William Joseph Kentridge, Chester Silver 4-piece tea set, maker Notes Towards A Model Opera, George Nathan & Ridley Hayes giclee print on archival paper SOLD R12,000 SOLD R30,000 2020 Kick-Of Auction Art & antiques auction on 15 February 2020 9:30am Mont Blanc Agatha Items wanted for forthcoming auctions Christie limited edition Victorian 2-tier bufet fountain pen, boxed with pierced and View upcoming auction highlights at www.rkauctioneers.co.za SOLD R13,000 carved foliate back 011 789 7422 • 011 326 3515 • 083 675 8468 • 12 Allan Road, Bordeaux, Johannesburg SOLD R15,000 south african n Volume 24 – Number 2 n 24 January 2020 n 27 Tevet 5780 The source of quality content, news and insights t www.sajr.co.za Hitler’s typewriter released from SA bank vault JORDAN MOSHE he became chancellor of Germany. in question, stressing that Snyman would as part of the machinery that lead to the “After buying the typewriter, Matzner have made the necessary enquiries before systematic murder of millions of people heavy wooden crate was delivered then came to South Africa, married a South purchasing the typewriter. across Europe. It symbolised oppression, and pried open in Forest Town last African woman, and their daughter ended “There was no reason not to accept its persecution, torture, and genocide – the Friday morning. As the lid came up working for Volkskas attempt to away,A all eyes in the room fixed on the Bank, one of the annihilate people, object which sat nestled inside: a jet-black forerunners of Absa,” because of their typewriter, its complex machinery gleaming Bayliss says. He added differences. as it was lifted out and placed atop a that Snyman bought “Each time wooden bench. the typewriter from her I saw it in the It wasn’t simply its novelty which was husband, a Mr R Mauff, museum, knowing gripping, but the thought of its history. For after she passed away, its origin, I almost 100 years previously, this typewriter and added it to Absa’s felt disquiet. I had stood on a desk in Braunau, Austria, collection. didn’t feel it was ready to type at the behest of its first Bayliss says Absa has appropriate to owner: Adolf Hitler. a few “interesting items” display it in a This historic item is the property of Absa. in its vaults. money museum It was handed over to the Johannesburg “When you’re dealing as a curiosity Holocaust & Genocide Centre (JHGC) in a brand like Absa, among old office Forest Town on indefinite loan. The idea you’re dealing with equipment, but is to offer visitors a unique opportunity to its forerunners like didn’t know what come face to face with the past to better Volkskas, Trust Bank, should be done, understand it. and United. United or even how to The SA Jewish Report was at this historic was around when approach the occasion with Absa Art and Museum Johannesburg was situation.” Curator Dr Paul Bayliss and Tali Nates, the founded, and with a In April last founder and director of the JHGC. company as old as that, year, Brower Bayliss says that the bank acquired there will be things in Tali Nates examines visited the the typewriter under the watch of his our vaults that have Ilan Ossendryver Photo: Hitler’s typewriter JHGC to view predecessor, Dr Piet Snyman, who passed little to do with the the permanent away six months before Bayliss took over. bank itself, but are part of a history worth authenticity as fact,” he says. “Being the collection, and a temporary exhibition on Snyman recorded the transaction, including preserving.” historian that he was, Snyman wouldn’t Jewish history in Lithuania as a way of the name of the person from whom he had Bayliss (who has worked at Absa for 18 have put it on exhibit without investigating. connecting to her Litvak ancestry. purchased it. years), says the bank maintains a museum He was a respected historian, and would While there, she decided the typewriter According to this record, Joseph Matzner, that specialises in exhibiting finance- have made sure to do his research.” should be rehomed in the centre, and a colleague of Hitler’s, purchased it from related artefacts. Although this typewriter However, while on display at Absa, now contacted Bayliss to find out if it was him prior to the outbreak of World War didn’t fit into the finance exhibitions, it former Absa employee Nicole Brower was possible. II. A confectioner by trade, Matzner was found a home among other technological drawn to this typewriter, and strongly “I proposed that the typewriter be reportedly a friend of Hitler’s while both items, and was showcased as an illustration believed it needed to be exhibited donated to the centre to be displayed lived in Braunau. The typewriter had been of innovation rather than an item elsewhere. appropriately within the context it was supplied to Hitler in the early 1930s, and previously owned by Hitler. “I was disturbed by it,” she told the SA used,” says Brower. “He was open to the was used for private correspondence before Bayliss says its authenticity was never Jewish Report. “This typewriter was used Continued on page 16 >> HEAD OF TRAINING, LOGISTICS AND RECRUITMENT CAPE TOWN CSO CAPE TOWN IS LOOKING FOR A DYNAMIC LEADER TO JOIN OUR GROWING TEAM! Overseeing 20+ Instructors Driving volunteer recruitment, development and retention Developing, enhancing and coordinating Growing community engagement and driving training, processes and logistics. community-wide training through the schools and shuls. This is an amazing opportunity to live and work in Cape Town! 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Te results of the survey, carried out this in which hatred grows, sowing peace in it,” he Te employee has reported the incidents 011 444 4732 year by the IFOP (Institut français d’opinion said. to Felix Klein, the federal government’s anti- publique) for the American Jewish Committee, Te pope also encouraged deeper Christian- Semitism commissioner in the ministry of the 082 441 8287 were published on Tuesday in Le Parisien. Jewish co-operation. interior, according to the newspaper. [email protected] In addition to the 23% of respondents who While confirming basic details, a government said they had experienced an assault, 64% Student claims Anne Frank spokesperson told Bild that no further said they had experienced a non-physical anti- didn’t die in camp comment could be provided in the confidential Appliance Repairs on Site Semitic incident. matter. Te employee reportedly now works , In France, home to about 500 000 Jews, Te progressive NowTis news website removed in a new location, away from his former hers authorities documented 541 anti-Semitic a segment of a video in which a George colleagues. was ish ves incidents in 2018, suggesting a prevalence of Washington University student asserted that s, D es, Sto ge achin one anti-Semitic incident per about 1 000 Jews. teenage Holocaust diarist Anne Frank didn’t die PA newspaper calls for violent id g M Fr hin Forty-three percent of respondents younger in a concentration camp. disruption of Holocaust event as ers & more than 35 said they felt threatened in their daily Te six-minute video about President Donald W Dry ble lives. 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An even larger civil-rights protections for Jews on campus – disrupt the World Holocaust Forum being held proportion – 37% – said they avoided installing criticised Trump for “defining what is and what this week in Jerusalem. a mezuzah on their door. isn’t being Jewish”, and said it was a “veiled A columnist for Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, in an Precious Sibanda way to silence Palestinian voices” against Israel. article over the weekend, said that Israel was is looking for employment Pope condemns ‘barbaric Te order says attackers target Jews since they planning a ceremony to memorialise Jews killed resurgence’ of anti-Semitism perceive them to be a race or having a shared in Europe even as “the Palestinian holocaust by as a Caregiver/Domestic national identity. Israel” is ignored. 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