Gorbachev has not seen fit to utter one syllabic in condemnation of Jewbaiting. Elsewhere in the former Soviet Bloc the situation appears threatening also. In the glasnost era, East fiekHhti European Jewbaiting - to use an analogy from the »u ji_ Jim. Echo of the past? sphere of economics - has shaken off state control and is in the hands of thrusting entrepreneurs. In the former satellite states of Hungary and Romania, Jews currently find themselves in 'mirror image' situations. In Transsylvania, xenophobes of the Romanian Hearth {Vatra Romaneasca) S)(innt)Cflinn(bctto| organisation have instigated pogroms against minority Hungarians - and this has swung public R)oUn9catf(M»(niM opinion behind the volkische Magyars of the Democratic Forum across the border in Hungary. In Bucharest a veteran of the National Peasant Party denied - in an interview with The Observer — that the part-Jewish Prime Minister Petr Roman could be a genuine Romanian. Conversely the deputy leader of the Hungarian Democratic Forum rubbished the rival Free Democrats in an election 0/«DiaiMi broadcast as 'led by an alien minority', i.e. Jews. And what about Western Europe? Skinhead IIRET&6ARB0 (From A Social History of the Third Reich Wcidenfcld and outrages notwithstanding, the German political Nicolson, 1971). Establishment - sensitive as it is to world

, '•:'.:'.. continued on page 2 AJR INFORMATION JULY 1990

\ One of the 'top ten' Message in a bottle Josef Schwammberger, recently extradited from Argentina to Germany, ranks on Simon Wiesenthal's list of ten most purchased from a stamp dealer in Tel wanted war criminals. Driven by greed Aviv. The envelope was marked with a and cruelty, he allegedly made a habit of German cancellation and had been opened pulling gold teeth out of prisoners' and passed by the camp censor. Much to mouths with pliers; the wealth thus Mr. Kent's surprise, he recognised the acquired helped him evade capture after name of the sender, which was clearly the war. Like other monstrous figures in handwritten on the reverse side of the the Nazi murder machine - envelope. It was his wife's family name. Kaltenbrunner, Eichmann, Globocnig, They instantly showed the letter to Stangl, Brunner - Schwammberger hails Mrs. Kent. Her reaction was dramatic; from Austria. (Brunner, incidentally, is upon seeing the names and addresses on still enjoying the protection of the Syrian the envelope she fainted. government, which earned Western It was an emotional moment. The letter plaudits for its role in the hostage was from her mother and addressed to her affair.) D late brother in America. Tears of awe, amazement and great sadness followed. Diagnosis equals disease Needless to say. Rabbi Carlebach has By alleging a Jewish-Masonic conspiracy restored the document to its rightful to destroy Russia, Pamyat has triggered a owner. mass exodus of Jews from the Soviet It has taken fifty years for this letter to Union. This is depriving the country of reach a proper destination; what had been A letter from Theresienstadt. the very expertise that could help stave off a relic of the past, a part of a historical its decline. collection, has become an heirloom, a part (Gerd Koenen, Kommune, April 1990) D rather unusual letter arrived in the of someone's present, like a message from AJR office recently. Nothing home. Attack on racists Aunusual about that, you may Is this, then, a 'happy accident', an ••i.if think. You would be right, millions of 'amazing coincidence' or could it be An Arab member of the Israeli parliament letters are posted and received every day, evidence of a more powerful hand is seeking legislation to provide six- few of them warrant articles in monthly moving, providentially, in mysterious months gaol sentences for people using journals like this one. However, we felt ways? D M.N. Arab ethnic names, such as 'Mohammed', that this letter did warrant a little extra in a racist way. D attention. Sent in by Mrs. Lillian Green, a resident of Hale, in Cheshire, it tells of Tents situation another letter, from her Grandmother. continued from front page Mrs. Green's parents, Mr. and Mrs. With 150,000 Soviet Jews expected in Kent, escaped, by the Grace of God, from opinion - can probably be relied on to Israel by the end of this year housing has Vienna and now live in London. Over the curb antisemitic excesses prompted by become an urgent problem. Some years Mr. Kent has developed a keen reunion euphoria. West of the Rhine, the estimates predict the complete exhaustion interest in stamp collecting and has situation is clearcut. Official France, of housing stocks within weeks. Officials become an expert and respected member having been on the Allied side at the end are discussing the importing of of the Philatelic Society. He shares this of the war, felt no great compulsion to prefabricated dwellings and the setting up interest with his friend Rabbi F. F. purge its Vichy past. Petainist thinking of tent camps when other choices are no Carlebach, who has himself built up a with xenophobic undertones thus lingered longer viable. considerable collection, particularly in the on and in the current Le Pen-inspired Israelis face raised taxes as the field of Judaica stamps. climate of race hate, stomach-turning government desperately seeks £1.1 billion On a recent visit Mr. Kent and Rabbi antisemitic incidents have occurred. to fund the unprecedented influx of Soviet Carlebach withdrew to the study to Disgust at these manifestations have stung immigrants. compare notes and discuss their individual the political Establishment into Once the housing crisis is overcome, the collections. In the course of their meaningful - if belated (see p. 16) — government will have to deal with job conversation Rabbi Carlebach drew action. creation in the long term. D I Mr. Kent's attention to an album of It was moving to see President 'Holocaust Specials', stamps, envelopes Mitterand head the protest march after Denial ' and letters which had been sent from the tombstone desecrations at Carpentras. Joszef Antall, Prime Minister-designate of I prisoners in concentration camps, which If and when President Gorbachev makes democratic Hungary, has denied that his he had compiled. an equivalent gesture in response to a Democratic Forum Party is antisemitic or The Rabbi pointed out, as an item of Pamyat outrage, we shall know that i xenophobic. 'We only want to maintain special interest, an envelope sent from the history - as a story of unending conflict - i the national values of our country'. D Theresienstadt camp which he had is drawing to an end. D , AJR INFORMATION JULY 1990

Such usefulness was, in fact, highlighted accused of ritual murder, and who, as Bouquets of barbed in the press coverage of the second event President, visited Palestine twenty-one wire - a reunion at the Imperial War Museum years before the establishment of the State - commemorating internment. The Daily of Israel. Telegraph quoted Sir Hermann Bondi's The rally was an emotion-charged he fiftieth anniversary of mass work on naval radar, and Lord Schon's experience for all participants - internment of enemy aliens in May chairmanship of the National Research particularly the several hundred who had T1940 was marked by two events in Development Corporation. A Times been flown in from Czechoslovakia itself. London. The first was an all-day photograph featured the former alongside What lent it additional significance was symposium organised by the Wiener Norbert Brainin and Siegmund Nissel of the opening address by Vaclav Havel, heir Library at the Paul Balint AJR Day the Amadeus Quartet (the founding of to the tradition of Thomas Masaryk and Centre, with Tony Kushner of which Prof. Lafitte dubbed 'the only Jan Hus. Havel resembles his predecessor Southampton University and Professor positive by-product of internment'). as President of democratic Czechoslovakia Francois Lafitte as main speakers. Mingling with the prominent ex- in pursuing politics grounded in morality; Dr Kushner placed the agitation leading internees at the reunion were such public his notion of 'living within the truth' up to internment within the historic personages as Lord Dacre (Hugh recalls Hus's famous motto. context of anti-alienism shading off into Trevor-Roper) and Michael Foot; the The rally symbolised a turning point for antisemitism in the British collective latter pledged his support to Professor the several thousand Jews of the Czech consciousness. At the same time he gave Fred Parkinson's campaign to have the lands and Slovakia. Standing, as citizens, due weight to the countervailing liberal still embargoed cabinet papers relating to on the threshold of an age of democracy, spirit at work in the public arena (literally the Dunera Scandal made available to they can, as Jews, feel themselves to be incarnated, on this occasion, by the public scrutiny. D members of a worldwide family once presence of Professor Lafitte in our midst). again. Symbols apart, all participants The latter spoke of the problems and agreed that it had been a once-in-a- pressure — of, for instance, constant lifetime experience. D updating - while he got the manuscript of The truth shall The Internment of Aliens ready for the printers in autumn 1940. Professor Lafitte prevail' amended his depiction of Sir John Diplomatic relations Anderson, the then Home Secretary, as eality, alas, made mock of this illiberal; it appears that the man who description on Prague's Jan Hus Mr Winston Churchill, MP for supervised the indiscriminate round-up Rmonument for the past fifty years. Davyhulme, speaking at 10 Downing implicit in Churchill's 'collar the lot' At the start of this gruesome half century Street, disclosed that his grandmother and directive did so against his own better Czech Jewry suffered decimation at the mother, who was six months pregnant at judgment. hands of the Nazis; later its remnant was the time, were given instructions to kill at A number of illuminating points dispersed by the Communists. Now, at least one Nazi each, should the Germans emerged during the discussion. A former the end of the fifty years - to be precise, invade. woman internee recalled her Isle of Man in April 1990 - Czech Jews held a world It seems that Mr Churchill's mother landlady saying 'We are treating you rally in Israel (with generous assistance was dining with her parents when Sir nicely in the expectation that you'll put in from Robert Maxwell). The venues for Winston rounded upon the two ladies and a good word for us when the Germans get the gathering ranged from a Jerusalem declared: 'If the Huns come, I am relying here'. In a more serious vein, Mr Ludwig congress hall to the Diaspora Museum in on each of you to take at least one Spiro spoke of eight refugees committing Tel Aviv, which staged the exhibition German with you'. suicide as a reaction to internment; Where Cultures Meet: The Story of the 'But Papa,' replied the young mother to addressing the wider, not to say perennial, Jews of Czechoslovakia, and Kfar be, 'I do not have a gun, and I would not issue of English xenophobia he put Masaryk. The last-named Kibbutz, know how to use one'. 'My dear'. Sir forward 'utility' (i.e. usefulness to this established by Czech olim in 1940 Winston rejoined, grabbing a knife from country) as the only means whereby aliens honours the memory of a man who early the table and holding it above his head, might gain true acceptance in Britain. in his political career defended a Jew 'You can use a carving knife'. D

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Reviews Synagogue; in addition it allowed Dr. Kirchner to visit Israel. This easing of the situation of East German Jewry was motivated by East A saving remnant Berlin's desire to build bridges with the West, especially Washington. Meanwhile, Robin Ostow JEWS IN CONTEMPORARY EAST GERMANY, The children of of course, the Honecker regime has been Moses in the land of Marx. Macmillan 1989 tossed into the lumberroom history, and every institution of the former DDR is in his study, based on in-depth postwar, he was Barmitzvah at the melting pot. Until this somewhat interviews, has a double focus: the Rykestrasse Synagogue and eventually chaotic situation gets clarified Ostow's study will be the last word on the East German Gemeinde and the took a similarly descended wife. As T subject. D R.G. unaffiliated Jews of that country. Of all president of the Gemeinde since 1971 he Europe's postwar communities the East has instituted well-attended cultural Berlin one probably had the most events, and has latterly established contact chequered history. The miniscule with international Jewish bodies. Gemeinde resulted from the division of For all Dr. Kirchner's efforts, there is Singer - the city and the subsequent escape of the still a considerable gap between the two entire postwar communal leadership to hundred members of the community and but not Bashevis the West. This development coincided the (estimated) four thousand East with the whipping up of antisemitism Berliners with a tenuous connection to fter Auschwitz' wrote Adorno throughout Eastern Europe by means of Judaism. The latter break down into two 'there can be no poems'. He was the Doctors' Plot, the Slansky Trial, the groups: half and quarter Jews, and full 'A:L righ t in that all art presupposes purge of Anna Pauker, etc. Jews who de-Judaised themselves for the the existence of truth and beauty Although East Berlin also demoted greater glory of Marx. somewhere in the universal scheme of prominent Jews like Rudolf Herrnstadt, Dr. Irene Runge was born in wartime things, while the occurrence of the Shoah the DDR never descended to the New York to Jewish Communist emigres, totally negated such an assumption. But Jewbaiting practised in 1950s and taken back to East Berlin in 1949. he was also wrong in the sense that their Czechoslovakia or 1960s Poland. The She recalls: experiences drew an 'artistic' response reason for this derives from the very 'My parents and their friends needed to be from some camp survivors - Paul Celan, nature of the country. As the alternative together; they ivere ahvays having parties. Primo Levi, Eli Wiesel - while writers like German state - i.e. alternative to the We knew a lot of people who came from William Styron, D. M. Thomas and allegedly Nazified Federal Republic — it concentation camps. People would often I. B. Singer produced great imaginative could not have recourse to gutter tactics talk about those days and what they literature on the Holocaust survivor which would further undermine its experienced in the camps. I didn't realise theme. credibility. This did not deter it from till much later that that's not Germany, The playwright Peter Flannery had the pursuing a viciously anti-Israel policy and but a special social and political idea of imaginatively reconstructing the denying Jewish restitution claims; on the culture. life of the one camp survivor whose name other hand, Jewish camp survivors and Most of our friends and acquaintances has, alas, entered the English language: returnees enjoyed the marginally were Jeivs, but none of them ivere Peter Rachman. In Flannery's Singer privileged status of 'victims of Fascism'. religious. We talked a lot about being (currently staged at the Royal Shakespeare Local survivors and returnees, in fact, Jeiuish and tve told Jewish jokes, but the Company's Pit Theatre in the Barbican) make up the entire Gemeinde in East Jiidische Gemeinde seemed very religious the hero, having survived Auschwitz, Germany — whereas its Western and we had no contact with it'. comes to postwar Britain where he counterpart largely comprises DPs and Nonetheless, in the 1970s Irene joined advances from smalltime black subsequent immigrants from Poland, the community. Several years later she marketeering to largescale racketeering in Hungary, etc. Lacking reinforcements, the initiated a 50-strong group of slum property. tiny East Berlin community is 'frozen' in Jewish-descended intellectuals, writers and At the climax of his career Singer size; according to its critics it is also artists who were looking for their roots. experiences such self-disgust that he fakes frozen in attitudes. This group has been holding joint events a suicide and disappears. His next 'To become part of it is complicated, with the Gemeinde ever since. Several incarnation is as a philanthropist incredibly complicated. You get the feeling other exciting developments have affected dispensing largesse to impecunious artists. that it is a conspiratorial brotherhood the community in the mid and later When the shock encounter with an ex- because it has so few members and they Eighties. After 22 years it had its first concentration camp guard ends this phase all joined when they ivere ycmng, and fulltime rabbi in the shape of of his life. Singer spends two decades have known each other for decades'. U.S.-domiciled Rabbi Isaac Neumann performing anonymous acts of charity At the head of this 'conspiratorial' (whose incumbency was, however, of among London's down-and-outs. group stands Peter Kirchner (who, at short duration). The Honecker One could therefore say that in Rabbi Riesenburger's prompting, became government subsidised the reconstruction Flannery's morality play the hero |j communal mohel while still a medical of the Rykestrasse Synagogue, and transmogrifies from Peter Rachman into student). A Mischling with a Jewish building work at Weissensee Cemetery John Stonchouse and then into John mother, Dr. Kirchner escaped deportation; and the former Oranienburgerstrasse Profumo. AJR INFORMATION JULY 1990

Such a bold summary may do an author who extends compassionate In the latter half of the film there was a injustice to an author who empathises indulgence to all his characters, even the return to the montage-voice-over mode movingly with Jewish suffering, and poses wayward Broder. However duplicitously with some very disturbing footage of profound questions about the 'meaning' the latter acts in the amorous charades of corpses lying in the streets after allied of the camps. Even so Flannery deserves his own devising, solicitude for all his bombing raids and of shell-shocked censure. In intermingling the theme of victims shows through. (Victims is in fact civilians trying to reestablish their lives in Auschwitz with that of 'cardboard city' he a misnomer, since the three women show the face of the hardships of rationing and seems to suggest a parallel between the themselves possessed of greater inner housing shortages. More disturbing than victims of Nazism and of Thatcherism, strength than the 'trigamist'.) this, however, was the content of the , which one theatre-goer, at any rate, found The pleasure derived from Singer's letters, which began to pose questions so offensive that he left before the end of many-layered depiction of character is like: 'Who has bombed our beautiful the play (even though he wanted to stay further enhanced by Mazursky's cities?', which led on to forward the to applaud a hardworking cast headed by deployment of cinematic resources. The proposition that everyone who had been the brilliant Anthony Sher). D R.G. soundtrack modulates from klesmer tunes involved in the war shared equal guilt. via synagogal chants to 1940s pop, and a This built upon the concept that the nostalgic mood is induced by shots of whole second world war was caused by New York's Lower East Side - all peeling 'one man who had a lunatic vision of Eternal Quadrangle brownstone and metal fire escapes — being chosen by God'. This view, intercut with vistas of Coney Island and however, is naive in the extreme. Would it riters, pace James Joyce, are the the arcadian kosher Catskills. The acting, have been possible for the Fiihrer and 'consciousness of the race'. uniformly good, reaches its apogee in Reich to have functioned so effectively WHowever high-faluting this may Anjelica Houston's portrayal of the without the Volk} sound, in the case of Bashevis Singer it is presumed dead first wife. A film to enjoy In the end this was the story of a largely true. Singer's imagination does and treasure in the memory. privileged person and her privileged encapsulate the race memory, not of D R.G. children who were lucky enough to live Jewry as such, but of its - vital - East through a catastrophic war with only one European component. casualty. Today, when the way of life of the Hard times Tilli Monckeberg was reunited with all Ostjuden is rapidly receding into a past On the other side: To my children but one of her children. She died in 1958. beyond recall we turn to Singer's books to from Germany 1940-46. Channel 4, D M.N. catch echoes of that vanished civilisation. The flavour of his work is bitter-sweet 15.5.90 and, to use a modern catchphrase, reader- Dutch recall the Occupation athilde Wolff Monckeberg, an friendly. Even in stories about Holocaust The 4.'5th anniversary of Liberation upper middle-class Christian, survivors he displays the true fabulist's prompted considerable soulsearching in lived in Hamburg when war gifts of producing dark tales shot through M the Netherlands. The reason can be broke out in 1939. Four of her five with quirky humour. A case in point is deduced from the following statistics: children had already left Germany. She the novel Enemies, a love story, which Among a population of nine million, i wrote them many unsent letters. Paul Mazursky has faithfully translated resistants numbered under twenty This drama-documentary was based on into a film currently on general release. thousand - roughly the same number as these letters, which were discovered by The film's hero is the talmudically that of Dutch SS volunteers on the Eastern one of the Monckeberg children in 1972. educated Brodcr who - alone among his Front. The total number of collaborators The programme was extremely family - survived the Shoah thanks to a is estimated at 450,000, of whom about a 'professional', using a very moving Polish servant girl. He married and took third were (at least temporarily) taken combination of cine-montage made up of her to New York, where he works as into custody after the war. Special footage of Nazi Germany with its ghost-writer for a fashionable rabbi. postwar courts conducted 15,000 trials, swastika bedecked streets, marching and civil courts handed down an Talmudic study has not, however, curbed soldiers and cheering civilians whilst the additional 37,000 guilty verdicts. his libido. He deceives his naive wife with voice-over read excerpts from the letters. glamorous Masha, a camp survivor, and These figures indicate that the Dutch These pieces were interspersed with compounds the offence by undergoing a have seen their wartime conduct as more interviews with Mrs Monckeberg's Jewish religious wedding ceremony with heroic than it actually was. Some analysts children today and scenes from modern even ascribe the persistence of anti- her. The tragicomic complications of Hamburg. German feeling in the country to the Broder's life receive a further twist with mismatch between Dutch selfperception the arrival - literally from the dead - of and historic reality. D his first wife. CAMPS In the end, notwithstanding the suicide INTERNMENT-P.O.W.- of one protagonist, and the disappearance FORCED LABOUR-KZ Harold Meyer of another, the tangled story finds a happy I wish to buy cards, envelopes and folded post­ marked letters from all camps of both world wars. In our June edition Mr. Meyer's age was resolution (of sorts). One leaves the Please send, registered mail, stating price, to; wrongly stated, he is nearly 66. We cinema with a feeling of having been 14 Rosslyn Mill, London NW3 apologise for this; and any other mistakes simultaneously moved and entertained. PETER C. RICKENBACK which may have been contained in the More: one has been in the presence of an article, unreservedly. mBamsm HK—-"— AJR INFORMATION JULY 1990

(post boxes where pupils were able to put r -1 1 ^^,,.„-.--'"^ 1 awkward questions or criticisms of the teachers, anonymously of course). <^. Helfersystem (older children helping younger ones). Schulaufgabengruppen (homework in groups). Also, did anyone attend or know anything about the School POSITIVE FEEDBACK had brought his violin and kept up spirits which later was located in the Choriner by playing for us. I introduced Brainin to Strasse, up to 1941? Does anyone know Sir — A dear friend of ours who resides in Peter Schidlof, an ex-schoolmate of mine, what Clara Chodowski (teacher at the London sends us AJR Information and Brainin realised that Schidlof had Ryke Strasse) did in this country? She regularly, and we enjoy every issue, great musical talent. (He later arranged arrived here on 28.4.1939, last known reading it from the front page to the last for Schidlof to get further training etc.) address 18.4.1946, 92 Colney Hatch advertisement. Knowing that Schidlof had played for Lane, NIO, died 30.6.1962, buried at We enjoyed the January, February and his school, and even on Vienna Radio, as Willesden Liberal Cemetery. March issues with the wonderful articles a boy, I told Norbert, who gave him his I have promised to help to contribute to about Wagner, Goethe, Strauss (by my violin and asked him to play. No further a book being written on the Jewish former music teacher Hans Freyhan in proof of Schidlof's talent was required. schools in pre-war Berlin, their teachers Berlin) and the various comments on Hawkshead Lane Henry Toch and their method of teaching. Due credit events in Germany right now. North Mymms, Herts will be given to all contributors. Thank you very much for producing Sneyd Road Martin Teich-Birken such an interesting, well written and London NW2 Association informative paper. OMISSION of Jewish Ex-Berliners Reston, Virginia Inge Berner Sir - Your excellent articles on the MAKING A WILL U.S.A. development of Australian Jewry omitted Our satisfaction at this flatteringly one significant character: General Sir John Sir - My very bitter experiences with an positive feedback is tempered by the Monash, possibly the outstanding Allied executor — a solicitor appointed in her thought that if our many 'second-hand' general of the First World War. He will by a relative — will be of some value readers took out subscriptions, it would deserves a place in any history of to your readers as enormous delays, give us a sounder organisational and Australian Jewry, and is remembered both fabricated to 'justify' massive charges, are financial base. Ed. in Australia and the U.K. far from rare! I have learnt from three Ruskin Close John M. Davies other cases that executors who do not London NWll make a living out of it, can normally EDITORIAL MYOPIA finish such jobs in a very few months, Sir — I refer to your recent criticism of the whilst 'professionals' manage to stretch PICTURE THIS Jewish comedian Jackie Mason. them into years! In my opinion the richness of Jewish Sir - In your June issue you report that What can a victim do? High Court humour has always relied largely upon the new German banknotes will bear procedures are costly. Help from the Law exposing the shortcomings and portraits of famous people and Society is a forlorn hope; its rules are far imperfections amongst our people. To illustrations of their work. The DM200 from user-friendly! laugh at ourselves cannot, surely, be a bad note is to have a picture of Paul Ehrlich, Here is my advice to testators: Keep thing. who discovered a cure for syphilis: 1 your heirs out of those claws by Maybe one day a Jewish comedian will wonder how this will be illustrated? The appointing them, or an outsider who does appear who will present us all as paragons mind boggles. not make a living out of it, as executor(s) of virtue. While he may or may not be Tooke Close Paul Samet with the right to seek professional advice successful in converting any latent Hatch End (of their choice) when needed and at costs antisemites to love us, I doubt somehow to be agreed - which are to be borne by the estate. You may need legal help when that his humour would be very funny. PRE-WAR BERLIN SCHOOLS Holders Hill Avenue Ludwig Levy drawing up your will; but do not appoint London NW4 Sir - May I, through your column, request a little dictator - he will look after himself information on the following: first! Charged with hypersensitivity I would Names of teachers from Berlin, who Dove Park, Hatch End F. Selby refer Mr Levy to the article 'Burning faith' came to this country. Whether they were (April 1990). Ed. able to continue in their profession or what other occupations they pursued. , BARBED BLESSING What can your readers tell about the CAR HIRE Comfortable, air conditioned car with Sir - The author of The Internment of educational methods in classrooms that lielpful driver. were tried at the time, i.e., Briefkdsten Aliens suggests that the only blessing to Airports, stations, coast, etc. Fully come out of internment was the 'genesis insured. of the Amadeus String Quartet'. NOTICE Tony Burstein 081-204 0567. In the June issue, in the letter from Mr. Harold Becl^er about Car 0831 461066. At Prees Heath internment camp I correspondence with families in Leipzig, we omitted to state the shared a tent with Norbert Brainin, who house No. which is 41, AJR INFORMATION JULY 1990

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Twenty year search VERJAGT, Irene White 70

ERMORDET ow 70 years of age, Irene White r Leon Brenner was twenty-seven continues to be one of the AJR's years old when he found out that The Art of Jewish Children most active members. he had been adopted. That was N M Gern)any 1936-1941 After spending most of her childhood in twenty one years ago. Since then he has Berlin, her family emigrated to Israel in been trying to trace the identity and 1934, where Irene became a trainee nurse. whereabouts of his natural mother. Until ulb Levin was born in Stettin in 1901 In 1938 she came to England to complete March of this year all he had been able to where he attended the local art school. her training, her first posting being find out was that he had been born at the In 1919 he moved to Diisseldorf, living St Mary's Hospital, Paddington. During Booth Memorial Hospital in Cape Town with his uncle Max Arnfeld. After J the Blitz she was transferred to on 3 July 1941, that he was adopted on completing his studies he became a Hampstead General (now the Royal Free) 14 October 1941 and that his mother had member of the ASSO (Assoziation so that her linguistic abilities could be turned twenty some time between his revolutionarer bildender Kiinstler) and utilised to the fullest extent. birth and his adoption. was consequently arrested in 1933 and Irene's is a busy life. At present she However, in April of this year imprisoned for three weeks. After his maintains a library of over 1,000 audio Mr Brenner gained access to his mother's release from prison he continued painting tapes which are available on loan — these immigration file. Her name, he discovered, and his works were included in the range from synagogal music to opera and was Gerda Vansburger and she was the national exhibition of Jewish artists in from 'easy listening' to the taped versions child of Ernest and Anna Vansburger. She 1936 sponsored by the Kultusgemeinde of AJR Information which she has been was born in BerHn in 1922. The family and the Berlin community. In 1936 Levin producing for the last four years, the had left Germany in 1936 to escape the became art teacher at the new Jewish latter recorded with the help of a small Nazis. school in Diisseldorf and in 1938 he team of readers and the Talking Gerda Vansburger arrived in South moved to Berlin where he taught at the Newspaper Association of Great Britain, Africa on 16 February 1939, intending to Kaliski and subsequently at the Holdheim who place their cassette duplicating marry a Hans Gerstle. The marriage did school. With the closing of most Jewish services at her disposal. not take place and she left in March 1942 schools in 1941, Levin was forced to As well as this time consuming task for Buenos Aires. work as a handyman/carpenter. He had Irene spends two days a week at the Paul Mr Brenner has subsequently found out opportunities to emigrate but refused to Balint AJR Day Centre. She also visits that his mother is dead. But, much to his do so. In 1943 he was arrested and residents in all the Homes on behalf of the surprise, he also learned that he has a deported to Auschwitz. The date of his Belsize Square Synagogue, where she is a sister, named Susanna, living somewhere death is not known. member of the Friends Group, the in South America. He is determined to During his teaching years Levin Women's Society and leads a weekly find her. preserved much of the work of his pupils. painting class. Mr Brenner's search for his family has He gave many of them to his friend Carl We are all thankful to Irene and been going on for over two decades. If Lauterbach and the remainder, together appreciate her hard work. We hope that anyone has any information about them with some of his own work, was saved by she will remain fit, well and happy for please contact him: Leon H. Brenner, PO Frau Mieke Monjau after his deportation. many years to come. D Box 781 407. Sandton. 2146. Republic of These collections remained hidden until South Africa. D they were given to the Diisseldorf Municipal Museum in 1982/3. 'The Art of Jewish Children Germany Let your body 1936^1' will be shown at the Ben Uri take a holiday Art Gallery from 15 July under its original title 'Verjagt, ermordet'. This exhibition Whilst enjoying good quality hotels and excellent cuisine, why not ease your aches has travelled widely in Europe and the and pains with the famous Fango mud U.S.A. Many of the pictures were signed treatments as well as Health, Beauty and and of 299 children, 166 have been Fitness therapy. identified. Of these 43 were murdered in ABANO SPA, ITALY J-l JACKMAN • concentration camps. Abano is situated in beautiful countryside • Alice Schwab just 45 minutes from Venice. **^ SILVERMAN Schedule flights from Heathrow and COMMERc:iAL PROPERTY CONSULTANTS regional airports - Prices with or without treatments - Private car transfers included. FOR COLOUR BROCHURE WRITE OR TELEPHONE BELSIZE SQUARE SYNAGOGUE 51 Belsize Square, London, N.W.3 Our communal hall is available for cultural clwards 26 Conduit Street, London WIR 9TA and social functions. For details apply to: I of Westminster LiipitedaH Telephone: 071 409 0771 Fax: 071 493 8017 Secretary, Synagogue Office. 276 PRESTON ROAD, HARROW ^'ftk MIDDLESEX HA3 OQA r:^^ Tel: 071-794 3949 TEL: 081-904 2202 V^ 8 AJR INFORMATION JULY 1990

PAUL BALiNT AJR DAY CENTRE ExocJus 1990 - Thc Eastboume affair 1.5 Cleve Road, London NW6 3RL Tel. 071 328 0208 n the 'Day Centre Weekend' (11- whole area from Beachy Head to Morning Activities ~ Bridge, kalookie, 13 May) Cleve Road luminaries Newhaven and back again. Back at the scrabble, chess, etc., keep fit, discussion OSylvia and Renee arranged a hotel all members were greeted by the group, choir (Mondays), art class (Tuesdays most successful weekend outing to shapely form of Lydia Lassman, who had and Thursdays). Eastbourne. come along from the AJR, to make sure Afternoon entertainment The participants, all 53 of them, that everything was going according to boarded the hired coach outside the Day plan. JULY Centre at 10.30am and were whisked That evening, after another excellent Monday 2 Danny Kraus Entertains away, up the A22, to East Grinstead, dinner, the party headed for the Tuesday 3 Music For a While - Wendy Duke &C Kathryn Salmon where a light lunch was laid on at the Eastbourne Royal Hippodrome for a Wednesday 4 Melody Makers - Kathy Felbridge Hotel. After lunch the company marvellous performance by the Minstrel McCormack &i Ken Penney headed for Eastbourne, arriving at about Stars; this event alone would have made A Selection of Israeli &C 4pm. The four star, seafront Queen's the journey worthwhile. Thursday 5 Jewish Songs - Malka Hotel provided elegant rooms, with all Sunday morning began with yet another Shinar 'mod cons', for everyone. After a brief huge breakfast, followed by a coach trip (a) Outing to Docklands wash and brush-up it was out for a stroll around the 'Mysterious East', Pevensey, Monday 9 (b) Songs - Past tk Present - Hans Freund along the seaside to take the air and build Bexhill, St Leonards and Hastings. Unlike A Life of Music with Piano up the appetite for the tasty five course the last invasion, 1066, there were no Tuesday 10 Illustration - Doris Samuels table d'hote dinner with long chats over casualties. Wednesday 11 Dorei Duo accompanied by coffee for afters. The party then returned to Eastbourne Heather Ramsden (Piano) On Saturday the twelfth all members for lunch and thence to London, arriving Thursday 12 The Dulwich Piano Trio woke ready for action. After a substantial back at Cleve Road in the early evening. Monday 16 Kol Rinah Singers conducted by Johanna Lichtenstern breakfast everyone headed to the coach End of Exodus. A jolly fine weekend. D Tuesday 17 The Country Which Stood for a 'Mystery Tour' which covered the With thanks to Gerard Tichauer by its Jews - Talk by Waiter Goddard thanks and congratulations to the Wednesday 18 Musical Ensemble - Alan Success stories persevering pair. Starr &C Jennie Sandler Another of our volunteers, a gentleman, Thursday 19 Joyce &C Godfrey van Leer was asked to visit a lady who intended to Entertain You With Magic here are two happy reports from go on aliyah to Israel to join her only Monday 23 Musik &c Poesie - Fred Stern our Volunteers Department this surviving relative, her sister, in a Tijesday 24 Musical Entertainment with Tmonth. residential home. In her eighties, the lady The Sugar Rianos The first comes from a couple who have was finding it difficult to make the Wednesday 25 Collection of Songs &C Arias been visiting the same gentleman for over necessary decisions, clear her flat of - James Pocha accompanied three years now. A widower, he was very furniture, fix dates, decide what to take by Bob Goldsmith lonely and much in need of support. The and what to leave and all the other Thursday 26 I play - You sing — Gerard visiting couple found out that he had complications which arise when one Tichauer never received a pension from the decides to emigrate. Monday 30 Jack &C Lily Sing For You - Jack Harris accompanied by Austrian authorities and set to work to Our volunteer's patience has been Lilian Goldstein gather together the necessary documents, inexhaustible. He has supported this Tuesday 31 Music For You - Linda complete the long and complicated forms, woman throughout this fraught period, Sherratt make trips to the Embassy etc. (This was helping her with all her enquiries and AUGUST before Aggie Alexander came to the AJR keeping in touch with the home in Israel Wednesday 1 A Sentimental &c Zany to run her 'Drop-in' centres). After to make sure all the details reinained Afternoon - Patricia Powers sending off the documents there was the clear. Thursday 2 (a) Outing to Waddesdon usual interminable wait. However, just With his help, the lady is expected to be Manor recently, after eighteen months, our leaving this country to settle with her (b) B'nai B'rith Jerusalem volunteer couple have been informed that sister in the very near future. Songsters their friend is to receive a pension. Our D L.H. Monday 6 One Man Music Hall Show - Mickie Driver Tuesday 7 Classical Music &C Song Recital - Sybil Michelow ROOM AVAILABLE IN (Mezzo) accompanied by AJR INFORMATION ONE OF OUR HOMES FOR SHORT TERM Michael Runge is now available on tape Wednesday 8 Popular Classical Music - RESPITE CARE. Maurice Isaacs (Violin) For further information accompanied by Isabel Please contact Mrs Irene White 081-203 2733 please contact:- Isaacs before 9 am or after 6 pm Mrs Ruth Finestone Thursday 9 The Thames Trio - Ben Brickman 071-483 2536 AJR INFORMATION JULY 1990

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Our Annual General Meeting A sentimental journey and the magic of gold more was needed to implement the large- scale refurbishment programme. As a first r Manfred Durst gave a most stage he announced that the residents of entertaining account of his early Otto Schiff House are being moved into a M life and entry into the jewellery new purpose-built wing of Osmond trade which, it transpired, was the result House while the former old age home is of shock induced by the paying of a to be converted into sheltered fortune (12 shillings) for a wartime watch accommodation for thirty people. repair. Mr Marx concluded by paying a warm Mr Durst had arrived in this country on tribute to AJR staff, ably led by the a kindertransport, accompanied by his Administrator Mrs Lydia Lassman, and sister. From Dovercourt camp he went, volunteers. via London to a Wiltshire Village, where The Chairman's point about the he had his first experience of great British Association's onerous financial burden institutions like tin baths and bucket Mr Marx re-elected. was echoed by Mr M. Kochmann in his Treasurer's report. But for an unusually operated plumbing. It was from here that xford has its May Week in June. high income from legacies in 1989, said he entered his apprenticeship. He was In West Hampstead it still felt Mr Kochmann, we would have had to offered a choice of three trades, the others Olike April on 6 June the day of make heavy inroads into our reserves. The being carpentry and fur. Remembering his our AGM. Despite showers and blustery point that legacies to charitable watch repair, he chose jewellery. At that winds, however, a large audience organisations are not subject to tax was time he was unaware of the difference assembled in the glassed-in hall of the emphasised in the discussion that between a jeweller and a watchmaker. Paul Balint AJR Day Centre. In his followed. Other points made by speakers Upon completing his apprenticeship Chairman's address Mr Theo Marx from the floor related to membership Mr Durst spent time in the U.S.A. where stressed the ever heavier burden which a figures, the annual subscription charge he learnt the 'wax moulding' method of combination of factors — the increased age and the AJR's relatively limited success in mass producing gold jewellery. He of Home residents (which currently publicising its existence. Replying, brought this technique back to Britain and averages 85), the lower entitlement to Mr Marx announced that Association German pensions of new admissions, membership currently stood at just below was, for some time, its only British ; reduced grants from Local Authorities - is four thousand, emphasised that the £25 exponent. imposing on the Association's financial annual subscription was waived for Grateful to this day for the benefits resources. He linked this to the main hardship cases and asked all present to go bestowed upon him by his apprenticeship, theme of his address: the AJR's £4 million out and recruit new members. he has invested much time and effort in Residential Care Appeal. With the Paul There followed the election of the supplying training facilities for young Balint Trust having primed the pump, Executive Committee - whose people both here and in Israel. quite a few individual members had composition was listed in the May issue - Mr Durst's speech, accompanied by already responded to the appeal, but far and the lecture by Mr Manfred Durst. colour slides, was very interesting and its title most apt. On this 'sentimental journey' through Mr Durst's life it became AJR obvious that it had been charmed — by PONT FORGET 'DROP IN' ADVICE SERVICE 'the magic of gold'. i Twice weekly advice sessions offering Our Residential Care tielp witti filling in forms, checking benefits received, checking entitlements, AJR 'on the air' claiming benefits, fuel problems, money Appeal. matters, etc., etc., are being held as he AJR's former Treasurer, follows:— Mr Ludwig Spiro, was interviewed Much more is needed on LBC Radio's 'You don't have to TUESDAYS 10 am-12 noon at T to reach our target. 15 Cleve Road, London NW6 be Jewish' on June 17. He spoke of the problems encountered THURSDAYS 10 am-12 noon at Hannah Karminski House, 9 Adamson by the ageing refugee community and Road, London NW3 the importance of the Residential Care Appeal in raising funds to provide a place No appointment necessary but please for them to live. For the many who have VOLUNTEER bring along all relevant documents, such as Benefit Books, letters, bills, etc. no surviving family the company of others With business/clerical background urgently with shared experiences and a common required to help in AJR offices at Adamson language can provide great comfort. Road, London NW3. Efforts to raise the £4 million needed Would suit recently retired person. You can contact the AdR by for the expansion of the existing facilities For further information telephone Phone 071-483 2536 are continuing, Mr Spiro told the Lydia Lassman: 071-483 2536. Fax 071-722 4652 programme's presenter, Michael . , | Freedland. j 10 AJR INFORMATION JULY 1990

Prophet motive Plaque - but no claque - for VERSE AND WORSE Ben-Gurion wrote in a letter to a Werfel newspaper editor in 1961: 'The world will WALDHEIM end the Cold War in 1985 or 1987. The 'You expect ine to remember pressure of the Russian intelligentsia for The centenary of Franz Werfel's birth was Dates like Tenth of November? more freedom, and of the masses for marked by two events in Vienna, where The Austrians find it easier higher living standards, must lead to a the Prague-born author had spent his To share in my amnesia.' democratisation of society within the next most productive years. A memorial plaque quarter century.' (April issue, was unveiled in the presence of a personal ROALD DAHL Mitteilungsblatt des Irgun Olei Merkas representative of the Prime Minister of the His tales beguile a billion kids. Europa, Tel Aviv.) Armenian Soviet Republic. (Werfel's Forty Days of Musa Dagh dealt with Turkish He thinks all publishers are Yids Cairo warning genocide of the Armenians during the And out-chills Saki, Poe et al; Great War.) Truly, 'Wer Dahl hat, hat die Qual'. President Mubarak of Egypt has voiced There was also an international his fears that 'Soviet Jewish immigration symposium on the writer's work at which, JUNG threatens to blow up the peace march and however, criticism outweighed acclaim. Freud's chosen heir and shabbas goy put the whole region on the verge of a Participants cited adverse comments by He saw some good in Strength through new bloody confrontation'. D some of Werfel's contemporaries, such as Joy Forked tongues Robert Musil's 'I have nothing to say to a And thought old Sigmund sex-obsessed. world in which Werfel finds interpreters', In love — as war - the Swiss know best. Every English conversation has three and Ernst Bloch's 'After the War Werfel levels of meaning: what you think, what swopped his abstract pacifism for a toy KARAJAN you say, and what you wish to be trumpet'; Martin Esslin, former Head of A multipurpose Austro-German, understood as saying. BBC drama, described Werfel's plays as A minstrel at the court of Hermann, (US-born Janet Daley, The Independent 'kitschig Burgtheater ham on the level of A Party member since way back — 21 March) school broadcasts'. He's not as painted as he's black.

PARTNER in long established English Solicitors OPEN DAYS Israel's (bilingual-German) would be happy to assist clients with English, German and IN THE HOMES Very finest Wines Austrian problems. Contact

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AVAILABLE NOW Entrance £2.00 and £ 1.00 children COMPANIONS Please write or phone for OF LONDON Heinrich Stahl House full infornnation Sunday 2 September A specialist home care service to assist the elderly, people with disabilities, at 2.30 p.m. help during and after illness, childcare DALLOW ROAD Entrance £2.00 and £ 1.00 children and household needs. LUTON BEDS LU11UR For a service tailored to your individual needs by Companions who care - 0582 22538 Please call The AdR does not accept 071-433 3869/79 responsibility for the 2a Belsize Park Mews, London NW3 5BL standard of service (Emp Agy) rendered by advertisers. AJR INFORMATION JULY 1990 II

Alice Schv\/ab Gonzalez was born in Barcelona and trained as a craftsman in metal. He moved to Paris in 1910 and between 1928-31 he SB's Column helped Picasso with the production of a series of welded iron works. Over 40 of More than a photographic exhibition. The his sculptures, including stone carvings Munich Stadtmuseum, jointly with the and plaster figures, together with 20 international Presseklub, presents drawings will be on display at this portraits and interviews which are the ur old friend Annely Juda is exhibition. The other artist whose work is work of Herlinde Koelbl (born 1939). She moving premises and it will no being displayed at the Whitechapel is travelled the world for four years to meet Olonger be necessary to risk life Harald KHngelhoUer (born 1954) who and photograph prominent Jewish artists, and limb on her steep stairs in the interest lives and works in Diisseldorf. His journalists and scientists who have made of art. Her new gallery is at 23 Dering sculptures are not easy; he uses significant contributions to contemporary Street, Wl and the first exhibition to be unconventional combinations of materials, civilisation. Among an impressive range of held there (from 28 June) will be an cardboard, mirror glass and metal, to personalities she met Jerusalem's mayor exhibition to celebrate the centenary of construct complex forms with slightly Teddy Kollek, Sir Georg Solti, Sir Ernst the birth of Naum Gabo (1890-1977). mysterious titles which, seemingly, form Gombrich, Lord Weidenfield, Simon Madame Yevonde (1893-1975) was an an intrinsic component of the work. A Wiesenthal and veteran film star Gitta original and exciting British photographer. catalogue is available which contains Alpar. Altogether an impressive array of An exhibition of her work, arranged essays about much of his recent work. people who talked to her about their jointly by the Royal Photographic Society One of the most exciting and vivid relations to present-day Germany, their and the National Portrait Gallery, under shows in London is The Pursuit of the views on the cultural consequences of the title Colour, Fantasy, Myth will be Real: British figurative painting from the diaspora and on the roots of held at that gallery (20 July- Sickert to Bacon at the Barbican (until antisemitism. 30 September). The Goddess series of 8 July). This exhibition was organised by her work is being shown in its entirety, the Manchester City Art Galleries and Kaffeehausliteratur. A recital with this including portraits of Lady Diana Moseley was shown there until April. After its promising title was given at London's as Venus and Gertrude Lawrence as the showing at the Barbican the exhibition Leighton House, Holland Park, under the Muse of Lyric Poetry. Other portrait will be moved to Glasgow (until auspices of the Austrian Institute. The photographs include Gielgud, Vivien 16 September). The exhibition represents Vienna 'Burg' actor Erich Auer Leigh and the Mountbatten family. the work of twelve artists: Sickert, concentrated on authors who enriched Dr Fritz Eichenberg is said to be one of Bomberg, Spencer, Coldstream, Uglow, Austria's poetry and prose between the the greatest wood engravers of this Auerbach, Freud, Bacon, Kossoff, Lessore, wars, and read stories, scenes and century. Born in Cologne he studied under Andrewes and Wonnacott. Some really sketches by Roda Roda, Friedell, Anton Hugo Steiner-Prag and began his book beautiful pictures are on display and the Kuh, Peter Altenberg, Alfred Polgar and illustrations while still a student. He left excellent catalogue (price £12.95) is well Hans Weigel. It was a very pleasurable Germany in 1933 and settled in New worth the money. evening which proved what a diversity of York where he founded the Pratt Graphic Continuing its series of exhibitions (the real talent was lost when all these authors Arts Centre. Recently he has been tenth in the series) of works selected by were dispersed, or perished, during the working on his autobiography and has individual artists, the National Gallery is Nazi era. produced 17 wood engravings on aspects showing a selection of its paintings chosen of death. A small exhibition of his work by Victor Passmore (until 7 October). Birthdays. Austrian born composer was recently held (until 29 June) in the Each artist has his or her own favourites Ernst Krenek celebrated his 90th birthday vaults of the Royal Society of Arts. and Passmore has selected works by in his California home. Krenek, whose After its successful showing in London Rembrandt, Turner and Titian, as well as first jazz opera Johnny spielt aw/created at the Goethe Institut (until 18 June), the two works by Passmore himself. no minor sensation when first performed Art of German Drawing Exhibition VII is Finally, for those in Bristol, the touring in Vienna in 1927, met unmitigated moving to the Scottish National Gallery exhibition of Bauhaus Photography will criticism and overt antisemitic comments. of Modern Art in Edinburgh (24 June- be shown at the Arnolfini Gallery His earlier works were followed by 2 September). Marika Eversfield RAS who (14July-19 August). D compositions in his U.S. exile (mainly trained in Hungary, Vienna, Perugia and choral). He completed his oratorio Opus at the Arthur Segal School in London has Sine Nomine as late as 1988. - Austria's been exhibiting from 1971 onwards. She THE DAY CENTRE 'grand old lady of dance' Rosalia has had three successful exhibitions in NEEDS Chladek, a famous choreographer, is 85 May and June this year and will be (1) A temporary (3/4 months) helper on years old. - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, the showing at the Hyde Park Gallery, Craven Thursdays from mid-day to help serve celebrated German baritone, a frequent at tables in the dining room, clear up visitor to Britain, honorary doctor of Terrace, W2 for two weeks from etc. 11 September. Oxford University, who became a symbol (2) Drivers still needed to take people to The Whitechapel Art Gallery is and from the Centre. of Anglo-German reconciliation when he sang at the inauguration of the new mounting two important exhibitions (until Please contact Mrs S. Matus 071 328 0208 5 August). The first is of sculptures and 15 Cleve Road NW6 Coventry Cathedral in 1962, attained the drawings by Julio Gonzalez (1876-1942). age of 65. 12 AJR INFORMATION JULY 1990

disembarked at Sydney and taken by train *War on the wrong people' to a camp located 450 miles inland, near a town called Hay. As time went on, Part 2. Internment overseas i ' conditions improved, apart from the almost unbearable heat; and small-scale enterprises, such as market gardening, woodworking, tailoring, as well as the wide-ranging cultural and educational activities, kept up the internees' morale. In the course of 1941 they were transferred to other camps (Orange in New South Wales and Tatura in Victoria) as a preliminary to their release. When that came, one-half returned to Britain, a few went to other countries and just over 900 stayed in Australia and settled there.

Mauritius In November 1940, the SS Atlantis docked at Haifa. Her passengers were Jewish refugees from Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia. They had endured unspeakable hardship on their journey, Canada prisoners. In due course the government first down the Danube, then on board an in London sent out an emissary, who, unseaworthy vessel. But they were illegal etween June 22 and July 7, 1940, after a long and thorough inspection, immigrants and thus refused permission to four ships left Liverpool for Canada recommended continued amelioration and land. Instead, they were taken to the Bwith internees on board. Only three eventually release under the provisions of British island colony of Mauritius, far out arrived. The fourth was the Arandora the three White Papers of July, August in the Indian Ocean - some 1500 men, Star, which sank in the Atlantic after and October 1940. The first 287 refugees women and children. They landed on being struck by a German torpedo. The thus returned to England in December of Christmas Day and were driven in buses other three, the Duchess of York, the that year and another 604 during the through the streets of Port Louis on their Ettrick and the Sobieski, carried between ensuing six months. By the time war way to the prison camp at Beau Basin. them 7,500 German, Austrian and Italian ended the Canadian government had Their first year was terrible. They nationals, of whom (if the published reclassified those remaining as 'Interned suffered from poor food and from the figures are reliable) not quite 3,000 were Refugees (Friendly Aliens)', and 972 extremes of climate. Only in 1942 was the internees originally classified into the responded to its invitation to apply for strict segregation of the sexes relaxed. 'friendly' categories 'C and 'B'. citizenship. After that, weddings were celebrated and The Canadian government had offered children were born. Help from the to 'help out' with the problem of Australia generous Jewish community in South internment and had assumed that the Africa began to arrive. But only at the end arrivals from England would all be Australia, too, had offered internment of the war did the ordeal really cease. The German prisoners of war, merchant facilities as a contribution to the war deportees were released, and 1250 of seamen or pro-Nazi civilians. In fact, effort. And so it came about that only them were taken back to Haifa - this time there were a good many refugees, among days after the Arandora Star disaster, the to stay. Two hundred men had joined the them 'schoolboys, undergraduates, priests Dunera sailed from Liverpool bound for Allied Forces. One hundred and twenty- and rabbis'. The Canadian authorities, Australian ports with 2288 internees from four had died and were buried on the therefore, separated the Jews from the Lingfield and the Isle of Man, together island. rest. Prisoners were placed in five camps, with 440 German and Italian Arandora identified respectively by letters T, 'S', Star survivors. The grossly overloaded 'A', 'N', and 'B' - all but the last in vessel was tossed by stormy waters; a Southern Africa Quebec Province. Two were mid-river torpedo scored a near-miss, and her The Union of South Africa distinguished island fortresses, one was located in sheds 'passengers' suffered appalling hardship from the start between true Nazis and alongside a railway line. from cramped accommodation and bona fide refugees, who were classified as Conditions were poor to start with; but disgusting sanitary arrangements. They 'friendly enemy aliens'. These, for the they soon improved - at any rate in were exposed to the vagaries of thieves most part Jews, were either not interned comparison with those suffered by those among the escorting troops, to at all, or, if they were, were thoughtfully unfortunately miscategorised who were in molestation from their Nazi shipmates kept apart from 'real' Germans and consequence of that error placed in Camp and harsh treatment from the guards, released after a very short spell. On 'R', where they were exposed to vicious three of whom were later tried by court- principle, all refugees were free to make taunts, and worse, by their Nazi fellow- martial. Most of the refugees were their own contribution to the war effort in AJR INFORMATION JULY 1990 13

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Making a will? Annely Juda Fine Art Has moved to Remember the AJR 23 Dering Street (off New Bond Street), London Wl R 9AA Something that none of us should Tel: 071-629 7578 avoid is making a will and keeping it Fax:071-491 2139 up to date. CONTEMPORARY PAINTING AND SCULPTURE We know we cannot take our BELSIZE SQUARE SYNAGOGUE worldly possessions with us but we Mon-Fri: 10 am-6 pm Sat; 10 am-1 pm can — at least - see that whatever is 51 BELSIZE SQUARE, NW3 left behind goes: WE STILL NEED We offer a traditional style of (a) where it will be appreciated, Drivers to transport people to and from our religious service with Cantor, (b) where it will do some good, Day Centre in Cleve Road. Choir and Organ (c) where it is needed. If you can help, please contact Laura Howe, Many of our former refugees have Volunteers Co-ordlnator, 071-483 2536. found their association with the AJR Further details can be obtained a rewarding one. This is an JJA from our synagogue secretary opportunity to support the AJR AJR CLUB Charitable Trust. Your solicitor will 15 Cleve Road, London NW6 Telephone 071-794-3949 be able to help you; alternatively you can consult with WEDNESDAY 18TH JULY at 12.45 p.m. Minister: Rabbi Rodney J.Mariner Coach Outing to Waddesdon Manor our welfare rights advisor, Aggie Cantor: Rev Lawrence H. Fine Alexander, on 071-483 2536 (Tues, We welcome you and your friends on Regular services: Friday evenings at 6.30 pm, Weds, Thurs) or the social workers TUESDAYS - THURSDAYS - SUNDAYS Saturday mornings at 10 am at the Day Centre 071-328 0208. 2 p.m.-6 p.m. You will enjoy the friendly atmosphere Religion school: Sundays at 10 am to 1 pm you can talk - play cards - play games. If you have already made a will, it is Tuesdays & Thursdays at 2 p.m. quite easy to add a codicil. you may join the Space donated by Pafra Limited DAY CENTRE ENTERTAINMENT - FREE! Whatever amount you are able to One Sunday a month - live Entertainment. leave to the AJR, it will be well received, carefully applied and Refreshments are available at nominal charges. remembered with gratitude. Our Annual Membership fee is only £4. 14 AJR INFORMATION JULY 1990

FAMILY EVENTS dignity and charm. Missed by Manicurist Visits your home 081- Sandra Carmen, Denise and John 445 2915. ADVERTISEMENT Birthday Vigor and family. Collector of old Jewish and RATES Ison Klompus Wishes for good Palestine picture postcards. Single FAMILY EVENTS Rahmer Bernd Anselm Rahmer health and happiness on your 84th cards purchased. David Pearlman, First 15 words free of charge, died 14 May, aged 81, after a short £2.00 per 5 words thereafter. birthday. All our love. Brother 36 Asmuns Hill, London NWll. George, Helga and many friends. illness. He will be greatly missed by 081-455 2149. CLASSIFIED his family and friends. £2.00 per five words. Seeking couple for friendly Bridge Deaths Smurka Irmgard Smurka, born in game. North London. Non- BOX NUMBERS Bronner. Professor Dr. Josef £3.00 extra. Germany, died suddenly 17 January smokers. Box 1175. Bronner, Fellow I.Mech.E., DISPLAY 1990, aged 85. Missed by her sister, Seeking a reliable business contact Member of Engineering Council, per single column inch Karolina Keiler and the Kiwi family in Mexico. Tel. 0727 65588 16 ems (3 columns per page) £8.00 dearly beloved and loving husband of Ohio, Cleveland, USA. (Werner Mortimer). 12 ems (4 columns per page) £7.00 of Marianne and beloved brother of Dr. Marzel Bronner, passed away at Personal his home in Bournemouth on 1 May CLASSIFIED Lively widow ex-kindertransport, AJR CLUB 1990, six months only after the Miscellaneous Prague, Socialist background, seeks needs helpers for Sundays or death of his beloved youngest Electrician City and Guilds quali­ male companion London area for Thursdays 3.30 to 6 p.m. to serve brother Dr. Max Bronner. tea and to wash up fied. All domestic work undertaken meaningful relationship. Box No. Dawidowsky Emma Dawidowsky Please contact: Y. Steinreich. Tel: 081-455 5262. 1176. passed away 14 May. Deeply HildeBaban 071-359 9951 mourned and sadly missed by her brother in Auckland, New Zealand. SHELTERED FLATLET RETIRED SECRETARY Lewin-Herxheimer Betty Lewin- available at English/German visits your home. Herxheimer, born in Germany, died Own electric typewriter. Memoirs, 15 Cleve Road, NW6 12 November 1989, aged about 96. poetry, correspondence, filing. £7 Missed by her daughter, Anne comprising large bedsitting room, fitted kitchen, bathroom/WC. hourly & travelling time. Pollard, and Weiss family in South Would suit single applicant aged 65-75. Further details from AJR, Tel. 071-483 2536. 071-792 1675 Africa. SATELLITE INSTALLATION Philipsborn Frida Philipsborn SALES & REPAIRS died on 21 April, aged 99. Beloved Television - Videos - Aerials - Radios - mother of Ruth and Ellen, grand­ IRENE FASHIONS Stereos - Electrical Appliances mother of Barbara and great- formerly of Swiss Cottage NEW & SECONDHAND TVs/VIDEOS FOR SALE grandmother of Adam and Abigail. • Sizes 10 to 50 hips \< Tel: 081-909 3169 Answerphone Rabold Ella Rabold, born Sale now on!!! AVIS TV SERVICE 20.10.1902 in Czechoslovakia, died Wonderful selection of Suits and Summer Dresses for every A. EISENBERG 12 May 1990. A lady of great occasion at all prices. Come and see for yourself I 1 ALTERATIONS For an early appointment kindly ring before 11 am RELIABLE & CAPABLE or after 7 pm 081-346 9057. PLUMBER OF ANY KIND TO LADIES' FASHIONS offers a complete 24-hour I also design and make plumbing service. Small children's clothes ••' I ANTHONY J. NEWTON jobs welcome. Please ring West Hampstead area 071-328 6571 &C0 - ! JOHN ROSENFELD on 071-837 4569 SOLICITORS FOR FAST EFRCIENT FRIDGE & FREEZER REPAIRS 22 Fitzjohns Avenue, HannpsteacI, NWS 5NB C. H. WILSON 7-day service With offices in: Europe/Jersey/USA Carpenter All parts guaranteed Painter and Decorator ALL LEGAL WORK UNDERTAKEN J. B. Services French Polisher Antique Furniture Repaired Tel. 081-202 4248 Telephone: 071 435 5351/071 794 9696 until 9 pm Tel: 081-452 8324

MAPESBURY LODGE TORRINGTON HOMES 'SHIREHALL' AUDLEY Licensed by the Borough of Barnet (Licensed by the Borough of Brent) MRS. PRINGSHEIM, S.R.N., for the elderly, convalescent and partly MATRON REST HOME Home for the elderly, convalescent incapacitated. For Elderly, Retired and Convalescent (Hendon) and Incapacitated Lift to all floors. * Single rooms comfortabiy appointed Luxurious double and single (Licensed by Borough of Barnet) for Elderly Retired Gentlefolk rooms. Colour TV. h/c, central healing, ' Single and Double Rooms. • 24-hour care attendance Single and Double Rooms with wash private telephones, etc., in all rooms. * H/C Basins and CH in all rooms. * Excellent cuisine Excellent kosher cuisine. Colour TV • Gardens, TV and reading rooms. basins and central heating. TV lounge ' Long and short-term stay lounge. Open visiting. Cultivated and dining-room overlooking lovely Gardens. • Nurse on duty 24 hours. Telephone ' Long and short term, including trial garden. Matron 081-202 7411 or Full 24-hour nursing cere period if required. 24-hour care—long and short term. Administrator 078 42 52056 From £210 per week Please telephone 93 Shirehall Park, 081-445 1244 Office hours Licensed by the Borough of Barnet sister-in-charge, 081-450 4972 Hendon NW4 081-455 1335 other times Enquiries 081-202 2773/8967 17 Mapesbury Road, N.W.2 39 Torrington Park, N.12 (near Brent Cross) AJR INFORMATION JULY 1990 ^

She will be greatly missed by those who Obituary were privileged to know her. 40 Years Ago D Gerald Steiner this Month Charlotte Loose DESECRATION OF Aliska Bierer CEMETERIES r Charlotte Loose, the Art well-known resident of The Cemetery of Berlin-Weissensee Historian, died peacefully at the Hampstead, Aliska Bierer died (Soviet Sector) was desecrated recently. The culprits, 11 young workmen, were Dage of 88. Arecently at the age of 95. She was found out 5 days later. Desecrations are She studied in Berlin and Wuerzburg a woman of many talents, an operatic also reported from Wuerzburg, Frankfurt and was active in the art world in Berlin singer, pianist and player of the lute and a.M. and Hemsbach, near Mannheim. in the twenties and thirties. Her work guitar. She was also active in many The U.S. Regional Commissioner for brought her into contact with famous voluntary organisations until her death. Bavaria, Clarence M. Bolds, strongly appealed to the German Authorities to painters such as Max Liebermann, Lesser Born in Bratislavia in 1895 she had a take energetic measures against the Ury and Abbo. successful career in the world of operetta desecration of cemeteries. With the help of good friends, she came and, as Alice Hubsch, was famed in The Land-Government of Hesse to England in 1939 and had to do work Europe as the 'Czechoslovakian expressed its horror at the happenings. as a domestic servant. Nightingale'. Parents, teachers and churchmen should Dr Loose continued her studies at the She came to London in 1937, and make young people realise that the last resting place of human beings is sacred. British Museum, and took an active part during the war entertained the troops as a in the evacuation of art treasures from member of ENSA, giving two The editor of the 'Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung', Paul Sethe, writes London at the outbreak of war. As soon performances before Queen Mary who that the German attitude should not be as it became possible, she joined the wrote an appreciation of her recitals. determined in the first line by the British Army. On her discharge, she took Later she returned to her interest in art impression which might be created up teaching at various private schools, and set up the 'Gallery Petit' in Marble abroad, but that counter-actions are primarily necessary for the sake of the where she taught German, French, Art, Arch. Gaining the world copyright of the Germans themselves. 'It is our duty', he History and Music — having learnt to first official portrait of the Prince of says, 'to speak to our youth about the play the piano and violin as a young Wales, by Major Davidson-Houston, in terrible happenings in Auschwitz. girl. 1971 she presented a print to the Prince at Whatever happens to Jewish cemeteries is She was a delightful lady who never Buckingham Palace. She was made a a shame for ourselves'. made any demands on her friends and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in AjR Information July, 1950. was reluctant to accept any offer of help. 1975. D

FOR THOSE YOU CARE MOST ABOUT ANTHONY J. Biicher in deutscher Springdene Sprache, Bilder und NEWTON & CO Autographen A modern nursing home with 26 yrs of excellence in health suctit Solicitors care to the community. Licensed by Barnet area health A. W. MYTZE authority and recognised by BUPA & PPP. 1 The Riding, London NWll. HYDROTHERAPY & PHYSIOTHERAPY We have established contacts provided by full time chartered with leading Berlin lawyers in cares • physiotherapists for inpatients and preparation for property claims outpatients. Tel: 071-586 7546 in East Germany. [SPRINGDENE 55 Oakleigh Park North, Whetstone, London N.20 081-446 2117 For further enquiries SPRINGVIEW 6-10 Crescent Road, Enfield. Our completely new Ich bitte um detaillierte purpose built fiotel style retirement home. All rooms with bathroom Angebote Tel: 071-794 9696 en-suite from £305 per week. 081-446 2117.

WALM LANE NURSING HOME DAY CENTRE Walm Lane Is an establistied Registered Nursing Home providing the tiigtiest standards of nursing care for all categories of long and sfiorl-term WHY NOT Can you spare an hour any day of medical and post-operative surgical patients. Lifts to all floors. All rooms ADVERTISE IN AJR the week to entertain our members have nurse call systems, telephone and colour television. Choice of menu, INFORMATION? - Music, talks, demonstrations? kosher meals available. Licensed by Brent Health Authority and as such if you can - recognised for payment by private medical insurance schemes. Please telephone the Advertisement Dept. Please contact Hanna Goldsmith For a true and more detailed picture of what we offer, please ask one of on Wednesdays your fellow members who has been, or is at present here, or contact between 9.30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Matron directly at 071-483 2536 071-328 0208 141 Walm Lane, London NW2 Telephone 081-450 8832 or evenings 081-958 5080. 16 AJR INFORMATION JULY 1990

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(during which time Touvier not only Touvier, finally led police to his bolthole. Benefit of clergy occasionally lived in his parental home, The 50-ininute documentary on the whole but married and raised a family.) But the unsavoury affair (shown on BBC 1 in late hristian culpability for Jewish Church's role in the Touvier affair did not April) ended with the ominous words: suffering is a vast subject whose end there: Archbishop Gerlier of Lyon 'There are many people in high positions Croots go back to the Gospel petitioned the Elysee for a pardon on the in France who hope the case never comes writers and early Church Fathers. Even in 'hangman's' behalf, and in 1971 President to trial'. modern times when religion yielded Pompidou duly obliged 'in order to heal The documentary could hardly be primacy to secular ideologies, such as the scars the war had left on the soul of faulted. It stayed rigorously factual, and nationalism, Church influence - as shown France'. except for one shot of corpses, eschewed in the Dreyfus case - proved harmful to The resultant outcry made Touvier pictorial horror. The soundtrack may the Jews. disappear without a trace and — the have been overly liturgical, and the Between the wars Catholics active in original capital charges against him camera work a bit tricksy, but I have only the political arena sponsored the having lapsed after twenty years — a new one serious quibble: when the antisemitic boycott in Poland, prepared sine die charge of crimes against humanity commentator reported the Parisian the ground for Petain in France, and was preferred. In the late 1980s a Archbishop Lustiger's refusal to disband helped bury the Weimar Republic. (The journalist, having infiltrated the ultra-right the Chevaliers de Notre Dame he omitted Zentrum Party provided the necessary lay order of the Chevaliers de Notre any reference to Lustiger's own Jewish two-thirds Reichstag majority for Hitler's Dame, who were sheltering the 'vanished' origin. D R.G. Enabling Law.) Croat and Slovak clerics even promoted Fascist regimes responsible for genocide during the Second World War. Companion/Home Help Ex-Service [1943] Association In Western Europe, meanwhile, the required Church played a more differentiated role: We are arranging a special re-union tor for lady with Multiple Sclerosis living in members who served in the 87th Company, some clergy hid Jews, some pursued a Hendon. Live in or out. Kindness and Royal Pioneer Corps on Sunday the 14th purely 'spiritual' role, and some worked consideration as important as October 1990 in a Hotel in London, where for collaborationist regimes. In France, for household skills. everybody is invited with their wives for afternoon tea with the compliments of one of instance, Catholic chaplains were attached Tel: 0277 352972 our members. to the notorious milice, auxiliaries in the Please confirm to IVIr. R. R. Kennard, Gestapo roundup of Jews and resistants. 9 Ashbourne Road, London W5 3ED that you will be attending. The head of milice intelligence Paul EXHIBITION Touvier - 'the hangman of Lyon' - had in prewar days contemplated entering the Innocence and Persecution priesthood; postwar he spent half a The art of Jewish children 1936^1 lifetime enjoying Church sanctuary. He Ex-Service [1943] Association 16 July-7 August 1990 was hiding from justice with two death Monday-Thursday 10am-5pm We would like to establish in our Association sentences (for war crimes and high Sunday 2pm-5pm a section for Ladies who have served during treason) hanging over his head. Monks, the war in any of the Armed Services. The Ben Uri Art Society, 21 Dean Street, only qualification necessary to join us is that secular clergy, and members of lay orders, London WIV 6NE they were born on the Continent of Europe. all conspired to make a mockery of the due judicial process for over forty years Coach parties catered for Anybody interested should contact the Hon. Tel: 071-437 2852 Secretary Mr. R. R. Kennard, 9 Ashbourne Road, London W5 3ED.

Property claims in East Berlin and the German Democratic Republic (GDR) JOIN US FOR TEA Pritchard Englefield & Tobin is a 22-partner ;•',• ^ at international law firm with offices in London, Frankfurt and Hamburg, and well over a dozen German-speaking lawyers. OTTO SCHIFF HOUSE We can assist with the claims you may have John Denham regarding your or your family's properties in East 14 Netherhall Gardens, NWS Berlin and elsewhere in the GDR. - Gallery While the situation is still very uncertain, it is Our residents would be delighted if you advisable to find out what has happened to these could find some time to sit and chat properties and to submit an early application to the 50 Mill Lane, West Hampstead local German authorities in the district where the over a cup of tea and delicious cake. property is situated. London NW6 1NJ 071-794 2635 Please contact our German-speaking partners. Volunteers are required any day from Hans Marcus or Andrew Kaufman, or our resident 4.00 pm-5.30 pm on a regular basis. I wish to purchase paintings German consultant, Karsten Kuhne, at the number Your visit could make our residents very and drawings by German, below. happy. Austrian or British Artists, Pritchard Englefleld & TobIn pre-war or earlier, also 23 Great Castle Street For further details contact the AJR paintings of Jewish interest. London WIN 8NQ Volunteers' Co-ordinator on 071-483 Tel (071) 629 8883 2536. Fax (071) 493 1891

Published by the Association of Jewish Refugees in Great Britain, Hannah Karminski House, 9 Adamson Road, London NW3 3HX, Telephone 071-483 2536/7/8/9 Fax: 071-722 4652 Printed in Great Britain by Black Bear Press Limited. Cambridge