VOLUME 8 NO.S MAY 2008 Kjlltl journal ^1^1 ^Umi Association of Jewish Refugees

From police chief in Berlin to refugee in Britain he story of Dr Bemhard Weifi, who overthrow the new Republic. He fully was Deputy President of Police in supported the firm suppression of these Berlin from 1927 until 1932 - in insurrectionary activities by the Titself remarkable since he was govemment, which both at national level Jewish - also has an unexpected final and in the state of Pmssia was dominated chapter. WeiB was one of the rare officials by the Social Democrats (SPD). But whereas under the Weimar Republic who was the SPD-led coalition govemment at national actively committed to republican, level lasted only until 1920, in Prassia the democratic values; he defended Germany's coalition of the SPD, the Catholic Centre young and vulnerable parliamentary Party and the Liberals of the Deutsche democracy vigorously against its political Demokratische Partei lasted until 1932. As enemies on both left and right and sought Prussia covered about two thirds of to inspire those under his command with the Germany's territory, with nearly 60 per cent spirit of democratic policing. He ended his of its population, control over that state, and days in exile in Britain. especially its police force, was a vital lever Bemhard WeiB's grandfather was bom of power in Germany, where the army had in Silesia in 1807, studied medicine and in been reduced to a mere 100,000 men by the 1837 moved to Oranienburg, outside Berlin, Treaty of Versailles. to practise. WeiB's father Max amassed a As head of the political police department fortune in the grain trade, allowing of the Kripo, WeiB played a key role in Bemhard, who was bom in Berlin in 1880, Dr Bernhard WeiB countering the threat posed by the radical to study law and follow the profession of right to the Weimar Republic. When foreign his choice. The family remained proudly accession to the German Empire in 1871 had minister Walther Rathenau, a Jew, was conscious of its Jewish origins, but aspired been its retention of control over its army - murdered by right-wing extremists in June to full assimilation into German society. in peacetime only, a typically Bismarckian 1922, in the most notorious political WeiB became a member of the stroke - it was possible for a handful of Jews assassination of the Weimar period, it was Kuratorium (committee of govemors) of the to become reserve officers in the Royal WeiB's energetic pursuit that led to the Hochschule fiir die Wissenschaft des Bavarian Army. When the First World War cornering of the two killers; the posters the Judentums, one of the rrtost distinguished broke out, WeiB, like his three brothers, went police put up in the manhunt bore WeiB's institutions of Jewish leaming in Germany. straight into the army, where he rose from signature. Whatever their ideological But he also identified closely with the platoon leader in a medical company to differences, left- and right-wing extremists CentralVerein deutscher StaatsbUrger captain in a cavalry unit, a quite exceptional were united in their hostility to militant judischen Glaubens (Central Union of advance. proponents of democracy like WeiB, for he (German Citizens of the Jewish Faith), which In summer 1918, WeiB's talents as a was even-handed in pursuit of their illegal represented the assimilated German Jews lawyer and an officer led the Prussian endeavours. In 1924, when a suspected spy who believed that their rightful place was Ministry of the Interior to take the took refuge in the Soviet Trade Mission's in Germany, on equal terms with their fellow extraordinary step of appointing him deputy building, WeiB ordered a police search ofthe Germans; he was a founder member of the head of the criminal police (Kripo) in Berlin, premises, ignoring its diplomatic immunity. Anti-Zionist Committee. the first unbaptised Jew to hold such a For this he had to be moved to a position in WeiB remained a convinced German position under the Empire. After the war, the Pmssian Ministry of the Interior. patriot throughout his life. After doing his he presided over the democratisation of the WeiB's career reached its highpoint when military service in a Bavarian regiment, he Berlin police, defending and promoting the he was appointed head of the Kripo in 1925, succeeded in becoming an officer in the liberal, republican values of Germany's then Deputy President of the Berlin police reserve. Unbaptised Jews could not be first parliamentary democracy and force in 1927. A more forceful and energetic commissioned as officers in the pre-1914 remodelling the Berlin police into a citizens' figure than his nominal superior. Police Presi­ Prussian Army. But since one of the police force. dent Karl Zorgiebel, WeiB became the public concessions granted by Bismarck to the WeiB's first period of service coincided face of the police in the capital; Berliners Kingdom of Bavaria in return for its with the attempts of the radical left to continued overleaf AJRJOURfslAL MAY 2008

IRO.M POLICE CHIEF IN BERLIN TO REFUGEE IN fiRITAIN continued from nage I ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING simply called him 'ViPoPra' (Vizepolizei- unconstitutional act by a reactionary regime of prasident), in a characteristic combination bent on eliminating the last remaining THE ASSOCIATION OF JEWISH REFUGEES of affection and disrespect for authority. bastion of democracy in Germany, led to TUESDAY 3 JUNE 2008, 11.00 AM WeiB became involved in a highly WeiB's immediate removal from office. at the Paul Balint AJR Centre personalised conflict with Joseph Goebbels, Faced with the declaration of a state of siege 15 Cleve Road, London NW6 whom Hitler had sent to Berlin in 1926 to and the threat of army intervention, the Lunch, if required, £5 payable in advance Agenda lead the Nazi onslaught on the capital. WeiB democratically elected Pmssian ministers Annual Report 2007 stood for everything Goebbels loathed: as a bowed to Papen's show of force and left their Hon. Treasurer's Report Discussion Jew in a position of authority in the hated posts without resistance. Typically, it was Election of Committee of Management democratic 'system' of Weimar, the Deputy WeiB who convinced Police President Albert All questions for the chair should be submitted by Tues 13 May to the Head of President of Police seemed to symbolise the Grzesinski at least to issue a written protest Administration at Jubilee House, Merrion 'imposition' of 'unGerman' elements on the contesting the legal grounds for the Avenue, Stanmore, Middx. HA7 4RL. German people in the wake of the defeat of FhreuJknschlag. In a few months' time, after ELECTION OF COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT 1918. Goebbels tried to smear WeiB by 30 January 1933, control over the Berlin The following members will be portraying him as a caricature Jew and police force was to pass to a new Pmssian proposed for election or re-election to the Committee at the AGM calling him isidor', supposedly a Minister of the Interior, Hermann Goring, on Tuesday 3 June 2008: quintessentially Eastern Jewish name. and with it the means of eliminating political Mr AC Kaufman, Chairman*, Mr W D Rothenberg*, Vice Chairman & Hon. Treasurer, Mrs E S Angel, Presumably the irony of a German who opposition to Hitler. Secretary*, Mr C W Dunston, Trustee*, Mrs D himself boasted the Biblical name Joseph Franklin, Trustee, Mrs G R Glassman, Trustee*, WeiB had to flee Germany once the Nazi Mrs J Millan, Mr E Reich*, Mr A Spiro foisting a supposedly antisemitic label onto regime consolidated its power. He went to *Committee members retiring by rotation a Jew with the solidly German name Prague in March 1933, then moved to and being proposed for re-election Bemhard was lost on Hitler's future Minister London in January 1934, where he lived Anyone wishing to propose any other member for election as Hon Officer, Trustee, or of Propaganda. with his wife Lotte and their daughter until Committee member must submit to AJR's Head of Administration such a proposal signed by WeiB reacted to (ioebbels's depiction of his death on 29 July 1951. His name was ten members qualified to vote at the meeting him in Der Angriff and other Nazi on the first list of those stripped of their and with the signed agreement of the person publications with a string of lawsuits for German citizenship by the Nazis. Sadly, he being proposed no later than 13 May. defamation; he won his case in court was among those who proved unable to repeatedly, but failed to silence his opponent. adapt to life in exile. Supported by a ARTS AND EVENTS DIARY - MAT As Dietz Bering has shown in his studies generous benefactor, he eventually set To 29 June 'Lifelong Impressions - Der Name als Stigma and Kampf um himself up in the printing trade. He was Paintings, Prints and Drawings by Milein Namen: Bernhard Weifi gegen Joseph interned briefly when war broke out, Cosman', Hampstead Museum, Burgh House, New End Square, London NW3. (M)ebbels, Goebbels's use of the name Isidor spending two months in a Butlin's holiday Contact Dina Wosner on 020 8371 7371. to stigmatise WeiB was a classic example camp at Clacton, which he called 'the best Sponsored by Burgh House and Hampstead of the Nazi use of negative stereotypes to holiday of his life'. Museum, AJR and Jewish Museum marginalise and demonise Jews. More Otherwise, the 17 years that he spent in Mon 5 No lecture (Bank Holiday) Club 43 recently, David Irving's treatment of this Britain passed in obscurity. He made one Mon 12 Hans Seelig, 'Chopin: A Romantic Composer, Innovator and Craftsman' Club episode in his biography of Goebbels made retum visit to Germany after the war, and 43 it an issue in the libel case that Irving his dearest wish was to regain German Thur 15 Monica Bohm-Duchen, 'Exiles, unsuccessfully brought against Professor nationality; despite everything, WeiB still Emigres and Eccentrics: Artistic Life in Deborah Lipstadt. regarded Germany as his 'deutsches Hampstead in the 1930s-40s' Burgh House, 7.30 pm. Contact Dina Wosner on 020 8371 WeiB's fortunes waned with those of the Vaterland'. It was perhaps symbolic that 7371

Weimar Republic. The elections of news of the retum of his German citizenship Thur 15 B'nai B'rith Jerusalem Lodge. Dr Ross September 1930 brought 108 Nazis into the reached him as he was about to be taken to White, 'Anne Frank - Beyond the Diary' Reichstag, precipitating the Republic's the hospital where he died of cancer. He is Kenton Synagogue Hall, 8.15 pm. Tel Tom Heinemann on 07973 137 718 terminal crisis. In May 1931 some of these buried in the Jewish cemetery in Pound deputies beat up an SPD member, a defector Lane, Willesden. Mon 19 HE The Austrian Ambassador Gabriele Matzner-Holzer, '70 Years after from their ranks, within the Reichstag Anthony Grenville the Anschluss: How the Austrians Learned to Love ... Democracy' Club 43 precincts. When the President of the A]R Directors Reichstag called in the police, WeiB led them Gordon Greenfield Mon 26 No lecture (Bank Holiday) Club 43 Carol Rossen in person; he was greeted by cries of 'Isidor' Thur 29 'Milein Cosman in Conversation from the Nazi benches. It was a measure of A|R Heads of Department with Dr Bea Lewkowicz', Burgh House, Maisie Holland Social Services 3 pm. Contact Dina Wosner on 020 8371 7371 the extent to which the political climate had Michael Newman Media and Public Relations altered that public criticism focused more Susie Kaufman Organiser. AjR Centre Thur 1 May 'Yom Hashoah - Recalling the Kindertransports' At Pinner Synagogue. on the Jew who had led the police AJR Joumal Dr Anthony Grenville Consultant Editor This year's focus: the 70th anniversary of intervention in parliament than on the Dr Howard Spier Executive Editor the Kindertransports. Speakers: Hermann violence that had necessitated it. Andrea Goodmaker Secretarial/Advertisements Hirschberger, Susi Bechhofer 8.00 pm Club 43 Meetings at Belsize Square The deposition of the Prussian Views expressed In the AJR Journal are not Synagogue, 7.45 pm. Tel Hans Seelig on necessarily those of the Association of Jewish government by Chancellor Franz von 01442 254360 Papen on 20 July 1932, an arguably Refugees and should not be regarded as such. AJR JOURNAL MAY 2008

ratti and tne parish priest <^% NEWTONS y first contact with Dr Rudolf The Bernsteins found refuge in Leading Hampstead Solicitors Kutschera, the parish priest of Montevideo. The Eisners came to the advise on MSt Ulrich in Walchensee, a UK, as did my sister and I. Our parents Property, Wills, Family Trusts lovely village in the Bavarian mountains, managed to get a visa as late as 1940 and Charitable Trusts was an email he sent me last year seek­ for Peru, where they spent the rest of ing information about the time when their lives. The Seeligers, by then elderly, French and German spoken my parents had had a weekend timber went to live in obscurity in Cham, a bungalow in the village. Our family had small town in the Upper Palatinate in Home visits arranged spent all our holidays there - spring, Bavaria (it was sometimes possible for 22 Fitzjohn's Avenue, summer, autumn and winter There mixed-faith marriages to survive in Nazi London NW3 SNB Germany when the non- Jewish partner refused to Tel: 020 7435 5351 divorce). Fax: 020 7435 8881 I met Dr Rudolf Kutschera in March 2007, when he came to visit me in a Munich hotel, accompanied by three of his parishioners. I was there on the occasion of JACKMAN - the opening of the new Jewish museum. I told SILVERMAN him about Rabbi Dr Tom COMMERCIAL PROPERTY CONSULTANTS Kucera's earlier connec­ tion with the Northwood Dr Rudolf Kutschera, Bea Green (the author's sister). Rabbi Dr g^j pj^^^^ Liberal Syna­ Tom Kucera gogue and his present were mountains and trees to climb, a activity in Munich. Rudolf then invited lake to swim in, a boat to row, woods him to speak on the occasion of the 26 Conduit Street in which to pick wild mushrooms and dedication of the plaque on Sunday 10 London WIR 9TA berries, and, of course, friends to play February 2008 in the St Ulrich parish with. These were happy times for my church in Walchensee. Telephone: 020 7409 0771 parents, my younger sister and me Fax: 020 7493 8017 - until the mid-1930s. Three German-Jewish families had holiday homes in Walchensee: the Bernsteins from Chemnitz in ,r^i,. . u'" '"^"tm Haul .Ichte,cheh2elchenf0r's„auf Saxony, the Eisners from Berlin, n melnen MauDm AUSTRIAN and GERMAN and my family, the Siegels, from gebe Ich ihnen eincn Namen. Munich. The Bernsteins' two daugh­ PENSIONS ters, the Eisners' two sons and my sister and I always played together 1S33-1945 MS Wskfieniw vtrt/irttr! wunttti PROPERTY The Seeligers lived there perma­ und nur durdi Fluchl Obtrteiwi lionnlCT: RESTITUTION CLAIMS nently. He, a well-known author, Kurt und NUipmte, Iraw und Ami was not Jewish but he had a Jewish BERNSTEIN EAST GERMANY - BERLIN wife. Or. Fdiz und Ptula. Stefan und Hobet EISNER On instructions our office will I told Dr Kutschera whatever I liwald Certitnl, Raulia und Hethe Holocaust. Peter Sinclair A|R JOURNAL MAY 2008

AJR Annual Report 2007

Highlights of the year AJR's link to the Kindertransport, and Our welfare benefits expert Throughout 2007 we organised various Dee Frankel as a receptionist at the AJR continued to help members with claims events that helped us reach out to Centre. The social services department for Attendance Allowance, Carer's almost 200 new members and we were had two retirees: Marcia Goodman as Allowance, Pension Credit, Housing delighted to welcome many existing Head of Social Services and Norah Benefit and Council Benefit. members to participate in events for the Gittins, who retired as a social worker after 25 years' dedicated service. first time. Regional groups Following on from the successful visit Although she began her work in With the recruitment of Esther Rinkoff to Berlin the previous May, we February this year, Maisie Holland was as a third group co-ordinator in the organised a four-day cultural trip to appointed the new Head of Social south of the country, we were able to Vienna. Participants enjoyed a tour of Services last December and Darren start new groups in Radlett and Temple the Austrian capital as well as Aaron was recruited to the social Fortune as well as a smaller Continental excursions to the Jewish Museum and services department. Esther Rinkoff Friends gathering in Kingston for the Volksoper We also organised guest joined the AJR in September as the members to the west of London. We speakers and an opportunity to enjoy third southern region's group co­ now operate 41 groups, including 14 Kaffee und Kuchen in traditional ordinator in the North of England and Scotland, Viennese coffee houses. During 2007 we enrolled 197 and hope to expand further throughout The three-day November visit to members (235 in 2006) - including 55 2008. London for members living in Scotland from the 'second generation' - bringing In 2007 we experienced an overall and the North of England was also our total membership to 3,202 (3,222 increase of over 10 per cent in the repeated. As last year, members enjoyed in 2006). number of members participating in a tour of the Bevis Marks Synagogue events, with many members attending and a commemorative visit to the Social and welfare services regularly and in more than one locality. Kindertransport statue at Liverpool The social work team continues to offer Altogether, there were 3,496 Street Station. We also organised a the best possible support, advice and attendances (3,151 in 2006) at group guided tour of the Jewish East End of assistance to our members throughout meetings, with approximately one third London, a visit to the Wallace Collection the country with an ever-growing of our membership attending at least and a trip to the Wiener Library. Out- number of referrals for help paid for one regional group meeting of-town members joined the London through our Homecare service. As well throughout the year regional groups for a dinner at the as visiting clients throughout the To commemorate Holocaust Memo­ Belsize Square Synagogue, where we country, the social services team makes rial Day, members of the Newcastle were delighted to welcome Anna assessments for a number of group organised, edited and published Raeburn as our guest speaker The visit programmes to assist members with a Holocaust memorial book. Like the concluded with a lunch at the AJR limited means. memorial book arranged by the Leeds Centre, where Rabbi Mariner led a The social workers also make appli­ group together with the Holocaust service to commemorate the 69th cations to a number of programmes Survivors Friendship Association (HSFA), anniversary of Kristallnacht. administered by the Claims Conference the book contains the names of family We were amazed and delighted to with monies negotiated from, among members who perished in the Holo­ welcome almost 400 guests to our others, the German and Austrian gov­ caust from our members now living in Annual Tea, which we held for the third ernments, the Swiss banks and European the Newcastle area. The AJR Charitable year running at the Watford Hilton. We insurance companies. The social work­ Trust was delighted to make a contri­ were greatly entertained by Glenys ers' overriding objective is to maintain bution towards the cost of creating the Groves and colleagues from The Royal clients in their own homes for as long book. By request, copies of the book Opera, Covent Garden and the English as possible. are now in the archives at Yad Vashem National Opera who performed An Our social workers liaise closely with in Israel, the Holocaust Museum in Afternoon of Opera and Songs. the AJR Centre, the regional groups and Washington DC, and the Imperial War the claims office to identify and assist Museum and Wiener Library in London. Personnel and membership any member who may be in need of At the end of 2007 we said farewell to our services. five members of staff who had given The team also works closely with Regional get-togethers dedicated service to the AJR over a colleagues from other organisations We organised a gathering of over 100 number of years. Ernie Goldmann retired serving Holocaust survivors to exchange members from groups across North from our accounts department, Ronald ideas, share clients and plan the London and Hertfordshire at a regional Channing as a former Director and the provision of future services. get-together in Radlett, where guest AJRJOURNAL MAY 2008 speaker Professor Geoffrey Alderman Fund was established after criticism The correspondence columns re­ gave a fascinating historical overview that some 61,000 out of 70,000 claims mained an especially lively section of of the Jewish community's response to for a ghetto pension had been the Journal, with letter-writers relating, the Holocaust. rejected. among many other things, their Stephen Smith MBE was our guest A list of approximately 7,000 names experiences of the Kindertransport, re­ at the northern groups' regional meet­ of owners of bank accounts and other settlement in the UK and internment ing in Leeds last August. He spoke properties in Israel that were not and, of course, vigorously crossing about the work of the Holocaust claimed after the Second World War swords over the latest developments in Centre at Beth Shalom and the continu­ was published on a website in Israel. the Arab-Israel conflict. ing need for Holocaust education, especially in the light of current atrocities. Volunteers AJR Centre Our dedicated volunteers continue to The Paul Balint AJR Centre celebrated Members of the Scottish and New­ assist the day-to-day work of our another active year, providing a warm castle groups, meeting in Edinburgh, organisation. As well as making home and friendly mix of food, entertainment heard from two guest speakers. Paul visits, they helped out at Head Office, and outings, with the monthly Tyack spoke about the work of the Anne at the AJR Centre and at regional group Luncheon Club and Kindertransport Frank Trust, including AJR's support for meetings. Rita Rosenbaum continues to lunches continuing to thrive. their prison speaker's programme, arrange for the AJR Journal to be As well as serving continental-style while Heartstone director Sitakumari recorded and distributed for blind and lunches, the Centre delivered an ever- gave an update on the Holocaust disabled members. increasing number of Meals on Wheels. Memorial for Scotland. Volunteers continued to receive Following the closure of Daleham support and supervision as well as the Gardens, the Centre now caters for Holidays opportunity to attend volunteer forums members who used to attend the B'nai In July we held our annual northern held, in the latter part of the year, in B'rith lunches there. holiday in St Annes-on-Sea, where conjunction with volunteers at the Alongside our popular keep fit members from Glasgow, Newcastle, Holocaust Survivors Centre. We also classes on Wednesdays and Thursdays Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Bradford continued to work closely with other and our lively and interesting weekly and London enjoyed a relaxing week. organisations, including various London discussion group, we introduced As has become part of the programme, universities and B'nai B'rith 1st Unity relaxation classes, which have met with the holiday-makers were joined by Lodge. much approval from the members. members from the northern groups In 2007 we became part of the The Centre also hosted a number of during the week to enjoy a day out in Jewish Volunteer Network and have events, including a Kristallnacht service St Annes. continued to take students on work followed by lunch attended by We also organised two holidays for placements from Jewish secondary members from Scotland and the North our southern members, with trips to schools. We also continued our of England, a Seder, led as elegantly as Bournemouth at the end of July and association with Action Reconciliation ever by Reverend Larry Fine, and two Eastbourne in November Service for Peace, arranging for four Chanukah parties, including one for the students from Poland and Germany to Kinder. We also organised a reunion act as 'befrienders' for our members. lunch for members who visited Berlin Central Office for the previous May. Holocaust Claims For the third year running, the Centre With the winding up of the Inter­ Journal catered for the AGM and provided the national Commission on Holocaust Era It was a year of continuity. Consultant Tea for our Holocaust Memorial Day Insurance Claims, many claimants Editor Dr Anthony Grenville continued service at Belsize Square Synagogue. finally received notifications or pay­ to contribute historical articles relating, ments in connection with claims for for the most part, to political devel­ insurance policies taken out prior to the opments in readers' lives. Martha Blend, Kindertransport Second World War Emma Klein, Gloria Tessler and others The KT-AJR planning committee began The Austrian General Settlement contributed incisive reviews of books, preparations for a 70th anniversary Fund (GSF) continued to process plays, films and exhibitions. Dorothea reunion scheduled to take place in applications, with claimants beginning Shefer-Vanson, who took over Ronald November 2008 at the JFS in North- to receive notices of payments towards Channing's much-appreciated back­ West London. The gathering will the end of 2007. The Fund expects to page column, provided a thoughtful comprise a service of remembrance, complete its work by the end of 2009. Israeli perspective. Humour, tinged with presentations and speeches by Kinder The German Government announced more than a dash of nostalgia, was and invited guests as well as lunch, a the creation of a 100 million euro Fund injected into articles primarily by Victor panel discussion and a klezmer concert. to make one-time awards to Holocaust Ross. Reports in the 'Inside the AJR' As part of the lead-up to the main survivors who voluntarily worked in pages reflected the rapidly increasing gathering. Kinder will make com­ ghettos under German occupation number of AJR groups up and down the memorative visits to the House of Lords, during the Second World War. The country. the Imperial War Museum, the Kinder AjR JOURNAL MAY 2008

Annual Report Finance Report continued from page 5 AJR - Income and Expenditure Accoimt AREYOUONALOW Year ended 31st December 2007 INCOMEANDINNEED statue at Liverpool Street Station and Income: 2007 2006 the Bevis Marks Synagogue. OF HOMECARE HELP? Work continued on gathering Membership/Donations AJR might be able to offer you information about the Kinder and and Legacies 84,456 81,604 Other 5.323 7.208 financial assistance for cleaning, documenting their lives, their 89,779 88,812 gardening and caring. experiences before and after the Less: Members who might not Second World War and their Overhead Expenses othenvise be able to afford contribution to life in Britain. Salary Costs 66,872 84,317 AJR Joumal 54,487 52,646 homecare please contact: Alongside the ever popular Kinder- Administration/ Estelle Brookner, Secretary transport Newsletter, expertly edited Depreciation 27,]86 23.003 AJR Social Services Dept by Bertha Leverton, the Kinder 146.545 159.966 Tel: 020 8385 3070 continued to sell out their monthly (Dcficit)/Surplus: -56,766 -71,154 luncheon meetings - including guest Summary of Balance Sheet speakers - at the AJR Centre. at 31st December 2007 Leo Baeck 2007 2006 Housing Association Ltd £ £ Refugee Voices and Current Assets 167,316 223,738 Clara Nehab House education Less: Current Liabilities 2,448 2104 Residential Care Home 164,868 221,634 Dr Anthony Grenville and Dr Bea All single rooms with en suite Represented by: bath/shower. Short stays/Respite Lewkowicz completed the inter­ General Fund 221.634 292,788 and 24 hour Permanent Care. Large viewing of 150 refugees and survivors Net deficiency for the year -56.766 •71.154 attractive gardens. Ground Floor for the Refugee Voices project. Work 164.868 221.634 Lounge and Dining Rooms. Lift access to all floors. Easy access is now well under way to explore David Rothenberg, Hon. Treasurer 01/04/2008 to local shops and public transport. opportunities to make the Holocaust Enquiries and further information please contact: The Manager, Clara Nehab House testimony collection, which includes AJR CHARITABLE TRUST 13-19 Leeside Crescent, London NWII ODA fully transcribed and edited interviews PAUL BALINT AJR DAY CENTRE Phone: 020 8455 2286 Summary figure for the year ended as well as a catalogue of information 31st December 2007 about each interviewee, available to 2007 2006 institutions and academics. Income: £ £ £ £ SPRING In addition to funding the Refugee Takings - Day Centre and meals-on-wheels 74,871 82,862 GROVE Voices project, the AJR Charitable Donations received 0 74,871 0 82,862 214 Finchley Road Trust continued to meet its com­ Less outgoings: London NW3 mitment to sponsor institutions Salaries 96,666 96,025 London's Most Luxurious providing Holocaust education, Catering costs 178,497 180,887 including the Wiener Library, Beth Sundry expenses 93.843 369.006 80,758 357.670 RETIREMENT HOME Shalom and the University of Deficit funded from • Entertainment - Activities Charitable Trust Glasgow. 294.135 -274.808 • Stress Free Living Altogether another extremely busy AJR CHARITABLE TRUST - • 24 House Staffing Excellent Cuisine year. Our dedicated staff continue to Summary Income and Expenditure Accounts • Full En-Suite Facilities demonstrate their commitment to Year ended 31st December 2007 Call for more information ensuring that we are able to provide 2007 2006 or a personal tour for our members in order that they Income: 020 8446 2117 or 020 7794 4455 may enjoy a more comfortable life. Covenants/Donations/ Claims Conference 527,190 678,561 [email protected] Andrew Kaufman Investment income 644,124 522,698 Chairman Sheltered housing 35.145 42.086 1,206,459 1.243,345 WANTED TO BUY legacies 1.180.090 1.108.544 2.386.549 2.351.889 ADVERTISEMENT RATES German and Less outgoings: FAMILY EVENTS Day Centre 276,800 274,808 English Books First 15 words free of charge, Self Aid, Homecare and £2.00 per 5 words thereafter Emergency Grants 849,256 771,731 Bookdealer, AJR member, CLASSIFIED, SEARCH NOTICES Other organisations 243,390 298,223 welcomes invitations to view and purchase valuable books. ."Xdministration/Depreciation 1.072.982 941.580 £2.00 per 5 words 2.442.428 2.286.342 BOX NUMBERS £3.00 extra Robert Hornung Surplus on realised and 10 Mount View, Ealing DISPLAY ADVERTS unrealised investments 123,252 1,043,350 London W5 IPR Per single column inch 65mm £12.00 Net Movement in Funds 122.556 1.341.910 Email: hornungbooksiaol.com COPY DATE 5 weeks prior to publication 245.808 2.385.260 Tel: 020 8998 0546 *Kigures are unaudited A|R JOURNAL MAY 2008

Jews of Danzig and which will be deposited in the Gdansk museum. The mayor is inviting all ex-Danzigers lETTERS^ The Editor reserves the right to visit Gdansk in May 2009 to mark the 70th anniversary of the German invasion to shorten correspondence of Danzig and Poland. Health and old age submitted for publication permitting, I, my wife and our two sons are going! Alex Lawrence Martow

BAD POLES AND GOOD POLES CLOTHES HANGERS 'OUR INHERITANCE' documents in all, I paid to have them cop­ Sir - Rubin Katz (March) generalises about Sir -1 was delighted to read Hana Nermut ied. I was surprised to find how much the Poles. Yes, there were bad Poles. I (March, Letters) on how a simple clothes information the 'authorities' had on us. know about Jedwabne, Kielce and hanger brought back memories of people Anyone whose memory is not what it Crakow. But my life was saved by Poles who mean so much to us. These was and is anxious about his/her past will on several occasions during the Second anecdotes are our inheritance. We have be well rewarded by contacting the World War Yes, there were bad Poles. Yes, little else. National Archives, whose staff are more there were bad Englishmen. I was reminded of my own clothes than helpful - even to a computer-illiterate Ron Leaton (Roman Licht) hangers, which I inherited from my aunt. like me. London NWS Tante Liese (Kramer) came to England on Ernest Kolman a domestic permit. She scrubbed floors Greenford, Middx THE OLYMPICS. MEMORIES OF 1936 in York after having run the 'Hort', Sir - Watching the 'Free Tibet' protestors perhaps the most desirable Froebel A PLAQUE FOR BISHOP GEORGE BELL on London's streets and wishing I could Kindergarten in Frankfurt. Sir - We are sponsoring a plaque to be support them, having seen the horror of When as a young woman my mother affixed in the former home of Bishop the Cultural Revolution in Lhasa and tried to tidy my aunt's wardrobe, she George Bell of Chichester to commemo­ elsewhere, my mind went back to 1936 would sneak into her room to 'borrow' a rate his exertions, which helped nearly and the demonstrations over another few clothes hangers. Every now and then 10,000 Jewish children under the age of Olympic torch - this time in Vienna en she would 'make amends' by buying some 16 to be admitted to this country prior to route to Berlin. Visiting my aunt, who plain wooden hangers, incising on them the outbreak of the Second World War lived on the Opernring, I had to cross the the words 'gestohlen bei Liese'. and other refugees during the Nazi period Opernplatz and the Ring. I now know In June 1939, aged 10, I reached in Germany. The opening is planned for that I was nearer the fringe than the England with the KT. As an adult, I visited 5 October 2008. centre of the demonstration and - while my aunt regularly. When she died I Have any of your readers who arrived I don't remember any slogans - the inherited her few possessions, among on the Kindertransport recollections of atmosphere was hate-filled. Frightening. them the clothes hangers. They are my fellow children or their descendents who Strange, I don't remember seeing any treasure. became prominent celebrities? We would police. Ruth David like to invite interested persons and hope Francis Deutsch Ames, Iowa. USA you will be able to come. Meanwhile, Saffron Walden thanks for any help you can give us in A VISIT TO THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES good time so that we can plan MIXED FEELINGS OVER accordingly. Sir - Having had my naturalisation HAKOAH RE-OPENING certificate stolen years ago, I recently Mr W. E. Norton Sir - It was with mixed feelings that I read needed a copy of it. I visited the National Hermann Maas Stiftung in your Journal that Hakoah Sports Club Archives at Kew, where I was able to order London SW3 has re-opened in Vienna. My late father, a copy. I was charged £50 for a 'certified' Dr Marcus Pfeffer, was one of its doctors one - £25 per page. After protesting to GDANSK ANNIVERSARY and he was very proud of its pre-war my MP, I received a refund. Sir - Last October, I was asked by achievements. He never tired of telling me While at the National Archives, I also Mieczyslaw Abramowicz, a Polish-Jewish that in 1924-25 the Hakoah football made copies of documents relating to writer and historian from Gdansk, if I team won the Austrian League 'Kinder' who found themselves orphans could find men and women from Danzig Championship, and that in 1923 they at the end of the war and were granted (now Gdansk) sent to Britain on the beat West Ham United 5-0 - the first British citizenship free of charge under a Kindertransport. foreign team to beat an English one on special dispensation (1946-47). Access to With the help of Hadashot and the AJR English soil. these files is restricted to the people Journal, I located 30 living in the UK. The But was Dr Ariel Muzicant, the leader concerned. mayor of Gdansk, Pawel Adamowicz, of the Austrian Jewish community, right In February, I received a letter from came to London to meet them. He also in using Holocaust survivors' money to Catherine Hodgkinson, Freedom of laid a wreath at the monument com­ fund the re-opening, particularly bearing Information assessor of the Records Man­ memorating the arrival of those children in mind how few Jews remain in Vienna? agement and Cataloguing Department at at Liverpool Street Station. The money should perhaps have gone to the National Archives, stating that the files The meeting, at the Polish embassy, the General Settlement Fund to help the Home Office held on us would now was attended by around 20 ex-Danzigers, compensate victims a little more be made available at the National Archives some with their spouses and even (adult) generously than the GSF was able. I would in Kew subject to the provisions of the children. Each ofthe assembled ex-Kinder be grateful to know what your other 1998 Data Information Act. I was locked spoke about their experiences. Many readers think. in a room to examine my file and that of brought memorabilia, which Abramowicz Peter Phillips my wife (also a Kind). As there were 80 will use for his forthcoming book on the Loudwater, Herts A)R JOURNAL MAY 2008

NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY AND THE EU Switzerland, who are still in a position to Gaza and the West Bank. What prevented Sir - In his article (April) in favour of control their own individual rate of them from creating independent states further EU integration, Mr Grenville interest? With a number of East European in those areas? Before the outbreak of admitted that some problems are best economically weak countries forming part the war in 1967, Israel offered to keep dealt with at national level. The question of the single Euro currency zone, does Dr out of the West Bank if Jordan did not is where the line is to be drawn. The Grenville expect us to believe that such a join on Egypt's side. Jordan, however, did. arguments against further European financial arrangement can always be Eric Sanders integration are that the present EU is both immune to potential major fluctuations? London W12 corrupt and unaccountable. There certainly are benefits of belonging By and large, MEPs are superannuated to a single currency, but a chain can only ISRAEL AND HAMAS politicians who have failed in their home be as strong as its weakest link. Sir - The Middle East is not Ireland: countries and have been pensioned off Economic history has demonstrated treaties and conventions count for little. to Brussels and Strasbourg. They are not time and time again that free trade can The Oslo Agreement is one case in point. approachable. I see my local MP perhaps be implemented only between independ­ Ceasefires had been agreed in the past, twice a year without trying. If I wish to ent sovereign nations. then violated by some faction with a bend his ear, he has surgeries. He replies The mounting cases of convicted crimi­ previously unheard-of name. And when politely to my letters. Most of the time, nals to invoke their 'human rights' tend Israel is compelled to respond, it ends up MEPs are not even in the country. In terms to make people increasingly concerned being blamed. Hamas and Hezbollah will of the European Parliament, the voice of about their own safety from knife attacks be satisfied with nothing less than wiping the individual voter is unheard. etc. The human rights lawyers are laugh­ Israel off the map. The European Parliament is far more ing all the way to the bank. Inge Trott (April) says Hamas was corrupt than the UK Parliament, partly Finally, we all know that Blair and democratically elected. Some democracy! because of its lack of accountability. The Brown failed to honour their undertakings The Gaza Strip is controlled by a bunch EU accounts have been rejected by the to hold a referendum as regards joining of brutal gunmen and anyone daring to auditors for the past 12 years. Would you the EU Constitution. Gordon Brown's oppose them risks being pushed off a work for a firm with that record? The semi-clandestine manner of signing the high-rise. MEPs have stolidly rejected all attempts Treaty of Lisbon without discussing it in Rubin Katz to get them to account for their huge Parliament speaks for itself. So much for London NWl 1 expenses - an order of magnitude higher 'democratic decisions'. than those of MPs, and MPs are being Dr Frederick W. Rosner forced to come clean. Europ Marketing Consultants Sir - When Arab terrorists rain down I have done a job for the EU, in the London El5 rockets on Israeli civilians, is Israel not to course of which the UN representative in defend itself? If British cities were an East European country explained to me subjected to such attacks, the cry would that the EU was totally committed to giv­ POINTS OF VIEW go out 'Hit back at them hard!' Inge Trott ing money away, even when it could be Sir - May I be permitted to comment on must be aware that Arab terrorists have demonstrated that the money was going several topics raised in your April issue. always operated from among refugee astray. The recent report 'Europe's Hid­ Helga Zitcer's quotation 'Heil camps and, when they were sought out den Hand: EU Funding for Political NGOs Schuschnigg, unser Fuhrer ...' was not and any innocent civilians were hurt, this in the Arab-Israel Conflict' details the lack known to me in Vienna. I do, however, was used for propaganda purposes. Ms of transparency and accountability in the recall another one, sung by boys in my Trott will also be aware that in World War EU. In 2005-07, it provided tens of mil­ seventh form: 'Haut's as 'raus, die ganze II, after British cities had been bombed, lions of euros to organisations whose Judenbande, haut's as 'raus, aus unserm the RAF carried out many bombing raids activities directly contradict EU policy. The Vaterlande.' on German cities in which tens of EU is funding Arab terror I see no signs On another aspect of that period, I did thousands of civilians died. that the issyes of corruption and account­ not experience Jussi Brainin's claim that Henry Schragenheim ability are going to be cleared up - hence 'one had to become a member of the London N15 I oppose any further sacrifice of national Vaterlandische Front', although I generally sovereignty. share his feelings in respect of Vienna. Inge Trott pleads for Israel to 'talk to Sir - Did the IRA rejoice when civilians Professor Bryan Reuben Hamas'. The comparison with British policy were killed? Ms Trott must be aware that London N3 in respect of the IRA does not hold good. Hamas denies the Holocaust and shows The IRA did not want to abolish Great Brit­ programmes to children personifying Sir -1 always enjoy Dr Anthony Grenville's ain. Hamas aims to abolish the state of Israelis and Jews as evil. The Israelis want peace more than anything, but who is brilliant, if occasionally controversial, Israel. The reality is surely that neither side there to negotiate with? front-page articles. However, in his trusts the other: the first step has to be current piece on national sovereignty and that Hamas (and all other Islamist organi­ Thea Valman national interest, there are a number of sations) recognises Israel's existence. London NWl 1 statements which seem misleading. For Alan S. Kaye is surely correct in stating instance, how can the writer expect us to that the name Palestine was applied to A STRAIGHT MAN AND A COMIC swallow his comparison of the United the region well before the war, but he is Sir - I like the way you have engaged States' obvious national homogeneity wrong in implying that the Arabs who yourself a straight man (Grenville) and a with the very different individual, settled there called themselves comic (Ross). They make a good mix, historical, linguistic and traditional Palestinians. What is more, they rejected although Dr G can be over-serious. I wish idiosyncrasies of each EU member the United Nations' offer of a Palestinian I knew what Ross did in his working life. country, large or small? We may be getting state. It is very unlikely that the six Arab He must always have been a writer, I think. on in age, but we are not all senile. states which made war on Israel in 1948 This sort of skill does not grow on trees. Should a recession hit a country like intended the creation of a Palestinian Up the Journal! Germany, would they not love to be in state. From 1948 to 1967 Egypt and (Mrs) Caroline Sawers the same situation as the UK or Jordan were respectively in control of Guildford, Surrey

8 AJRJOURNAL MAY 2008

Brandenburg, but gave a nod to the sweeping Reformist movement by REVIEWS surrounding Albrecht with symbols like the translated Bible, a pivot of Luther's Uniqueness of the NOTES egalitarian vision for the Church. Cranach's Kindertransport Gloria Tessler woodcuts for the New Testament translation contrast with his erotic, if stylised, female REMEMBERING REFUGEES - THEN nude paintings. But he had a taste for the AND NOW lurid and the bloodthirsty -~ witness his by Tony Kushner he sixteenth-century German artist many Salomes with the head of John the Manchester and New York: Manchester Lucas Cranach lived on the cusp Baptist - while his Crucifixion scenes are University Press, 2006, viii + 264 pp. Tof the Reformation, an exciting time presented in all their hideous and fleshy he attitude of a country to its for any serious painter. Cranach, at the realism. refugees has always been ambiva­ Royal Academy until 8 June, was a Much of Cranach's work embodies Real­ Tlent, and in this wide-ranging book Professor Tony Kushner explores this spirited and witty painter, gracious and ist, Surrealist and Symbolist principles: his ambivalence by examining contemporary delicate. Yet his religious subjects evoked Materomnia shows Mary holding mankind views expressed both in the media and genuine human suffering without ennobling within her cloak. Another turbulent land­ by individuals. He also considers how his­ it, which also makes him one of the first scape. Melancholy, features horsemen from torians have treated the influx of different Realists. The luminous colours of his the planet Saturn above the subject's head, groups of refugees in different periods. altarpieces were preserved through his use among symbols of discontinuity. But there A theme encountered throughout the is a Gothic edge to Cranach's realism. book is the perceived - but not necessarily actual - conflicting right of refugees to He often takes a mischievous swipe seek safety and that of the host commu­ at his uglier subjects - whose rudi­ nity's wish to preserve its identity. It is also mentary treatment almost suggested that the self-congratulatory foreshadows Hogarth. Influenced by reporting of Britain's attitude to refugees Luther, Cranach is one of the first does not always match reality. While the painters to show the Virgin as a con­ main emphasis is on Jewish immigration temporary woman - intelligent, to the UK, the author also compares the thoughtful, maternal. His diptych of influx of other groups of refugees, rang­ ing from the Huguenots to those of the John Frederick, a widower with his present day. young son, gives us a face as clenched As is to be expected from an academic with grief as the hand sporting his study, the book includes a comprehensive wedding ring. database of sources and references used, The thoughts of Noam Chomsky but for the general reader one of its most are paraded at the Whitechapel Art interesting, and at times poignant, Gallery in Cornelia Parker's take aspects are the quotes from individual refugees and from those coming into on the American political and ethical contact with them. There are many theorist. The 40-minute interview references to reports from Mass- Chomskian Abstract, 2007 minus Observation, the organisation set up questioner focuses on the minutiae of before the war to gauge the attitude and expression on the face of this elegant morale of the general population. The thinker as he surfs the complexities observations concerning refugees vary of the cosmos and the negative effects from the suspicious and even hostile to pride in the perceived welcome given by of Westem governments on free choice Britain to the poor unfortunates. In and consumerism - 'the huge gap in quoting from the diaries of individual Lucas Cranach the Elder - Apollo and Dianac . 1526 the US between public policy and Mass-Observers, it is interesting to see The Royal Collection @ 2007, Her Majesty Queen pyj^Uj. opinion'. that even sympathetic native-born people Elizabeth II It is a gentle, refined rant against have misgivings about the new arrivals. of oil and tempera, noticeable in the post-industrial society, indifference to the There are particularly interesting elaborate triptych he created for Emperor planet and religious fundamentalism. 'One references and quotes relating to the many refugees employed as domestic Maximilian 1. third of the population don't care about servants. Cranach took his name from his global warming because of Christ's second An entire chapter is rightly devoted to birthplace, Kronach, a town in Upper coming', he observes. Yet America's uncon­ what made the 1938-39 Jewish refugee Franconia. He led a school of painting in ditional support for Israel stems, he feels, issue unique: the Kindertransport. As in which human action is infused with the from this religious conviction, in itself most of the book, the author concentrates surrounding landscape. His religious works deeply antisemitic - 'because all the Jews on discussing material written about the are genuinely spiritual but he was also a will get massacred after Armageddon'. subject rather than about the history of shrewd businessman. A close friend of The art installation - questionable as a the Kindertransport itself, although this is well summarised. The entry into this Martin Luther, he did not decline Catholic piece of art - is part of the gallery's country of nearly 10,000 children, without commissions, such as the portrait of Luther's collaboration with Friends of the Earth on their parents, received much publicity at sworn enemy, Cardinal Albrecht of environmental issues. the time and most of it was favourable. AJRJOURNAL MAY 2008

REVIEWS coiitiiiiied from page 9 A 'can-do' man even from some of the newspapers much lower number of Belgian Jews as SNOWS OF YESTERYEAR - A generally opposed to immigrants. having been deported, may well be more TRANSLATOR'S STORY Kushner notes that about 10 per cent of recent. Even so, his narrative, like most by Ewald Osers the Kinder subsequently wrote about their books about the Nazi epoch, makes grim London: Elliott and Thompson, 2007, reading. The anti-Jewish laws, internment experiences, either for publication or paper 176 pp. merely for their families, and this in barbaric conditions in the Breendonk exceptionally high percentage provides an camp and the Dossin barracks at wald Osers is one of the twentieth invaluable record. He contrasts this with Mechelen, leading all too often to the century's best-known translators the almost forgotten story of the 250,000 convoys to the gas chambers, are E of European literature and a highly Belgian refugees in the First World War highlighted in the earlier chapters. To regarded poet. He is the only translator where very few of them recorded their balance this, the courage of those ever to have won the Federation of experiences. Examples are given of prepared to risk their lives to help Jews is International Translators' Aurora Borealis selective memory, where the welcome given equal prominence. Prize for outstanding translation in fiction extended to the children and their While these helpers included individual and non-fiction, as well as many other gratitude are given considerably more Jews, who, of course, needed the co­ prestigious awards. Aged 90, he has no intention of slowing down. emphasis than the negative aspects and operation of non-Jewish partners to be the lack of reference to the parents left effective, Jewish organisations had a This memoir begins with Osers's behind. chequered record. A large number of comfortable Prague childhood. Arriving In his conclusions. Professor Kushner rescuers were priests and nuns, many of in the UK in 1938 to study at UCL, he draws comparisons between the reported whom were honoured by Yad Vashem as realised that he was not suited to a favourable treatment of past refugee 'Righteous among the Nations' and are scientific career and gave up his place. He movements, such as the Kindertransport, listed in an appendix of the book. soon found his way to the BBC World with the present attitude to 'asylum seek­ Occasionally, Christian rescuers were Service, where he stayed until his official ers'. The use of refugees as scapegoats for reluctant to let their charges go, anxious retirement at 65. An early sighting of Lord perceived problems remains as evident at to 'save their souls' when, after the Weidenfeld, dressed in riding breeches, the present time as it was over 100 years occupation, family members returned to marked his arrival at Wood Norton, where BBC monitoring services were based. ago. find them. A striking case is that of Henri Although his destination was 'secret' - he George Vulkan Elias, whose uncle and aunt were continually frustrated in their attempts to was told to ask for 'somewhere in the claim him and were outraged that his country' - the clerk at the railway booking Catholic 'guardian' was nominated as office responded: 'somewhere in the A questionable claim 'Righteous'. country - ah yes, that's Evesham.' So much for wartime security. A GIFT OF LIFE: THE DEPORTATION Some children apparently were able to AND THE RESCUE OF THE JEWS IN lead 'Jewish lives' in the convents or The Wood Norton monitors played OCCUPIED BELGIUM (1940-1945) institutions but the majority probably table tennis between shifts. Later, head­ phones were rigged up to allow play while by Sylvain Brachfeld shared the author's experience of having to pay at least lip service to the Catholic listening to German broadcasts so that if Herzliya, Israel: Institute for Research creed. Brachfeld movingly recounts his anything interesting came up, the moni­ on Belgian Judaism, paper 316 pp. secret intoning of the Shema - 'under the tors could dash upstairs to work. Knowing ere the Belgian people superior blankets' - after the ritual bedtime 'Hail that the BBC's reputation for honesty to other populations in Nazi- Mary'. was its strongest point during the war, W occupied Europe in their readi­ While the book provides a valuable Osers, who comes across as a stickler for ness to protect their Jewish fellow record of the Belgian-Jewish experience exactness, was a little surprised to learn citizens? That they were is the contention of occupation, the writing - or translation that not all BBC bulletins were entirely of the author of this book, which is backed - leaves a great deal to be desired, as does accurate. up by statistics, historical narrative, names the proof-reading - or lack of it. Even the The author's almost charmed life has and portrayals of many of the rescuers - index is sadly inadequate. been touched by tragedy. After the war who include no less than the Queen A pessimistic postscript, in which the he discovered that his mother had been Mother, Queen Elizabeth - and stories of author acknowledges his long-term murdered in 1942, probably at Sobibor children who survived in hiding. Antwerp, suffering and bitterness towards those His brother was one of only five survivors where the mayor, Leon Delwaide, and the who facilitated the Nazis' aims and to escape from the Polish concentration police force put themselves at the service expresses concern at contemporary camp in Zamosc. The brothers were of the Germans, was, in the view of the manifestations of antisemitism, anti-Israel reunited in 1947. Osers's wife Mary author, an exception to the general trend. sentiment and neo-Nazism, would seem suffers from multiple sclerosis. Brachfeld's argument has been chal­ to belie the claim made in an early chapter Osers is a 'can-do' man with a talent lenged - indirectly at least - by the work that it would be impossible today to for DIY. Without any hesitation he and a of the recently deceased Belgian author accept the conditions imposed on colleague successfully tackled bricklaying, Hugo Claus. In his Nobel-nominated novel Belgium's Jews without protest. surmising that any intelligent person The Sorrow of Belgium, Claus, according Emma Klein could do it. He later took a three-year to an obituarist, 'exploded the myth of cabinet-making course and made several widespread resistance that provided items for the Osers family home. Belgium with a thin comfort blanket after Annely Juda Fine Art Ewald Osers is a fortunate man who the war, exposing the extent of collabo­ enjoys his work and says that nothing ration, hypocrisy, religious bigotry and 23 Dering Street (off New Bond Street) else gives him the same satisfaction. His wilful ignorance that had enabled the Tel: 020 7629 7578 Fax: 020 7491 2139 aim is to achieve a total of 160 Nazis to dispose of some 40,000 Belgian CONTEMPORARY PAINTING translated books. I for one am sure he Jews with barely a whisper of protest.' AND SCULPTURE will succeed. Brachfeld's research, which shows a Laraine Feldman

10 AJRJOURNAL MAY 2008

flighting tallc

had a tough war and not enough appointed himself navigator and contrived beautiful boy, straight out of H. E. Bates. I medals to show for it. An ungrateful a route which took in every village that could sense that something was wrong I nation ignored my encounters with was home to one of my squad. The because I found him in tears one morning more than one deadly enemy: I got nothing hospitality I received at our overnight soon after my arrival. The others kept for drinking for weeks from a well at the stops was daunting, as were the logistics their distance, and I made it my business bottom of which we eventually discovered of obtaining the extra food and fuel to to piece together his story. a dead Jap. While hardship and boredom cover a fortnight's joumey that should He had flovra Hurricanes in the Battle were the lot of many, few were as have taken half that time. Not that the of Britain and lived to tell the tale. Then unprepared as I. You see, where I come delay mattered: no one was expecting us he had had some kind of breakdown and from - a nice part of Vienna - very little at the other end - which was just as well got this posting to Colombo and the job of Urdu was spoken, so you can imagine that since I arrived with two men fewer than I taking up a two-seater aircraft once a day, when I stood before the court martial as a had signed for. The goats, I knew, we had taking a weather reading, and bringing it defending officer of an Urdu-speaking down again. His day's work took 25 soldier accused of knifing a comrade, I felt In the darkness I sauv some minutes. There was only one snag: he was I was being tested on a rather specialised movement, and then, more afraid of flying. Every day, at 10 am, he field of battle. clearly, German soldiers cratvHng tumed up in the hangar, sweating and shaking, never knowing whether he could Let me fill you in. When the Army on their bellies towards me. discovered that I spoke more than just manage as much as taxi for take-off. The Wehrmacht, I thought, but who English, they had just received a request MO would not give him calming-down had tipped them off that I was for a linguist to be attached to the Indian pills because he said he could not allow coming? Their helmets were Army. So they packed me off on a him to fly under the influence, so I unmistakable. Halt, I cried idth troopship boimd for Bombay and straight pretended to be badly shaken by having a (Jerman accent and shone onto a course to leam how to build landing seen a cobra in my hut (no point fields in the jimgle. When it was decided my torch. The shiny helmets challenging the identity of a Singhalese that it would be the Burmese jungle, they continued to advance slowly, snake in Urdu) and got hold of some moved the course from Bombay to propelled by the tortoises Benzedrine, which I passed to my friend. Calcutta. Life was expensive in the city underneath, whose shells looked It did not help much. In spite of all the and in no time I found myself in debt. The uncannily like German soldiers' talking and reassurance, he got worse. only way for an officer and gentleman to headgear. Time to tum in. Some days I had to yank him out of bed earn a bit extra was to go on another and help him to get dressed. In the end, he course since officers who passed an eaten, but the missing soldiers ... ? asked me whether I would go up with him. interpreters' exam received an additional We arrived late at night, and made for It seemed churlish to refuse. So I put on allowance. The trouble was that I needed the airport for somewhere to sleep. When his spare gear, strapped myself in behind to learn Burmese and the only course the men were fed and watered, 1 decided him and prayed that he would not have available was for Urdu. But my need was to take a walk round the perimeter to get an attack at 5,(XX) feet and ask me to take great and, as they believe at the War my bearings. In the darkness I saw some over. We canied on like this for a while, Office, there is English and there is movement, and then, more clearly, Ger­ until one day he was mysteriously gone. I foreign. man soldiers crawling on their bellies never found out where or why, but I was In record time, I was declared a towards me. Wehrmacht, I thought, but asked by the station commander to pack competent interpreter both of Urdu and who had tipped them off that I was com­ up his kit, perhaps because I was Army of American air-strip laying manuals. Off ing? Their helmets were unmistakable. and saved some RAF face. Or f)erhaps it to Burma next? Don't you believe it. They Halt, I cried with a Gennan accent and was intended as a thank-you when he said wanted me to teach airport construction shone my torch. The shiny helmets con­ that he could wangle it for me to do the to officers newly arrived in Ceylon. And tinued to advance slowly, propelled by daily weather flight. I declined, not having would I mind conducting a crack team of the tortoises underneath, whose shells the heart to tell him that I didn't know how other ranks, including jeeps, lorries, food looked uncannily like Gennan soldiers' to fly a plane. (including live goats), on the journey headgear. Time to tum in. The second and final part of this article south? Kindly observe the distance 1 was made welcome in the RAF will appear in next month's issue ofthe from Calcutta to Madras, our point of officers' mess. One young pilot attached Journal. embarkation for Colombo. My sergeant himself to me straightaway. He was a Victor Ross

II Wembley wartime reminiscences Frank Berg, a passenger on the Dunera, A remarkable woman brought us back to the time of the indiscriminate internment of Jewish refugees shipped to Australia. Condi­ tions on board were atrocious. As usual, Myrna prepared a splendid afternoon tea for an attentive audience. Anthony Goldsmith Sheffield CF and UN Day of Peace Next meeting: 14 May. Celebration of The 17 Continental Friends who met at group's 1st anniversary and Israel's 'A remarkable woman indeed', says Eva Sue Pearson's home were interested to 60th anniversary Mendelsson of her step-mother, Kate hear and see Inge Joseph's report on Cohn (nee Brieger), who has just the celebration of the UN Day of Peace Brighton & Hove Sarid: 'Injustices celebrated her 100th birthday. 'Kate came over just before the war as a cook- we have to face' held at the Imperial War Museum. cum-housemaid with a family, I believe Three London primary schools heard Aubrey Milstein, a member of the in Devon. Later, she worked as a book­ Inge read from her diary of Brighton congregation, speaking about keeper with a hop-growing company in Kindertransport experiences as well as 'The State We Are In', gave examples London. She married my father at the other survivors of 'un-peaceful' world of injustices we have to face. He was tender age of 48 and they had 19 years' happiness together - he died in 1976. I events. We also discussed plans for the hopeful that the older members of have ordered a telegram from the future, including a possible Memorial society, whose number is increasing all Queen and hope this will make her smile Book and a collection of 'Remembered the time, will be more vocal. a little!' Recipes'. Susanne Dyke Dorothy Fleming Next meeting: 19 May. Godfrey Gould, prospectives have disappeared and how Next meeting: 11 May at Dorothy's 'The First Marquis of Reading' they have become non-committal. home Relating this to 'Judaism' today, he Jewish humour in Newcastle concluded: 'We must be optimistic but llford: The Foundling Hospital Steve Strouzer, a member of the not foolishly so.' Esther Rinkoff Jane King of the Foundling Museum Newcastle Jewish players, spoke about Next meeting: 20 May. Susannah gave an inspiring talk on how children 'A Glimpse of Jewish Humour'. New Alexander, 'History of Jews of England' were abandoned in Britain until Thomas stories were added to the repertoire and Coram created the Foundling Hospital those heard before greeted as old Radlett: The Wiener Library in 1739. Hogarth and Handel later friends! Susanne Green reported on Howard Falksohn encouraged members helped in their individual styles. A very HMD in Liverpool. Kurt Schapira to visit the Wiener Library, an outstand­ worthwhile morning. Next meeting: 22 June ing Holocaust and Nazi-era collection Meta Roseneil which includes many unpublished mem­ Next meeting: 7 May. Lunch celebrating Norfolk happy breed oirs, original documents and eyewitness Israel's 60th anniversary This happy breed of AJR members testimonies. Margaret Arenias discussed a visit to Berlin - hitherto the Next meeting: 21 May. Alf Keiles, 'Jews Pinner: The Haifa Technion very sound of German gave one the and Jazz' Tony Bernstein spoke to a large shivers. Frank spoke of a moving audience about the Haifa Technion, performance by Felixstowe sixth- Temple Fortune: History of the AJR tracing its rise to become one of the formers of the journey by cattle truck to The AJR's Michael Newman told us the world's leading technical universities. Auschwitz. Myrna and helpers ensured AJR began as a self-help organisation Two of its professors were awarded the inner man and woman were well in 1941 but is now a social and welfare Nobel prizes in 2004. Interestingly, served. Frank Bright organisation. It has over 3,000 work on water supplies - of great Next meeting: 8 July. Usual venue members with an average age of 82. importance in the Middle East -jointly The second and third generations with Jordanian scientists involves Edgware: The 'Me Now should be encouraged to join, he said. having their meetings in Cyprus. Generation' David Lang Paul Samet Clive Lawton amused us with anecdotes Next meeting: 15 May. 'Safety in the Next meeting: 1 May. Robert Beiny, on how the younger generation's Community' 'Audiology'

HGS: The Cedar Boys LANDMARK LUNCH Abigail Slavin told us about the Cedar The AJR held a sparkling lunch for Boys - 31 Jewish boys (and 2 girls) - Susie Kaufman, Organiser of the whose rescue from Nazi Germany was Paul Balint AJR Centre, and Joseph financed by the Rothschilds. The Pereira, the Centre's Caretaker, to children lived in Cedar House at celebrate their having been 20 years Waddesdon Manor Abigail and her with the AJR. At a surprise party at husband, himself a Cedar Boy, the Cleve Road Centre, AJR organised a get-together for 20 Chairman Andrew Kaufman and surviving traceable 'boys' and their Susie's predecessor Sylvia Matus families in 1993. Susie with daughter Nicole and Joseph at surprise party paid tribute to the caring nature of Laszio Roman Susie and Joseph. Those who ate at the Centre, Sylvia added, were 'probably Next meeting: 12 May. 4th Birthday the best-fed members of any social club.' Celebration

12 AJRJOURNAL MAY 2008

Cleve Road: 'Weekends in Vienna' Otto Deutsch spoke about his childhood HOLIDAY FOR Paul Balint AJR Centre weekends in Vienna. After lunch on NORTHERN MEMBERS 15 Cleve Road, London NW6 Saturday the family would walk to the Sunday 20 July - Tel: 020 7328 0208 local coffee house. There were games Sunday 27 July 2008 and comics for the children; the men at Inn On The Prom AJR LUNCHEON CLUB talked politics; the women looked at at THE FERNLEA HOTEL Wednesday 21 May 2008 Vogue magazine. On Sunday- kids' day 11/17 South Promenade, St Annes Professor Eric Moonman - the family went by tram to Grinzing Tel 01253 726 726 in the Vienna Woods. Otto feels that 'Good Health: The Lighter Side The cost, including Dinner, Bed and of the NHS'^ Vienna rejected him and that he did Breakfast, is £495 per person not reject Vienna. (For a full report of Please be aware that members should not The hotel charges a supplement per automatically assume that they are on the this meeting, please contact room for sea view or deluxe room Luncheon Club list It is now necessary, on receipt david.langi [email protected]) Programme includes of your copy of the AJR Journal, to phone the Next meeting: 27 May. Eva Blumenthal, ENTERTAINMENT Centre on 020 7328 0208 to book your place. 'History of the Royal Free Hospital' OUTINGS MEET OLD AND NEW FRIENDS KT-AJR A remarkable lady visits Herts Travel to St Annes by RAIL, Kindertransport special Bertha Leverton soon lifted our spirits NATIONAL COACH or CAR interest group with her informal manner and her 'talk' Please contact Ruth Finestone on Monday 12 May 2008 turned into a lively discussion. We were 020 8385 3070 David Williams also happy to see her re-united with a A London tour guide will talk about school member from Munich who is a places of Jewish interest regular member of our group. Bertha DIARY DATES KINDLY NOTE THAT LUNCH really is a remarkable lady. Monday 26 May - Sunday 1 June WILL BE SERVED AT 1.00 PMON MONDAYS Monica Rosenbaum Bournemouth Holiday (Cliffside Hotel) Reservations required Next meeting: 22 May. Robin Hamilton- Tuesday 24 June Please telephone 020 7328 0208 Taylor, 'Middle East Update' Day trip to Brighton and Hove Jewish Day Centre Monday, Wednesday & Thursday Leeds CF Sunday 20 July - Sunday 27 July 9.30 am-3.30 pm Susanne Green told us about the St Annes Holiday (Fernlea Hotel) PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CENTRE IS Liverpool HMD events at which the Sunday 21 Sept CLOSED ON TUESDAYS Liverpool Memorial Book was dis­ AJR Tea at Hilton Watford played. Members were invited Sunday 26 October - Sunday 2 Nov May Afternoon Entertainment to bring recipes for a 'Recipes Remem­ Eastbourne Holiday (Lansdowne Hotel) Thur Anita Elias bered' book to be compiled by Pippa For further information, please call us Mon CLOSED - BANK HOLIDAY Landy. Suzanne Rappaport (Ripton), on 020 8385 3070. Tue CLOSED who was a hidden child in France, Wed David Peace brought a DVD of Muslim students in Thur Nat Paris Bradford who had been to Ausch­ Hendon: Jewish opera singers Mon 12 KT LUNCH - Kards & Games Klub witz following a course of study. This Alan Bilgora played recordings of Jewish Tue 13 CLOSED wonderful DVD is to be used as an opera singers dating from 1907. The singing was magnificent. We look Wed 14 Mike Marandi educational tool. Thur 15 forward to a second visit from Alan. Jack Davidoff Barbara Cammerman Mon 19 Kards & Games Klub Annette Saville Tue 20 Next meeting: 19 May. Former actress CLOSED Wed 21 North London: The King's l\/lo5t Renee Goddard LUNCHEON CLUB Loyal Enemy Aliens Thur 22 Michael Heaton Over 30 of us, including new faces, Enjoyable East Midlands lunch Mon 26 CLOSED - BANK HOLIDAY Tue 27 listened to Helen Fry speak about her meeting CLOSED Wed 28 book The King's Most Loyal Enemy Aliens, Another enjoyable lunch meeting was Ronnie Goldberg Thur 29 in which she chronicles the episode held in a member's home. We discussed Simon Gilbert during WW2 when thousands of refugees the recent AJR trip to London as well as from Germany and Austria joined the a proposed Holocaust Memorial Book British forces. Herbert Haberberg dedicated to the memory of victims of Next meeting: 29 May. Alan Bilgora, Sheffield and East Midlands members' 'DROP IN' ADVICE SERVICE 'Famous Jewish Opera Singers' relatives. Bob Norton Members requiring benefit advice please telephone Linda Kasmir on 020 8385 3070 to OTHER MEETINGS make an appointment at AJR, Jubilee House, Kingston CF coffee meeting Merrion Avenue, Stanmore, Middx HA7 4RL Another afternoon coffee meeting at Essex 13 May. Joint lunch with the congenial Thames-side home of members of Pinner group Edith Jayne. Members from various OUTINGS SWITCH ON ELECTRICS parts of Europe were present, as well Brighton & Hove Sarid 27 May. To as a second-generation member from Rewires and all household Wiener Library electrical work New Zealand. Alfred Kessler Herts and Radlett 29 May. Details PHONE PAUL: 020 8200 3518 Next meeting: 18 June at home of Joe Mobile: 0795 614 8566 and Margaret Allen in New Maiden tba A|R JOURNAL MAY 2008

FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS THE HOLOCAUST CENTRE Deaths Collins, Margot died suddenly on 14 March INVITES AJR MEMBERS TO aged 87. Will be much missed by her long- THE POST-OPENING term friend Lily Donaldson. VIEWING OF Loewenstein, Fritz died peacefully on 16 •THE JOURNEY' March. He is sadly missed by his wife Edith AT BETH SHALOM, and all family and friends. THE HOLOCAUST CENTRE Memorial Service in Laxton, near Nottingham A grandchild is a wonderful blessing A memorial service for Edyta Klein- on Sunday 14 September 2008 to have. If you would like to spend Smith will be held at the Imperial War more time with them then you need to 'The Journey', partly created with a grant call CORRECT COMPUTERS. Museum on 22 May at 11.30 am. from the AJR Charitable Trust, tells the story of the Kindertransport - the Imagine being able to see your family Classified refugees' escape from Nazi-occupied whenever YOU want. We teach Europe to resettlement in Britain. complete beginners to use a computer Qualified male nurse from Israel speaking and will show you how to have video English and Russian seeks to share To reserve a place, please contact conversations with any of your family. accommodation in exchange for care. Please Susan Harrod at AJR head office That's as easy as making a telephone on 020 8385 3070 before 29 May. call 077477 05250. call but one hundred times better, Call There are 60 invitations, which us now on 020 7449 0920. we are making available to members KINDERTRANSPORT LEGAQ throughout the country on a first-come first-served basis. A major TV channel is considering PillarCare making a documentary on the legacy of Please let us know if you are concerned Quality support and care at home the Kindertransport. about travel - transport can be They would like to contact arranged from main centres. Hourly Care from 1 hour - 24 hours second- or third-generation members Members who have already received Live-In/Night Duty/Sleepover Care who have either had an especially invitations from Beth Shalom for the interesting life or are known in their Convalescent and Personal Health Care opening of 'The Journey' should reply field of expertise. Compassionate and Affordable Service directly to The Holocaust Centre. Please contact Andrea Coodmaker at Professional, Qualified, Kind Care Staff the AJR on 020 8385 3070 Registered with the CSCI and UKHCA

LEO BAECK HOUSE Call us on Freephone 0800 028 464i & OSMOND HOUSE Studio 1 Utopia Village AJR DAY TRIP 7 Chalcot Road, NWl SLH Join us for a trip to Brighton & Offering expert residential and nursing care for refugees and survivors of the Holocaust. Bnghton & Hove Jewish Day Centre Tuesday 24 June 2008 I 24-hour empathetic, knowledgeable care ACACIA LODGE Coach leaving AJR Centre, I En suite facilities Mrs Prjngsheim, S.R.N. Matron Cleve Road, London NW6 at 10.00 am I Activities & outings For Elderly, Retired and Convalescent I Shabbat & festivals celebrated (Licensed by Borough ot Barnet} £20 per person to include transport, • Single and Double Rooms. lunch and tea For more information • Ensuite facilities, CH in ali rooms. Please contact Carol Rossen call Jewish Care Direct • Gardens, TV and reading rooms. or Lorna Moss on 020 8385 3070 on 020 8922 2222 • Nurse on duty 24 hours. • Long and short term and respite, Places are limited so please book eariy In partnership with the Otto Schiff Housing Association inciuding trial period if required. Between £400 and £500 per week JEWISH CARE 020 8445 1244/020 8446 2820 office hours , ,^ , Home Care 020 8455 1335 other times OSHA Charity Retistration Number 210396 37-39 Torrington Park, North Finchley Jewish Care Charity Retistration Number 802559 Care through quality and London N12 STB professionalism Celebrating our 25th Anniversary Sometimes life is easier 25 years of experience in providing ttie highest standards of care in the comfort f^ of your own home with a little bit of help ANA Nursing can provide professional carers >J0 and nurses to help with any of your needs. 24 hr service, 7 days a week. Personal care, Respite care. From 1-24 hours y1 hour to 24 hours care call us on; Registered through the National Care Standard Commission 020 8905 7701 Call our 24 hour tel 020 7794 9323 www.colvin-nursing.co.uk

14 AJRJOURNAL MAY 2008

OBITUARIES

Michael Newman Ernest Shenton Poland to enact mst Schneck (Emest Shenton), who and successful. restitution legislation Ernest loved his E died on 7 March, came to the UK from According to media reports, the Vienna following the Anschluss. He was family. Bridge, mu­ government of Poland is committing evacuated from family to family in sic, wine, art and itself to introducing property restitution legislation by the end of Manchester and Gloucester. His mother dancing. While he had no interest in 2008. Although reports refer to worked as a seamstress, but a £l-a-year small talk, he knew property restitution. It is thought the scholarship enabled him to attend bill will provide compensation of 20 when it was important to talk: at a French Marylebone Grammar School, where he per cent of a property's value to Chamber of Commerce dinner, with Harold former owners, both Jewish and non- excelled in sports. At the age of 19, he served Wilson attending, he questioned French Prime Jewish. The law would apply to in the RAF, where he learned lessons in how Minister Barre on why the French had released properties seized during the Second not to do things. the terrorist Abu Abbas from prison. Monsieur World War Interested in photography, Emest joined Barre refused to answer - the following day Precise details of the law have not Dixons, which he was to direct for decades. he was revealed as responsible for the action. yet been disclosed and it is also not clear whether the legislation will make Contrary to later norms, he created a culture In retirement, Emest worked with Volun­ provision for properties in the Galicia in which employers and employees shared all teer Business Services Overseas. Volunteering region, now located in Ukraine, outside facilities. He pioneered the mail order envelope in Bulgaria, he advised young entrepreneurs the boundaries of present-day Poland. for film processing and introduced films as setting up business ventures and he served on Although a 1997 agreement pro­ promotional and co-promotional items for the Business Arbitration Panel. vides for the return of public property companies. in Poland and some claimants have On learning Ernest's condition was secured restitution for their properties In 1960 he married Denise, an orphaned terminal, Denise held a phenomenal party at by bringing private cases directly to Holocaust survivor. Through 47 years of which friends and family could "talk openly and Polish courts, it is estimated that the married life, he felt supported on 'wings of say goodbye. A fitting tribute to quite a total value of seized property is 16-18 happiness'. They had four 'lovely children' and mensch. Emest is survived by Denise, four billion euros (£12.5-14 billion). built inventive homes in France, Ireland and children - Nik, Jessica, Nadine and Gaby - and Alongside the efforts of the Claims Conference and the World Jewish England. eight grandchildren, with one due at the time Restitution Organisation representing Emest pioneered one-hour film processing of writing. Holocaust survivors and their families, on the high street. Photo Shop was bom, fresh Gaby Eirew Poland has also been lobbied by non- Jewish Polish nobility, whose extensive assets were confiscated. Hans Freund Belgian connpensation r Hans Freund, who died on 18 November, With the out­ - a clarification was a man of many talents. Reports at the beginning of March D break of war, Hans appeared to suggest that the Belgian gov­ He was bom in Berlin in 1910. His father volunteered for the ernment was introducing a new fund to ran a store specialising in linens and materials; South African army, pay compensation to Holocaust survivors his two uncles were rabbis; his grandfather joining as a private who were persecuted or lost assets. was the director of Weissensee, the largest and ending the war ^^^ ^^ It transpires that these reports were Jewish cemetery in Europe. as a captain. At Sidi HHB ^^ misinterpreted and that the announce­ ments were simply reporting on the As a boy, Hans sang in the synagogue Rezegh, he was wounded and held in a field monies that the Belgian government choir, something he was to do all his life. He hospital prison, from which he escaped. had already provided and distributed to studied violin with a pupil of Joachim and Following the Armistice, Hans and Kitty Holocaust survivors and their families. played the harmonica. He studied German and their family settled in Cape Town, where Under the Indemnification Com­ Literature and Philosophy at the universities he taught at the South African College High mission for the Belgian Jewish Community's Assets, 110 million euros of Berlin, Greifsweld and Freiburg, where he School. He became chairman of the Jewish (approximately £85 million) has been gained his doctorate. Museum and local library, a member of the dispersed as reparations for a range of Hans came to England and taught Jewish Board of Deputies, and a keen worker spoliations, including confiscation of temporarily at UCL. At this time he met his for the Reform Synagogue. personal belongings and life insurances future wife Kitty. As foreigners were not The family retumed to London. In 1966 and businesses, as well as in recogni­ allowed to earn money in England, Hans both took up careers as teachers. Hans was tion of having been subjected to forced labour accepted a job in South Africa. In 1936-37 he active in AJEX and B'nai B'rith. He sang in worked in a store as a packer and became a every possible North London venue, especially Enquiries seeking advice and clarification on commercial traveller. those catering for the elderly. Holocaust restitution and compensation matters should continue to be sent to By the time Kitty came as an exchange He leaves his wife Kitty, to whom he was Michael Newman at Central Office for Holo­ teacher to South Africa, Hans had enough married 68 years, his son David, his daughter caust Claims (UK), Jubilee House, Merrion money to qualify for a Govemment Teacher's Erica, his daughter-in-law Nina, and three Avenue, Stanmore, Middx HA7 4RL, by fax to 020 8385 3075, or by email to Diploma. He obtained a post at the Gymnasium granddaughters. [email protected] School Pretoria. Kitty Freund

IS AJRJOURNAL MAY 2008

Newsround LETTER FROM ISRAEL Earliest sign of Jewish habitation in Austria discovered Vienna University archaeologists say they have found the earliest sign of JewisJi Orphaned art looking for owners habitation in Austria - a silver pendant discovered in a third-century CE grave wo sister-exhibitions are currently some of the paintings came from well- which bears the Shema Yisrael prayer. on display at the Israel Museum in known collections, such as those of the They said they found the 2.2-centimeter- T Jerusalem. The first is a selection Rothschilds or Adolphe Schloss. long object in a golden scroll containing of paintings which have been in the The entire Youth Wing of the museum the words of the prayer inscribed in possession of the museum and its has been devoted to the exhibition, and Greek. predecessor, the Bezalel collection, since its interior has been altered radically to European Union keen to the end of the Second World War. The evoke a European ambience, with dim strengthen ties with Israel paintings, put together for the first time lighting and parquet floors. At several The EU wants to involve Israel 'more closely under the title 'Orphaned Art', were found points, one can sit and watch documen­ in some EU policies like financial services by the Allies in Nazi homes and collection tary films illustrating the vicissitudes of or technological co-operation', says the European Commissioner for Foreign centres throughout Europe. For obvious the pictures. Hitler's megalomaniac plans, Affairs, Benita Ferrero-Waldner Israel is reasons, the provenance of most of the and the efforts to trace owners. On my described as the 'front-runner' among artworks was not clear, and in many cases last visit I saw several groups being taken non-EU members participating in EU their owners could not be traced. The round and given explanations by guides programmes ranging from scientific co­ second exhibition, 'Looking for Ovraers', speaking many different languages. operation to trade integration. A 'reflection group' was considering 'where we can has been put together and sponsored by There was even a group of Arab school­ substantially upgrade EU-lsraeli relations the French govemment. It contains 53 children from Umm al-Fahm. to a truly "special status"', she added. paintings, many of them by renowned For me, though, the exhibition triggers artists, which originally belonged to an even more disturbing train of thought. Albert Speer's son submits Berlin building plan French Jews. The pictures and objects, all intrinsically The son of Nazi architect Albert Speer has The systematic looting of thousands of valuable and worthy of display in a submitted a design to redevelop a large art works throughout Europe, both from museum, are no more than the tip of the plot of land in central Berlin. Albert Speer Jr, Jews and from national collections in iceberg. Every home of every Jewish one of the world's leading architects and countries conquered by the Nazis, was part family that was dispossessed, exiled and/ urban planners, has come up with a of Hitler's plan to make his birthplace, the or eventually murdered contained objects scheme that would overhaul a run-down stadium used during the 1936 Berlin Austrian town of Linz, the art centre of that had been accumulated over the years Olympics. Europe. He planned to build a huge - porcelain and silver, linen and fumiture complex containing most of the art - countless precious objects that had been Israel and Iran seen as most negative players in world affairs formerly on display across Europe. In passed down from father to son and from Israel is seen as the country with the addition, art works from the homes of mother to daughter. There can have been second most negative influence on the wealthy Jews were commandeered. These few homes in which there was not a well- world, according to a poll released by the included some impressive nineteenth- loved picture hanging on the wall, a BBC. Only Iran was considered to have a century portraits, as well as pictures by sideboard displaying favourite pieces of more negative influence. Pakistan was French, Dutch and Italian classicists. silver, linen with initials lovingly rated the country with the third most Jewish ceremonial objects were also negative influence. Germany was consid­ embroidered by hand, handiwork that ered to have the best influence on the appropriated, in order eventually to be put showed the skill of the lady of the house, world, with a positive score of 56 per cent on display in the 'Jewish Museum' that toys, books, writing implements - all the and a negative score of 18 per cent. would portray the erstwhile Jewish people. things that combine to make a home. Dutch Muslims condemn Many visitors, both Israelis and All that disappeared, whether looted tourists, come to see these exhibitions, anti-Islam film by Nazi soldiers, filched by neighbours Dutch Jews are more outspoken than local moving from one exhibit to another with or destroyed in some other way. Of course, Muslims in their criticism of the newly serious mien. Many are moved to tears, and far worse things happened than the released anti-Islam film by rightist on one occasion someone even fainted. It seizure of property, but for me the loss of legislator Geert Wilders, according to Dr Ronny Naftaniel, head of the Centre for is hardly surprising. The labels beside the the things that so many families once pictures are laconic and devoid of pathos, Information and Documentation (CIDI). possessed and loved seems to symbolise The Jewish community central board, of yet who can fail to be touched by seeing the wholesale destruction of European which CIDI is a member, condemned the time and again the words 'unidentified Jewry. film as counterproductive to the fight owner" or 'provenance unknown', although against extremism, saying it had crossed Dorothea Shefer-Vanson the line of legitimate criticism.

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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