VOLUME 20 NO.11 NOVEMBER 2020 JOURNAL The Association of Jewish Refugees

BACK TO BASICS Remembering November is always one of the AJR’s busiest months but this year we are busy in different ways, as Michael Newman the Ghettos explains on page 4. For example, we are commemorating In November 1940, eighty years ago this month, the Warsaw in different formats, including an online memorial service (see page 3) Ghetto was officially sealed, cutting off 380,000 from the and a moving testimony by Kurt Marx rest of the world. It was the largest ghetto in Nazi-occupied (page 13).

Poland. “When the ghetto was finally separated from the rest Equally moving are stories of how AJR members are giving something back of Warsaw,” writes Bryan Cheyette in his book, The Ghetto, (Pages 10-11) and a Korean third published in September, “it covered 452 acres and was surrounded generation refugee’s perspective (page 14 - 15). by 11 miles of roughly built wall… Thirty per cent of Warsaw’s population were jammed into 2.5 per cent of the city…” News...... 3 Why this November is different...... 4 Letter from Israel...... 5 Letters to the Editor...... 6 - 7 Art Notes...... 8 Learning to swim the American way...... 9 Giving something back...... 10 - 11 It’s the way we tell ‘em...... 12 A Kristallnacht Tale...... 13 Kitchener through the eyes of a stranger...... 14 - 15 The National Holocaust Memorial...... 16 - 17 Reviews...... 18 - 19 Events & Looking for...... 20

Please note that the views expressed throughout this publication are not necessarily the views of the AJR.

AJR Team Chief Executive Michael Newman Rozenfeld, Punkt etapowy (Etap point) - one of the very few surviving drawings from Finance Director David Kaye the Warsaw Ghetto, courtesy of Poland’s Jewish Historic Institute Heads of Department Community & Volunteer Services Carol Hart HR & Administration Karen Markham There are deeply moving accounts of the children of those who died. Some Educational Grants & Projects Alex Maws the Polish ghettos by those who never escaped during the war, but a surprising Social Services Nicole Valens survived. But some of the most powerful number stayed on in post-war Poland but AJR Journal accounts of the Nazi ghettos in Poland fled the Communist regime in the 1950s Editor Jo Briggs are by refugees, offering very different and ‘60s. Editorial Assistant Lilian Levy perspectives, as witnesses, survivors, Continued on page 2 Contributing Editor David Herman

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Remembering the was deported to Auschwitz with the last the Polish ghettos. There are two things transport from Łódz‘ in 1944.” which stand out from these very different YOUNG AMERICANS UNAWARE Ghettos (cont.) accounts. First, we are not seeing The Polish poet, Czeslaw Milosz, wrote Like Hamermesh, Janina Bauman (née the ghetto as through a transparent two of the greatest poems about the Levinson) grew up in a middle-class windowpane. Bauman’s closing image Warsaw Ghetto from the point of view of Jewish family, but she was born and reminds us that what seems to be a an observer. Both were written in Warsaw grew up in Warsaw. Her family was description of a room could also be a in 1943 and are about testimony and the assimilated. “No one in my large family description of herself after her terrible guilt of the survivor. The final verse of A spoke Yiddish,” she later wrote in her experiences over six years. Poor Christian Looks at the Ghetto reads: remarkable memoir, Beyond These Walls: Escaping the Warsaw Ghetto – A Young Claude Lanzmann’s masterpiece, Shoah, “What will I tell him, I, a Jew of the New Girl’s Story, “wore beards, skullcaps or raises a similar question. It ends not in Testament, traditional Jewish gaberdines. Nobody 1945, like Bauman’s account, but in 1943 KRISTALLNACHT Waiting two thousand years for the was religious.” with the Ghetto Uprising and it ends not second coming of Jesus? in Warsaw but in Israel. These are the SERVICE My broken body will deliver me to his Bauman describes life in the Ghetto: the last words of the film: “l didn’t meet a sight fear of typhus, “the homeless, tattered, living soul. At one point, l recall feeling MONDAY 9 NOVEMBER, 2PM And he will count me among the helpers undernourished people we brushed a kind of peace, of serenity, when l said of death: The uncircumcised.” against in the streets”, rumours of a to myself, ‘l’m the last Jew. l’ll wait for Please join us for our Annual Service war between and the Soviet morning and for the Germans.’’’ The deeper the red, the higher the percentage of young Americans in that state who, which will be led by Rabbi Jonathan His most famous poem, though, is Union, “shops with luxury goods, cafés according to the survey, believe that Jews caused the Holocaust Wittenberg and live streamed from Campo dei Fiori, named after the and restaurants” in the Ghetto, Germans Lanzmann’s film begins with Simon Belsize Square Synagogue. square in Rome where Giordano Bruno hunting people who traded on the black Srebnik, one of the few survivors of was burned for in 1600. Milosz market, naked bodies buried in “a huge, Chelmno, and ends with the testimony 15 percent of American Millennials and revealed that nearly 20 percent of young Our guest speakers will be AJR continues, deep, rectangular hole in the ground” of two of the survivors from the Warsaw Gen Z think it is acceptable to hold neo- New Yorkers feel the Jews caused the member Professor Robert Shaw, and, worst of all, the mass deportations. Ghetto. It is about the terrible isolation Nazi views and almost a quarter of them Holocaust. The state of New York has Austrian Ambassador Michael “I thought of the Campo dei Fiori On Sunday 6 September she and her of the last Jews, the few who survived. believe that the number of Jews who died one of the lowest levels of Holocaust Zimmerman, and Hannah Lessing, in Warsaw by the sky-carousel family were suddenly woken. They It ends, crucially, with Jewish survivors in the Holocaust has been exaggerated. awareness, alongside Alaska, Delaware, General Secretary of the Austrian one clear spring evening had less than four hours to get ready. in Israel. It is as carefully structured as Maryland, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, National Fund. to the strains of a carnival tune. “Anybody found in the block after 10am Milosz’s poems or Bauman’s memoir. The results of the first ever 50-State Florida, Mississippi, and Arkansas. The bright melody drowned would be shot dead.” On 25 January Second, all these acts of testimony survey on Holocaust knowledge were https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ the salvos from the ghetto wall, 1943 she escaped from the Ghetto with remind us of the devastation of these published by the Claims Conference in The full report can be seen on ajr-annual-kristallnacht-service- and couples were flying her mother and sister and after some experiences, whether the guilt of the September. The state-by-state analysis www.claimscon.org/millennial-study/ tickets-124989758733 high in the cloudless sky. extraordinary adventures managed to witness or survivor. One of the survivors survive the war. Her father didn’t survive. of the Warsaw Ghetto tells Lanzmann, At times wind from the burning She later discovered that he had been “lf you could lick my heart, it would would drift dark kites along shot at Katyn. poison you.” Mira Hamermesh begins GREAT HONOURS and riders on the carousel her memoir after the war, in London in Mazel Tov caught petals in midair. Towards the end of the book she 1959. She has gone to see Wajda’s film, The AJR warmly congratulates all That same hot wind describes returning to a flat. “I explained Generation, at the Academy Cinema on members who were included in HM The blew open the skirts of the girls that in that flat, under the rubble of Oxford Street. The film, she writes, “had Mindu Queen’s recent Birthday Honours list for and the crowds were laughing a half-ruined room, I had buried my torn open old wounds. My feet carried their services to Holocaust Education and on that beautiful Warsaw Sunday.” manuscripts just after the Warsaw me through London streets, but my head AJR member Mindu Hornick Awareness, including: remained in Poland, unable to part from Uprising… It still looked as I remembered has been awarded the Lifetime Lilian Black - OBE In 2009, the Polish refugee filmmaker, it, one leg of the piano dangling over the characters, and, by association, from Ellen Davis - MBE Mira Hamermesh, returned to Łódz‘, the precipice. And here they were, all my my own family. It exploded my defence Achievment Award from the Pride Eve Glicksman - OBE where her parents had been locked system, a makeshift survival kit devised to exercise books and loose sheets covered of Birmingham for her educational Renate Inow - BEM up in the Ghetto. She wrote about with my untidy handwriting, hidden release me from my accountability to the Hana Kleiner - BEM her experience in . She safely in a hole in the floor, under a few dead.” work on the Holocaust in the Lady Zahava Kohn - MBE and her brother left Łódz‘ soon after bricks.” Midlands and beyond. Tomi Komoly - BEM the German invasion and after an Films and writings about the ghettos in Marcel Ladenheim - BEM extraordinary journey, described in The imagery is fascinating. Everything Poland seem so clear and straightforward. Having survived Auschwitz, Mindy Elfriede Starer - BEM her memoir, The River of Angry Dogs, is in ruins and destroyed: “rubble”, “a They are not. Like so much testimony the A special ceremony for the award, arrived from Prague in 1948 on a Lili Stern-Pohlmann - MBE crossed east Europe and joined their half-ruined room”, one leg of a piano more closely you read them, the more which is sponsored by TSB and the stateless passport, as part of Doctor sister in Palestine in 1941, before “dangling over the precipice.” Perhaps dark and complicated they become. Birmingham Mail, had to be cancelled Schoenfeld’s last transport out of Congratulations also to Jeffrey Pinnick, finally settling in Britain in 1947. By this is how she saw it or even how it was. due to the pandemic. Instead Mindu’s Eastern Europe, to the care of her former Chair of the Yad Vashem Forum then she had discovered the fate of And perhaps this is how she was, at the David Herman trophy was presented to her in her uncle Zolly and Hetty Slymovics in UK, Karen Pollock of the Holocaust her parents. “Mother,” she wrote, end of the war, “half-ruined”, partly own home during a virtual televised Birmingham. Seventy-two years later Educational Trust, and Olivia Marks- “Fajga Hamermesz (née Lerer), died of destroyed. David Herman will be in conversation ceremony, which included a recorded she sees this award as the icing on Woldman of the Holocaust Memorial starvation in May 1943. And Father, with Bryan Cheyette about his new book, tribute to her from actress Maureen the cake and proof that she truly now Day Trust, who receive an OBE, CBE and Josef Meir Hamermesz, who had These are all moving, powerful The Ghetto, on the AJR Book Club at Lipman (now Dame Maureen). belongs here. OBE respectively. miraculously stayed alive until the end, descriptions of different experiences of 4pm on November 16.

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Why is this November different? LETTER FROM ISRAEL BY DOROTHEA SHEFER-VANSON

The question, “Why is this night A NAME TO of Balfour is used to represent two to reinstate public performances, different from all others?” is not contradictory phenomena in the context and other groups with complaints of CONJURE WITH of modern Israel, depending on one’s various kinds. Speeches were made, usually one I think about during point of view. noisemakers were brought into action, Succot, but with the summer The name the police tried unsuccessfully to break of England’s First, the fact that the fine building at up the demonstrations – sometimes behind us, our thoughts turn to Foreign the top of Balfour Street now houses doing so violently – and an attempt the different ways we will be Secretary in the official residence of Israel’s prime at a counter-demonstration failed commemorating the series of 1917, Arthur minister and his family has taken on miserably. And still they demonstrate Balfour, has an additional meaning. The behaviour, each week. events this autumn that intersect been given to some would say shenanigans, of the our history and activities, writes one of the more prestigious streets first lady, Sarah Netanyahu, with The demonstrators simply won’t in Jerusalem, as is only fitting. After regard to the staff of the official go away, and since they’re located, AJR’s Chief Executive Michael all, the official statement known as residence – even leading to court you guessed it, outside the official Newman. the Balfour Declaration, in which the cases being brought against her by residence, they’re also known as Zionist leadership, as represented former employees – has led to the term ‘Balfour.’ So, depending which side As you might have seen from this by Lord Walter Rothschild, was ‘Balfour’ being used to represent the of the political divide you’re on month’s Journal, for the first time in living Artist Gunther Demnig laying Stolpersteine last month for Michael’s great informed therein that “his Majesty’s actions of the first family. Somehow and which particular section of the memory there will, sadly, be no physical great aunt and uncle government view with favour ‘Balfour’ has become synonymous with spectrum you’re referring to, the AJR gathering to mark the anniversary the establishment in Palestine of ‘misbehaviour’ of various kinds on the epithet ‘Balfour’ is bandied about of Kristallnacht, a key date in our annual a national home for the Jewish part of the various members of the to mean pretty much anything and calendar. While we will miss the opportunity Zbaszyn. Among these 17,000 souls were We are all now living in a state of flux, people…” helped to give a seal of first family (there is also an adult son, everything. to invite – in person – our candle lighters and the family of Herschel Grynszpan, but also watching the news, eagerly awaiting the official approval to what had till Yair, who lives with his parents, has speakers on to the bimah at Belsize Square, included my grandmother’s brother, Max, numbers to abate and a vaccine to be rolled then been a collection of piece-meal no known occupation and seems to As is often the case, it is important and to invite the congregation to join us for after whom I am named but of whom I have out. One thing is for sure: that the AJR will efforts to establish a Jewish presence spend his time attacking the media and to pay attention to the context of refreshments, we continue to adapt to the never seen even one photograph. continue to deliver our mission to represent in the Holy Land. defending his parents on social media). what is being said, by whom and to virtual world, a transition proving that even and care for you, and to commemorate your whom it is addressed. Sometimes, venerable 80-year-old organisations are Although Stolpersteine were laid last month experiences. We all miss the Kaffee und It did not do the trick, but it helped, A few months ago a handful of people in the fast-moving world of today’s capable of learning new tricks. for a recently discovered great great aunt Kuchen, and schmoozing, and greatly look and with that encouragement Jewish started demonstrating outside the prime electronic media, it isn’t always and uncle – the Gepperts - regrettably, the forward to those face-to-face encounters. settlement in the region continued, minister’s residence on a constant basis. possible to work out exactly who is And, while we continue to monitor closely rescheduled unveiling of a In the meantime, please look out for being bolstered subsequently by the Then it became a regular Saturday the object of opprobrium of any given the prevailing guidelines for Covid-19, it is for my grandmother in her home town of our weekly e-Newsletters featuring daily British victory over the Ottoman night event, eventually snowballing report, article or interview, but there’s gratifying to know that our efforts to keep was again postponed. Although opportunities to connect and interact. forces in the region. Despite Arab into gatherings of many thousands of nothing wrong with making a little in touch continue to be appreciated, as disappointing on a personal level, that opposition and many setbacks, the dissatisfied citizens. There were calls effort to try and understand what it is embodied in this heartfelt message from one thousands of these memorials now exist I can only loudly echo the sentiments Jewish settlement project persisted, for Netanyahu to resign in the face and why. of our members: “Thank you so much for across Germany – and beyond – is testament expressed in this note sent by another of culminating in the establishment of of his pending trial on several counts putting together the seminar this morning, to a culture of remembrance and desire our members: “I don’t know how you all the State of Israel in 1948. of misuse of his office, demands for What is really saddening is that the as well as the entire programme of seminars to memorialise, to reflect and to heed the constantly come up with such a wide range compensation from small business- name of the illustrious statesman from AJR. AJR is doing so much in these warnings of history. of speakers. You and your team are really So it seems rather ironic to hear in people who had lost their livelihoods, Arthur Balfour is being maligned in difficult times. The hosts for AJR are always keeping us so busy we don’t have time to the press these days that the name calls from artists, actors and musicians this way. lovely and make everyone feel very welcome It was no coincidence that the unleashing feel isolated.” and part of the meetings.” of the antisemitic violence occurred on 9 November as it marked the anniversary So, if you can join us for our online Service of the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch. Curiously, Write Your Life Story spring grove of Remembrance for Kristallnacht this year, this date also marks the anniversary of the Write Your Life Story London’s Most Luxurious KEEP A Record a Family History Outstanding live-in and hourly care in please do register via the Eventbrite link – proclamation of the German Republic in RWecroitred Yao Fuar mLiiflye HSitsotroyry Outstanding live-in and hourly care in RETIREMENT HOME your Outstandinghome at flexible, live-in andaffordable hourly care rates. in see details on page 3. 1918 and the fall of the Berlin Wall, and LIGHT ON RWehecthoerrd y oau hFaavme bielyg uHn iwsrtiotinrgy, your home at flexible, affordable rates. 214 Finchley Road Whether you have begun writing, your home at flexible, affordable rates. London NW3 demise of the GDR, in 1989 – a date I researched your ancestors, or Whether you have begun writing, While Kristallnacht represented the dawning remember well, excitedly waking up my AJR is once again encouraging researched your ancestors, or  Entertainment nreevseera prcuht epde ny otou rp aanpceer,s twoers o, foferr realisation for Jews living under the Reich parents with the news. the illumination of all synagogues and nae vpeerr psount apleisne dto s pearvpiceer, wtoe h oeflfper  Activities nae vpeerr psount apleisne dto s pearvpiceer, wtoe h oeflfper  Stress Free Living that they were unwelcome, it was the households on the night of 9 November. a ypoeur sporneaselisrveed ysoeurvr ipcere tcoio hueslp deportations that began two weeks earlier, And, as we kindled the lights to usher in AJR’s Keep a Light On campaign will you preserve your precious  24 House Staffing Excellent Cuisine meymouo rpierse sfoer vfeu tyuoreu rg perneecriaotuiosns.  Full En-Suite Facilities on 27 October, that have greater personal Succot this year, we also marked the thirtieth help create awareness within and memories for future generations. memwowriwe.sw foorrd sfubtyudrees gigenn.ceor.autkions. poignancy, and which are sometimes anniversary of German Unity Day. Just as we beyond the Jewish community that Call for more information or a personal tour [email protected] overlooked. On this date, Jews of Polish built and sat in our Tabernacles – temporary Kristallnacht, and all it stands for, will 020 8446 2117 tony@w01o8rd6s9b 3y2d7e5si4g8n.co.uk 020 7482 2188 pillarcare.co.uk or 020 7794 4455 extraction living in Germany were deported fragile shelters – we remember the tearing never be forgotten. 020 7482 2188 pillarcare.co.uk 01869 327548 020 7482 2188 pillarcare.co.uk [email protected] to the German–Polish border town of down of a divisive structure of a failed state.

4 5 AJR Journal | November 2020 AJR Journal | November 2020 Letters to the Editor ANNUAL ELECTION MEETING The Annual Election Meeting of The writing by Monday 23 November 2020 at The Editor reserves the right to shorten correspondence submitted for publication and respectfully points out that the views Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) will the AJR offices. expressed in the letters published are not necessarily the views of the AJR. take place at 3pm on Wednesday 2 December 2020 at AJR, Winston House, Anthony Spiro and Philippa Strauss have THE LIBRARY OF EXILE “Hinterbrühl” and signed on the back When I look back on how the AJR LANGUAGE MATTERS 2 Dollis Park, London N3 1HF. been nominated for re-election as Trustees. My own “library of exile” (October) is a with the surname “Motesiczky”. The started, in a small office in Swiss Peter Phillips (October) is quite right to call Danny Kalman and Miriam Kingsley collection of empty, stamped addressed signatory was probably Henriette von Cottage, and the influential international out portrayals of Jewish people past and Anyone wishing to stand for election must (appointed during the year as trustees) have envelopes, sent from far-flung places. It Motesiczky, the then dowager head of organisation it has become, it is quite present. And they certainly do matter. be nominated by at least ten associate been nominated to be elected as trustees. has taken a long time for some of them to another wealthy and aristocratic Jewish amazing. members of the AJR together with a notice tell their tales. family. It was sent from the Villa Tedesco, Victor Garston, London NW11 But regarding the furore over the Last signed by the nominee indicating their If you wish to attend please contact the family’s country home near Vienna. Night of the Proms, in the first instance willingness to serve as a trustee should they Karin Pereira on 020 8385 3070 or at One of them was sent in 1934 to a man The de Waal and von Motesiczky families the customary singing was abandoned be elected. This must be duly received in [email protected] named Hendrik de Waal, at an address in are distantly related. Hendrik had acted as THE ORIGINS OF RACISM for safety reasons. This was made very Paris. So I was intrigued, ten years ago, a financial adviser to the von Motesiczky Ruth Rothenberg’s letter (October) clear at the time, as singing has been when I read a review of Edmund de Waal’s family during the 1930s. The two families accurately describes the status quo acknowledged to be a cause of the spread Joint to go to Europe and persuade four parents’ letterbox in the late ‘40s and book The Hare With Amber Eyes. I bought maintained a friendship when Henriette of racism. I prefer to take a different of virus particles. countries to save us. My sister, mother ‘50s. What’s more, it was the newspaper a copy and sent it to my late mother. My and her daughter, the painter Marie-Louise approach to the source of racism. and I were lucky to get to England as the that first employed me. I had been Editor covering letter asked “Is this the same de Motesiczky, also settled in England. Secondly, many people have been very other three countries were soon invaded by of Cherwell, the Oxford University Waal family that you used to know”. And The human race has made great progress uneasy for a long time about the language Germany. About two years ago my sister undergraduate newspaper. Though I had so it was. Accordingly, following Victor’s since our ancestors descended from tree- in the two songs in question. There’s and I were invited to , where read Law, I wanted to be a journalist. My appointment in 1976 as the Dean of dwelling to standing on two feet and a wobbly line between patriotism and Captain Schroeder had lived, to be part of father was particularly aghast, but since it Her elder sister had settled in Tunbridge Canterbury Cathedral, Marie-Louise living in caves. However, we have a very jingoism, and between both of those Germany’s recognition of his good deeds. was the News Chronicle - a newspaper he Wells before the war. My aunt had Motesiczky was commissioned to paint long way to go to become fully civilised. words and xenophobia or racism. We, of all A film was made for German TV about the read - he relented. So in 1956 I joined – as obtained a job as the German-speaking his portrait. It is evident from the portrait While our physical and cognitive people, should be very aware of what the sad journey of the SS St Louis and his part a columnist on the gossip column! The governess of two young English children. that the artist shared a sense of irony development has been exponential, our use of such language may lead to. (Are the in saving our lives. A park was also named News Chronicle had a big circulation – well She subsequently married their father. with my mother and aunt, which Victor emotional and spiritual development is words Deutschland über Alles in der Welt to honour him. over a million – what could go wrong? They became friendly with a couple also understood when it was unveiled. increasingly far behind. This has made really so very different from Wider still and Gisela Feldman, Manchester Suez! Our editorial policy disagreed strongly named Hendrik and Elisabeth de Waal, In his words: “The portrait, when it was the human race ‘out of sync’ with wider shall thy bounds be set? And I do with the government, but our readers whose children were of a similar age. finished….was very revealing….Though internal development and unstable in its refer just to the words here - but language didn’t. Circulation fell. In 1957 the editor, The two families often spent Christmas of a Christian clergyman, it showed my behaviour towards each other and the matters). EU FUTURE Michael Curtis, left along with me, and in together and were joined by my mother. Jewish roots, to the extent that in it I biological balance of the planet. I fully sympathise with David Kernek’s 1960 the News Chronicle was taken over appeared positively rabbinic”. And, indeed, look at the backlash suffered reluctance (October) to fall back into the by the Daily Mail. Just think. Our biggest In 2010, my mother was astonished to Cameron Woodrow, Edgbaston, Every baby is born with greater potential by the wholly innocent conductor of maw of the EU by applying for Austrian circulation newspaper today is The Sun. learn of Elisabeth’s family background. Birmingham than is possible to develop in one the Last Night, who was completely citizenship, but may I offer a different Its circulation is about equal to that of the Elisabeth had spoken such perfect and lifetime! So there is inevitable selection unconnected to the decision, yet who perspective? News Chronicle when it folded. Will it be unaccented English that neither my according to circumstances and by suffered personal abuse and threats. Of remembered in 60 years’ time? After all, mother nor my aunt realised that her PLAUDITS choice. In our highly developed physical course, Mr Phillips has chosen a much more Around two years ago, I acquired Austrian who remembers the News Chronicle in first language was German or that she I have just finished reading your October and cognitive style of living, greed and decorous way to register his disapproval, citizenship (or, more accurately, received 2020, other than Dorothea and me? had been born in Vienna (where their issue and am overwhelmed at the superbly aggressiveness has become accentuated which, I must stress, I am not in any way confirmation that I have been an Austrian Peter Phillips, Loudwater, Herts family also originated). Elisabeth did not interesting content! I ALWAYS find it while we have not developed “the better equating with such appalling behaviour. citizen from birth, although neither I nor volunteer any biographical detail and they absorbing, but this one is head and shoulders angels of our human nature”, as Steven Judith Rhodes, Leeds Austria had been aware of the fact), my had been too polite to enquire. Likewise, over the usual. My heartfelt compliments to Pinker calls it. father having been born and brought FROM DOOM TO ZOOM Elisabeth had been too polite to ask why all who contributed the articles. up in Vienna. I look forward to trying to Coronavirus is continuing to cause havoc in they both spoke English with central Rothenberg is correct to highlight the A VOYAGE INTO RADIO persuade my fellow Austrians to follow the world. For good or bad, we follow the European accents. One Question: - How would you continue hierarchical nature of human society, Referring to David Wirth’s article (October) the UK’s example of reclaiming national rules, and we view with horror the demise the AJR after all in my situation have but this is not inevitable. Superior my sister, mother and I were passengers independence. It won’t be easy, but that of hundreds of thousands of people. This mutual reticence was typical of the gone? I know you have a lot of members and inferior individuals and groups on the SS St Louis which took over 900 makes it all the more fun. period and was particularly pronounced in interested in the 2nd and later generations. of humans are created by us, not by Refugees to Cuba. We left on 13 May Richard S. Henderson (or, in Austria, In the midst of this all-embracing Tunbridge Wells, given attitudes in certain Keep it up! biology or by God. To reach true civilised 1939. The Captain was a wonderful Hecht), Isle of Arran commotion, trying to pursue our lives as circles. This now seems sad but it also had Werner Conn, Lytham St.Annes status we need to accept that every person, instructing the crew to treat us best we can, we are not cut off from one a comical aspect. When Elisabeth’s elder human life is of equal worth and to be like any other passengers. After we were another altogether. We are given a means son, Victor, embarked upon his vocation cherished fairly. The obscene gap in refused entry to the States he could have WHO REMEMBERS THE NEWS of communicating at the very same time, as an Anglican priest, my mother and aunt The work that the AJR has been doing status, privileges and life-style between gone straight back to Germany and our CHRONICLE? as if by divine inspiration or interference amused themselves with the observation these last six months is quite amazing and the 10% who own half the world’s certain death but he decided to delay the I was interested to read that Dorothea by an entirely new process – the Zoom. that it was an ironic choice of career for must be of great help to many members. wealth and power and the half that return by going along the coast towards Shefer-Vanson, in her Letter from It could not have happened at a more someone who had grown up to look so owns less than 10% and struggle to Florida, hoping a country would take pity Israel (October), remembered that the appropriate time. We owe our respects to peculiarly Jewish. I am very fortunate: my daughter and make ends meet, proves how far we still on us. America sent a gun boat out in case newspaper put through her parents’ the inventors, developers and technicians grandchildren all live close by and look have to go to become a civilised race. somebody tried to jump overboard. This letterbox was the News Chronicle. This of the system. As to that envelope. It is postmarked after me very well. Ruth Barnett, London NW6 delay enabled a member of the American was also the newspaper put through my Fred Stern, Wembley, Middx.

6 7 AJR Journal | November 2020 AJR Journal | November 2020 ART NOTES: LEARNING TO SWIM by Gloria Tessler THE AMERICAN WAY

She once wrote to a patron: “With me Your Billy Wilder in Hollywood, Henry Manfred George. As Manfred Georg Cohn, Kissinger in Washington and he had in the Weimar era worked for both Lordship will find the spirit of Caesar in the soul the great Berlin media empires, Ullstein and of a woman.” This sums up the extraordinary Hannah Arendt in New York were Mosse. George fled to Prague in 1933, and to the United States in 1938. Italian baroque artist Artemisia Gentileschi, among the 130,000 German- whose long delayed exhibition Artemisia at the speaking Jews - Jeckes - who It was George who said the history of National Gallery delivers the promise of her found refuge in the United States Aufbau is the history of the German- between 1933 and 1945. speaking Jews who found refuge in the US. unusual strength and feminine power. That is the approach adopted by Schrag, who arrived in the US with his parents in When Artemisia painted her first version How the publication Aufbau helped those 1941. Reviewing Aufbau‘s coverage of of the Old Testament story, Susannah émigrés Americanise themselves is the major the major political issues, he shows how and the Elders in 1610, she was only Artemisia theme of Peter Schrag’s readable chronicle. at first it paid relatively little attention to 17. A year later she was raped by the Gentileschi, He quotes Andreas Mink, one of its later the impending disaster in Europe. After it artist Agostino Tassi and to prove her Judith editors, who affirmed that it helped shape a received smuggled accounts, Aufbau began articles about the Nativity vexed some innocence she was subjected to judicial beheading common US identity for Jews who had been in the mid-1930s to report in detail on the readers: they complained about assimilation torture in the papal court. She won Holofernes, rooted in various regional cultures. intensifying persecution in Germany. madness. Others inevitably hankered her case and Tassi faced exile – which 1612-13, nostalgically after the ‘good old days’ in was never enforced. Her painting was National Founded in 1934, Aufbau started as an The publication generally adopted a cautious Europe. Schrag believes that when it comes prophetic and she created two more Gallery occasional newsletter - mainly in German editorial line, while criticising in to evoking fond memories of Schmalz, in the course of the next 40 years. It is - of New York’s German-Jewish Club, later the US and attacking Nazi sympathisers such Schubert and Schlag, ‘the Viennese had long interesting to see how her treatment of renamed the New World Club. As a monthly as Charles Lindbergh. It wanted to avoid been second to none.’ this haunting subject has evolved. Lucretia chooses to kill herself after being most is a playful and human Madonna and then a weekly, Aufbau went on to a backlash from the country’s isolationist raped. And then there is St Catherine, and Child. Were it not for the subtle become the most significant publication in forces, including gentile German immigrants Peter Schrag, The World of Aufbau: In her first version, Susannah is gripped a much more subtle selfie of the artist halo above the Madonna’s head it could the field, with a circulation exceeding 30,000 who espoused the Nazi cause. Until the US Hitler‘s Refugees in America, University of with palpable terror as two, lecherous beside the spiked wheel on which the be any indulgent mother whose child on its tenth anniversary. That figure peaked entered the war, it was reluctant to protest Wisconsin Press. men peer at her while she takes a bath. saint was to die had it not been for divine touches her face with tender curiosity. around 41,000, just after the war ended, too loudly on behalf of Europe’s desperate In the 1622 version she is terrified but intervention. reflecting the new wave of immigrants, Jews, and urge US intervention. As refugees Martin Mauthner resigned. But in the third, in 1652, The exhibition brings together some 30 about 140,000, who had survived the idolised President Franklin Roosevelt and his everything has changed. Susannah Male artists, particularly Caravaggio, of her works from private and public Holocaust. wife Eleanor, Aufbau pulled its punches over has the upper hand, gesturing to her who influenced her in terms of light and collections in chronological order from the his administration’s harsh immigration and assailants as though engaged in some its effect on detail, have painted similar time she studied under her father Orazio Aufbau‘s prestige was such that it could ‘enemy alien’ restrictions. YET AGAIN philosophical discourse. (In the Book of subjects, but what makes Artemisia’s Gentileschi in Rome, to Florence where attract features from eminent refugees, Daniel, Susannah, a married woman, work so intense is the attention to detail, she learned to read and write and sought including and Thomas It was in Aufbau‘s pages that readers could Spare a minute or two to look up rejects the men’s advances, who then the quality of the painted flesh and the patronage from the ruling Medici family, Mann. By the early 1980s, however, the debate momentous issues such as Nazi war YetAgainUK.com on the internet. threaten to accuse her of adultery. She deep expressiveness. to Naples, where she set up studio with original refugees were passing away, their crimes and Israel’s statehood. Aufbau guided faces the death penalty but is saved her artist daughter Prudenza, and finally descendants had joined the mainstream, and readers through complicated topics such by the young Daniel who manages to In the Holofernes death scene, we see to London, where she was reunited with there were no longer new arrivals. Aufbau‘s as reparations claims. It helped them find Modern atrocities that are totally disprove the men’s allegations). the determination in Judith’s face, the her father, court painter to Charles 1, and circulation and income were shrinking their feet: many had arrived penniless, with unacceptable are happening because muscular tension of her arms as she drives painted her masterpiece Self Portrait as steadily; it carried less news, and more little English and even less knowledge of the good people are doing nothing to stop It is easy to read the effect of the rape on the sword through the victim’s neck. In the Allegory of Painting, c 1638. She is comment and reviews; it solicited donations; American way of life. them. A group of activists invite you Artemisia’s art. There is even an original Judith and her Maidservant, showing clearly the better painter, able to capture the West German government for a time to contribute to raising awareness of transcript of her 1612 rape trial. The show their escape with the head of their victim an emotion which eludes her father. took out many subscriptions. So Aufbau detailed synagogue services, what should not be allowed to happen is loaded with biblical violence, sometimes in a basket, they could be two women and offered recipes - for kosher chow mein, and to move from passive bystander to with Artemisia herself as the model. It is about to hang out the laundry! Despite Gloria Tessler Aufbau faded away in 2004. None of its last for example. And it provided advice: don’t active upstander by doing just a little visceral and shocking, and the unusual the horrific nature of these acts, the artist editors had a refugee background; one was say ‘Please borrow me five dollars’; don’t something. Joe Collins, the founder of fact that the artist was a woman attracted succeeds in demonstrating the everyday Annely Juda Fine Art not even Jewish. A Jewish media concern in speak German loudly on the streets; learn YetAgainUK, is determined to make patronage. Most graphic of all are the womanliness of the protagonists. Zurich acquired the title and today Aufbau is to keep calm, in the Anglo-Saxon way; ‘Never Again’ a reality by challenging 23 Dering Street two paintings of Judith beheading the a glossy monthly, with contributions in both donate blood, preferably to the League of the international criminal laws that (off New Bond Street) Assyrian general Holofernes, but there Artemisia may well be taking revenge Tel: 020 7629 7578 languages. The Leo Baeck Institute has put Alien Blood Donors; and learn to swim the have so far failed to protect us from is also Jael driving a nail into the skull of on a male dominated society. Her own Fax: 020 7491 2139 the original publication online. American way - crawl rather than breast- further genocides since the Holocaust. Sisera. Female martyrology is rife – as is courage shines through these works, CONTEMPORARY stroke. suicide – but never victimhood. Cleopatra like some avenging angel. But is there PAINTING AND SCULPTURE Aufbau‘s editor, in the crucial years from Ruth Barnett is shown dying, the asp at her breast, and another side to her? The painting I loved 1939 to his death in 1965, was Berlin-born Advertisements for Christmas cards and

8 9 AJR Journal | November 2020 AJR Journal | November 2020 GIVING SOMETHING BACK A LIBRARY FOR SHANGHAI A DISPLAY FOR BERLIN

Staff at the Memorabilia brought to Scotland Shanghai by the late Martin Ansbacher now Jewish Museum has pride of place in the newly starting to fill up remodelled Core Exhibition of their new library with Berlin’s Jewish Museum, as his son Kurt by the wall of names at the Kurt Wick’s Steven Anson explains. Shanghai Jewish Museum, during donated his 2019 return visit books In this cabinet Martin Ansbacher’s photo is on the left After my father passed away my sister and I began clearing out my parents’ The Shanghai Jewish Museum now refugee camp. We spent a wonderful day at the Shanghai house and were unsure what to do with Museum, Berlin. anglicised to Pat) near the Jewish Sports Jewish Museum, which is located in the his large collection of German books. Club in Augsburg about 1938. At has its own Jewish History Library Our living conditions were very primitive. former Moishe synagogue where we used We were sure they had no monetary I am delighted that a small selection the time they were just good friends, thanks to a donation of 8,000 We stayed first in a warehouse, with curtains to regularly pray and study. I particularly value but we didn’t know if they had any of these items are now on display in and both engaged to other people. dividing us from other families. But the local remember sitting at long tables in the historic value. Berlin, along with some items collected The war and emigration ended those books by AJR London member Kurt Jewish aid agency was very good and helped courtyard for our seder nights. from other families in the UK during his relationships and the couple married everyone. My father was able to set up a So we typed up a list and circulated it to visit. We have been great friends with in Glasgow in 1946. The final photo Wick, whose family spent 10 years workshop making fine handbags. At the museum we found lots of fascinating various Jewish-interest organisations and Aubrey ever since, and are indebted to shows Martin wearing the traditional in Shanghai as refugees from Nazi- memorabilia and a wall on which the people. him and the Berlin museum for helping German Lederhosen and Tracht Jacket. I was just 18 months old when we left names of all the Jewish refugees have been us to honour and memorialise Martin’s He brought this with him to Scotland, annexed Austria. Vienna so most of my childhood was spent inscribed. It was incredibly moving to see my Our friend Dolf, who is based in Leeds, remarkable life. even wearing it at shul for fancy dress in Shanghai. There were special Jewish own name inscribed there, along with those forwarded it to his good friend Aubrey at Purim. In September 1939 my family, desperate schools and synagogues and we were able of my parents and my older brother. Pomerance in Berlin, who called us up, In the above picture, Martin’s photo to get out of Vienna, was fortunate to to play volleyball or other games every amazed that there were Jews in Scotland! taken on his release from Dachau is An interview with Martin, featuring his secure passage on the Giulio Cesare. We afternoon. At home we spoke only German, When I went round the museum I noticed shown on the far left, alongside those of life story, can be both listened to and knew nothing about Shanghai except that but in the school we had to speak English. I that they didn’t have a library, although they We soon put him wise, and explained Siegfried Kirschner and Josef Hochfeld, read on Jews were being offered a refuge and we learned a few Chinese words as well, but my told me that they always have lots of scholars about the Scottish Jewish community who were interned at Buchenwald and www.gatheringthevoices.com/martin- didn’t need a passport. We had no money Chinese was never very good. visiting. I have always been mad on books and, most importantly and relevantly, the Sachsenhausen respectively. Also in this anson-childhood-and-school-days/ and were allowed just a small crate for our and I must have about 40,000 of them numerous refugees from Nazi persecution cabinet is a card game that was made and possessions, although we still managed to We were very poor but I never knew any stored around my house, much to my wife’s who were fortunate enough to find played by Siegfried Kirschner while he bring a sewing machine and a tin bath. different. Nobody had anything, so we were chagrin. Lots of them are devoted to Jewish sanctuary in Scotland and settled here. was at Buchenwald. the same as everyone else. But we never went history, including the Holocaust, and for a Shanghai was one of very few places in the hungry and there was always help when we while I have been looking for a permanent I remarked on Aubrey’s excellent English, The cabinet shown bottom right features world that would accept Jewish refugees needed it. Considering that almost everyone home for them. I mentioned this to the which he attributed to growing up in four objects from Martin’s memorabilia. from Nazi occupied countries, and some we left behind in Austria ended up being killed museum management during my visit and Calgary, Canada. But of course he also The top photo shows antisemitic graffiti 20,000 Jewish people arrived in the city in Auschwitz, we were very well off. in August the first consignment of my books speaks perfect German. daubed on the front of the Ansbacher between 1938 and 1941, including nearly arrived in Shanghai. family’s business in Leutershausen 5,000 of us from Austria. We lived in the Like many of the ‘Shanghai Jews’, we left A trip to Glasgow was soon organised in 1932. Shortly after this the family Hongkou district and it became a ghetto China in 1948, immigrating here to London. The new Jewish History Library is dedicated and we hosted Aubrey at our home and moved to the Lower Bavarian city of where both Jews and Chinese shared years But that place of refuge and our life in the to the memory of my parents, Moritz & introduced him to fellow members of the Landshut, believing they would be safer, of hardship. Shanghai lanes forged deep impressions that Josefine Wickelholz, which is very fitting. My AJR’s Glasgow group. Aubrey reviewed where Martin and his cousin opened up have stayed with me throughout my life. family, along with 20,000 other European my parents’ boxes of memorabilia and their own textile business – the bottom The Japanese were in charge of half of Jews, will always be eternally grateful to the translated the difficult to read 1930’s left object is from an advent calendar Shanghai, and the other half was a French, Last February I returned to Shanghai for the people of Shanghai for offering us sanctuary. German gothic text. We were fascinated advertising their store. After Kristallnacht American and British concession. The first time in 71 years. I was amazed by how It’s wonderful to be able to give something with the information he revealed. the store was taken away from them and concession didn’t recognise the Japanese the city had changed and yet there were back to this very special city that literally Martin was interned at Dachau. When he and vice versa. So arriving off the boat still so many places that held fond and vivid saved our lives. Aubrey also explained the historical was released the family fled to Scotland. we somehow slipped down the middle – memories for me and which matched the importance of several of the items nobody asked us for a visa, we just got on photographs that we took with us when we AJR will shortly publish a My Story book on we held and asked us if we would be Another photo shows Martin and his Four items from Martin’s memorabilia the lorries and were taken to the Jewish eventually moved to London. Kurt Wick. willing to donate any items to the Jewish then future wife Beate (which was later

10 11 AJR Journal | November 2020 AJR Journal | November 2020 It’s the way we tell ’em A Kristallnacht Tale © DR BEA LEWKOWICZ/AJR Two Jews go to the cemetery. right. It’s the way they tell ’em. We are grateful to Dr Bea They come across the grave Great minds have tried to analyse what Lewkowicz, Director of the of an old friend and read the makes a joke funny. Sigmund Freud devoted a book to The Joke and its AJR Refugee Voices Testimony inscription: ‘Here lies Samuel Relation to the Unconscious. He thought Archive, for sharing this that jokes gave access to forbidden personal reflection of an Schwartz / A Faithful Husband territory and that laughter signalled the interview she conducted / An Upright Citizen.’ One Jew release from repression. with German refugee Kurt turns to the other and says, “Poor If jokes provide an outlet for repressed Marx about his memories of feelings, we know what feeds the Sammy, they’ve buried him with marvellous, uniquely English sense of Kristallnacht, among other two complete strangers.” humour. There is no end of material in sex, things. Kurt Marx and classmates at the Jawne School in Cologne class, race. What keeps the kettle from boiling over are rules about words that In March 2019 I was fortunate to be able There are many kinds of joke, from one- must not be used, questions about money to interview Kurt Marx for the Archive. So I thought, before I go home I’ll visit my he knew somebody who knew somebody, liners to funny stories. The Jewish joke and religion that must not be asked. And I vividly remember his description of his uncle, the butcher, which was quite near. so he came home again. Nothing occupies a special place in the repertoire. It the best comedians, Peter Cook, John experiences of Kristallnacht. When he But when I got there I found the large shop happened to him. So in our immediate goes back as far as the first antisemite and A guest in Bloom’s kosher restaurant Cleese, Rowan Atkinson, Sacha Baron described how he cycled from his home completely destroyed. All the windows had family nobody got hurt in that sense. And is as up to date as this morning’s headlines. compliments the Chinese waiter on Cohen et al, tear up the rule book. The to the Jawne school and then to his been smashed, while inside the marble had eventually – I don’t know how much time It is global, having spread as Jews have his fluent Yiddish. “Hush,” hisses the Pythons, The Office, uncle’s shop near the Neumarkt, I could been smashed into small pieces. later - we went back to school. spread in their Diaspora. It gets told in a manager, “He thinks he is learning stopped at nothing in their mockery of perfectly visualise the route, as this is also hundred countries and languages, from English.” religion, class, even of those lacking a limb. where I spent my childhood and where First the toy shop on the corner where we At the school we had a little synagogue Chile to China. I myself cycled, in the late seventies and lived, then the school, now this. Suddenly and it turned out that that it was that The best jokes have something in Jewish wit pervades American culture. early eighties. Growing up in Cologne, of it dawned on me that something was which had been burning. And although A distinct genre deals with the immigrant, common: reasonable propositions set Joseph Heller and Philip Roth are part course we learnt about Kristallnacht. But obviously wrong. We didn’t have mobile they’d thrown out all the desks and a lot of the refugee’s struggle to be accepted, up and then upset by confrontation. of the mainstream. Hollywood has seen the abstract knowledge is very different phones in those days so it took me a half an other stuff the building felt very damp. the desire to be ‘nationalised’, passport Sammy is one of the lads and faithful to it that American comedy is Jewish from listening to Kurt’s personal testimony, hour to get home on my bike. in hand, ready to take the ultimate step: husbands abound but putting them comedy. When you hear laughter at the in which he retraces his movements on the Straight after the pogrom our head teacher, tackling the idiom. together in the same grave pulls the cinema, the chances are that a refugee 10 November 1938. His story is a chilling When I arrived my mother told me “Your Dr Erich Klibansky, started organising to trigger. Likewise, Jewish pragmatism and from the Continent has had a hand in reminder that Kristallnacht affected ordinary father isn’t at home.” He had been warned get Jawne students on the Kindertransport Listen to the husband whose wife is trying Chinese ambition are made to clash in the writing, producing, directing or distributing citizens, owning ordinary shops, going to the night before by friends: “Don’t stay to England. It was amazing that in a for a baby: person of a Yiddish speaking waiter in a the film. If you are lucky, you will have ordinary schools, and living in ordinary at home tonight. Something is going to matter of weeks he managed to organise kosher restaurant. Bang! (The explosion is shared the golden years of Woody Allen, streets. This is what he recalls: happen.” They couldn’t tell him what us all to leave, and to get our parents to “She’s inconceivable, quite impregnable. laughter.) Barbra Streisand, Michael Douglas, Lauren exactly, but he had taken their word and do whatever they needed to prepare, to No? I mean she is unbearable!” Bacall and Gwyneth Paltrow (the versatile I went to school as normal on my bike. On stayed away. I hadn’t been aware of that. decide what to take and what not to take. Many Jewish jokes play against a dark Gwyneth, an Oscar winner, is included the corner of our street was a toy shop, Then we found out that my other uncle, a By January we were gone. I remember Then there is the generation-gap: background as metaphors or parables. here not just because she is talented - which was there until fairly recently. dentist, his place had also been smashed up. my family saying our good-byes in the A joke can shrug off homelessness, Charlie Chaplin’s fate - her father is a Jew). belief that soon we would meet in England The aspirational refugee mother leans out humiliation, ill health: On my way to school I noticed that one We were ordinary people, you know. We when my parents got the necessary of the window to shout to her son in the Have I got a favourite joke? What I have of the glass windows of the toy shop weren’t prominent in any particular way. We documentation. street,“Plantagenet, shtop playing mit A Jew falls ill, is taken to hospital. The is a perfect illustration of incongruity: a had been smashed. I thought it was an didn’t have a shop ourselves. But I remember dirt!” nurse helps him into bed, tucks him in request and a response, both reasonable in accident. I could just see the game Mensch on the corner of our street was one of the SS Kurt arrived in England by Kindertransport and asks, “Are you comfortable?” The themselves, yet ridiculous in conjunction, Ärgere Dich Nicht - in English it’s called offices, which in all probability stopped them on 18 January 1939, one of 130 Jawne And there is always the struggle for patient says, “I make a living.” what Sholem Aleichem called ‘reason Ludo - flapping in the wind through the from doing anything to the houses nearby. pupils whose lives were saved that way. existence: made mischievous’. broken window. Anyway, I carried on to Although it seemed all very spontaneous, it Kurt stayed with some of his fellow pupils at But this joke exposes a problem. A lot of school and when I got there I found a didn’t appear to be officially planned in any a hostel in London, sponsored by the Walm Two refugees, Cohen and Levy, open a Jewish jokes lose out on paper. ‘I make a Back to Bloom’s for the last laugh: commotion and smoke was coming out of way. Lane Synagogue. Many years later he shop in a posh district and decide they living,’ has to be spoken with a shrug of the building. A teacher standing outside found out that his parents were deported had better trade as O’Neil and O’Neil. resignation. The right gestures, intonation, Two customers sit down at a table and simply said, “No school today, go home” My mother phoned around everyone we to and shortly after murdered in the A customer enters the shop and asks to even facial expression are critical. Take order lemon teas. “And in a clean glass,” without giving any other explanation. knew to check whether they were alright. forests of Maly Trostenec (now Belarus). speak to Mr. O’Neil. “Which Mr. O’Neil this statement: ‘He is a good friend’ and says one. The waiter goes to the kitchen Nobody was hurt or anything, although I do you want? Cohen or Levy?” raise your voice at the end of the sentence and comes back with two teas. He asks, Well, you didn’t have to tell a boy twice, think one of my uncles was arrested for a See Kurt’s full testimony on as you say it. Tribute has turned into “Who’s with the clean glass?” “Go home. No school.” It was a pleasure, couple of days. But he wasn’t sent away. He https://www.ajrrefugeevoices.org.uk/ The hapless foreigner is meat and drink to question, positive into negative. Jewish as a day off school was always very good. was well connected. He was the butcher, and RefugeeVoices/Kurt-Marx the joker: comedians are good at getting the tone Victor Ross

12 13 AJR Journal | November 2020 AJR Journal | November 2020 Kitchener through the eyes of a stranger

Hyunjae Kim has recently to meet his family again. As people may graduated from Cambridge and know, many descendants of the Korean War refugees still do not know if their is also a third generation Korean ancestors or family members in North Korea War refugee. Having completed are still alive. For this reason, the Kitchener Camp seemed a historically significant his postgraduate thesis on the place to me, and it raised a profound Kitchener Camp in Kent, which curiosity about how the descendants of the Kitchener men think about the Kitchener played home to many Jewish Camp site. This was my personal motivation The site of the Kitchener Camp, photographed by the refugees during WW2, he shares to begin research. Hyunjae Kim author in March 2020 A group of Kitchener Camp inmates in 1939 his research journey with us here. Secondly, my academic motivation is to connect the memories of the Kitchener for the original location of the Kitchener the Kitchener men. From June to July of the Kitchener men’s experiences as ‘a of the Kitchener Camp. By examining My goal was to study a significant historical Camp to a large trend of heritage studies Camp. Amid concerns and anticipation in 2020, I conducted interviews with place of grateful memory’ for the refugees. the histories and the narratives of the event of Jewish rescue history. My research in which memory began to be read as that even a single building would remain, a total of 12 people, using an open- These places include the Manwood Sports descendants, I proposed the concept of the took place from March to August 2020 and significant in terms of discussing places the moment that I found the location is ended, qualitative interview approach, Ground, where they could play football heritage of gratitude to imply humanitarian it is my hope that the history and heritage of memory instead of history. The place still vivid in my memory. Unfortunately, no which is an interviewee-oriented type and where the Kitchener Orchestra offered and cosmopolitan work for survivors even of the Kitchener Camp will be recognised of memory is often dealt with in heritage buildings remained, and only some of the of interview. During the interviews, performances for local residents, the during the traumatic history of war. as an important historical event in human discussions by looking at the place where buildings that belonged to the Haig Camp, I obtained historical data about the Golden Crust Bakery, which was the first history. I would like to express my gratitude the memory of pain and suffering is which is next to the Kitchener Camp of the Kitchener Camp, information about to sell real coffee (as the Kitchener men As an extension, the concept of ‘heritage to the descendants of the Kitchener implied. While traumatic events occurred, period, were used for other purposes. It led the genealogical research methods by had enjoyed in their hometowns) to the of gratitude’ can be used to evaluate the refugees and to the AJR for helping me such as WW2, this study anticipated finding me to question if the Kitchener men who the Kitchener descendants, and their Kitchener men, and the Empire Cinema, discourse whereby Britain has created with this study. a meaningful discussion about historical were able to stay here were subsequently commemoration activities. Furthermore, which provided them with complimentary Holocaust heritage. This can be done by places with memories, also to overcome forgotten by the British or by the public. my informants shared valuable opinions tickets. I believe that such places are remembering the Jewish rescue from the I am of the third generation of Korean War victims’ trauma. My main research question With regret and in the hopes of learning on what they would like to convey as a considered historically valuable properties perspective of transnational consciousness refugees. The story of refugees continues is how descendants transform a place more about the Kitchener Camp, I spent historical asset for the Kitchener Camp. in relation to the concept of a place of of humanitarian steps. For example, the to this day; it is a history triggered not that was traumatic for their ancestors into the night investigating the data during my Based on the data, the research findings memory. Places of grateful memory can plaque scheme promoted by the AJR, only from the Korean War, but also from heritage. stay at the Bell Hotel. As the blue plaque is could be organised into three chapters become evidence to commemorate the such as the blue plaque of the Kitchener different forms of violence. These painful installed there, it brought me a curious joy in my thesis: the site biography of the historical significance of benevolent acts, Camp, represents the installation of histories allow many people to look, with For Jewish refugees or readers of this to think that some people engaged in the Kitchener Camp, the heritage activism, and which take place amid violent history memorials in honour of people or a cosmopolitan perspective, at the history Journal, the history of the Kitchener Camp Kitchener Camp must be somewhere in my the second generation’s desire for heritage such as war, as one of the people that I places with a deep connection to Jewish of suffering that Jews experienced during may be recognised as an important event hotel. presentation. interviewed so eloquently put it: refugees in the UK. The narratives that WW2. In other words, the history of Jewish in the history of Jewish rescue. The online the blue plaques create connect to the refugees created humanitarian empathy for archives of the Kitchener Camp Project, After a short fieldtrip, my immediate As a result of this study, I found that the It is a history of kindness more than concept of a ‘heritage of gratitude’ by other communities. led by Dr Clare Weissenberg, is a valuable plan was to interview the descendants descendants of the Kitchener refugees . . . of violence. It is a history of representing positive aspects within the memory archive where people can learn of the Kitchener refugees. Although the viewed the Kitchener Camp as a place of people who helped other people, history of Jewish refugees. By creating My research journey about the Kitchener about the memories and history of the COVID-19 pandemic created obstacles to ambivalence both in terms of the refugees’ the fact of what the Kitchener an opportunity to discuss the legacy of Camp began with a visit to the town Kitchener Camp. However, it is difficult my physically meeting my interviewees, trauma resulting from the abrupt separation Camp was . . . It was the help of Jewish refugees, places that incorporate of Sandwich in Kent in early March to find physical traces of memories within I was fortunate enough to meet the from their families and of the hope for a one country [Britain] for a group grateful memories may become of this year. Between 1939 and 1940, the Kitchener Camp site. Nevertheless, the descendants online through contact with better future after rescue. Furthermore, it of other people [Jewish refugees]. archaeological metaphors for connecting approximately 4,000 rescued Jewish men descendants of the Kitchener Camp have members of the Kitchener descendant could be concluded that the descendants It is worthwhile as a contemporary cosmopolitan narratives of the past were accommodated there. The Central attempted to transmit their fathers’ and group. I would like to express my great have a willingness to show their gratitude resonance of history. with contemporary needs of historical British Fund (CBF) for German Jewry grandfathers’ memories over subsequent appreciation to Ms Judith Elam and Ms for a friendly relationship with the locals resonance. I hope that places of Jewish arranged this rescue by persuading the generations, and a blue plaque was Monica Lowenberg for their special at that time who provided the refugees I explored how the second generation rescue will become significant mediums British government to accept some German unveiled with the support of the AJR at the assistance in this process. I would also with opportunities for survival and cultural descendants interpret their parental past for people like me, who have familial Jews. Bell Hotel in Sandwich in September 2019. extend my gratitude to Professor Clare exchanges. However, it cannot be assumed by examining the heritage presentation by backgrounds of refugeehood from other Ungerson, who contributed to the research that all descendants share the same the Kitchener descendants of the Kitchener continents, to discuss the cosmopolitan My research consists of two motivations. Sandwich is a lovely, classic, historic town. into the history of the Kitchener Camp, for opinion. Nevertheless, their commonly Camp. For the Kitchener descendants, significance of refugee rescues that Firstly, during my search for details about On my way there from London, I wondered her endless wisdom. shared memories were that their fathers their fathers’ experiences were moments occurred even during the painful past. the Kitchener refugees, their stories evoked if the remains of the Kitchener Camp would experienced several cultural exchanges and of survival and a time culturally shared various emotions in me. These stories were be well preserved. Upon my arrival, I first It surprised me that the second generation amicable relationships with the local people with a cooperative local community, The Kitchener Camp Project is led by unknown to the public. One story reminded visited the Sandwich Guildhall Museum of the Kitchener refugees were actively of Sandwich. and a history of proudly enlisting in and Dr Clare Weissenberg, a Kitchener me of my grandfather, who had escaped to see the exhibition of the Kitchener conducting their own genealogical research dedicating themselves to the army of those descendant, to share the history of the from North Korea during the Korean War in Camp history. Based on the data that I and sharing their records. This was an By analysing the narratives of the who supported them. This humanitarian Kitchener Camp and to make a memorial a time when a man had to break from his had gathered through asking museum opportunity for me, a stranger, to learn descendants of the Kitchener refugees, I approach throughout the history of the archive of Kitchener refugees. The website family, overcome trauma, and then struggle staff and local townspeople, I searched about the experiences and memories of examined various places with memorability Holocaust is evaluated as the memorability is available at www.kitchenercamp.co.uk

14 15 AJR Journal | November 2020 AJR Journal | November 2020

THE NATIONAL HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL OBITUARY

The Public Enquiry into the National Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre, which is proposed for Victoria Tower Gardens in Westminster, opened on 6 October. Here we summarise two presentations that have been made to the Planning Inspector. An artist’s impression is shown right, and you can see more details and submissions at www.westminster.gov.uk/holocaust-memorial-inquiry-documents

KITTY SCHAFER (née Kaufmann) Born: 10 April 1921, Vienna A MATTER OF UK HONOUR FIND A BETTER L OCATION Died: 20 January 2020, Toronto By AJR Bradford member Rudi Leavor BEM By The Baroness Deech DBE QC Kitty was born in Vienna friends, laughter, and the weekly I was born in Berlin in May 1926, There may well be a place for a and had an idyllic, protected trip to John Barnes and Dorice on Finchley Strasse (so well described and I am one of the lucky ones. sixth Holocaust memorial in the childhood. Her father and in the AJR Journal). She loved My immediate family and I fled UK but this is the wrong site. brother left before the the Journal, reading each copy diligently, often writing letters to from Berlin and came to England, Anschluss but it took until The claim that it must be sited next the editor. arriving in Bradford in November to Parliament to make the point that in 2016, manifested the need for accessibility by April 1939 for Kitty to obtain democracy protects against genocide is schools throughout the country. The National a visa for England. In spite of her interrupted 1937 – exactly one year before stand alongside the growing number of not evidenced by history. The Holocaust Holocaust Centre in Newark and others in education, my mother frequently the infamous Kristallnacht. monuments and museums in so many did not take place because Germany the North could, if better resourced, extend In London her only option was to recited entire poems by heart that other countries around the world. was undemocratic but because of many information to a broader section of the population. become a trainee nurse. Despite she had learned in school. Operatic That I could come to England was centuries of racial and religious hatred being terrified by the strict discipline arias and songs from musicals fortunate, my parents being able to Not only that, it must stand out and across Europe. Governance was less One of the stated objectives for the Memorial of British nursing she passed her accompanied conversations; jokes secure visas. Subsequently, my father got make its mark loud and clear. The to blame than religious teaching and is to counter . Yet the rate of first year exams, but with the and stories were as important as permission to work as a dentist, having siting of the proposed memorial in ethnic or nationalist claims of superiority. Holocaust denial in the UK is low (6% according enforcement of the ‘Enemy Aliens tea and “something sweet” after qualified in Germany. Victoria Tower Gardens makes a bold Democracies across Europe have been to the David Baddiel programme on BBC in Act’ she had to leave. dinner! statement, which cannot be missed powerless to stop the rise of antisemitism February 2020). If there are particular difficulties in But, although we were fortunate, my and would proudly stand to expose the and extremism in recent years – on the teaching children in remote parts of the UK about Suddenly her German was an Her other passion was soccer. family lost 13 of our closest relatives in shame, depravity and darkness of the contrary. the Holocaust, or sensitivities surrounding teaching asset! Finding a job with the BBC She was a lifelong Arsenal the Holocaust. Persecuted by a regime Holocaust for as long as the Houses of Muslim children, then centralisation in London will Monitoring Service she spent supporter and she and my father and a twisted ideology, but murdered by Parliament will stand. If it were a simple tourist attraction there not assist. the rest of the war at Cavesham were founding members of the conscious and willing human beings. might be a case for siting it in central Park, translating messages Supporters’ Club. The question of security is rightly London, but it is designed to be much Note also that increase in memorials around the from the Front. She loved the It is both for the memory of those who debated. Though a terrorist threat more than that. As a quiet place for world has not served to put an end to Holocaust work and being surrounded by In 1987 they joined my family perished and the opportunity to learn cannot be denied, a decision not to reverence and a learning centre there is denial; hate speech laws and regulation of social brilliant Austrian and German and me in Toronto. They joined about their experiences that I feel it is build this memorial would present no need for it to be in Westminster. media may be more useful in this regard. professionals. Habonim synagogue, volunteered, imperative that there is a Memorial and a potential terrorists with a free gift - took courses and entertained. Her Learning Centre. they would have won without lifting The Board of Deputies’ original 2014 Victoria Tower Gardens is a popular yet peaceful In 1946 she met my father in baking skills were amazing, although a finger. Sadly, we are used to facing submission to the Prime Minister’s breathing space for local residents as well as for London. He was living in Aden, she only liked food that she thought The Holocaust was a once-in-a-world this problem every time a synagogue or Holocaust Commission noted the workers in the parliamentary estate; it will be then a British protectorate, and stars Kaiser Franz Joseph enjoyed. life-time event, surpassing even the Jewish school is built. inadequacy of Holocaust education unusable for such purposes if the memorial is built. in her eyes they married. What a Crusades in its cruelty, being not only (a problem not yet resolved); the shock the life there was! She hated In her eighties she became a cruel but with unnecessarily obscene I firmly, passionately believe that this urgency for restitution for victims of Another issue is security. The current design for the the heat and only learning bridge computer wiz and loved emailing. meanness, making death even more proposed Memorial and Learning the Holocaust, primarily from Poland memorial stands in isolation. Unless it is protected saved her. She maintained that friendships horrible than it needed to be. Centre will frame the story of the (also not yet resolved); and that modern with a fence (which would reduce its impact) its were like flowers and needed to Holocaust in public consciousness. It antisemitism often takes the form of proximity to Westminster will likely make it a focus In 1947 they had to flee with just be nurtured. She was an excellent It is essential to commemorate these will bring awareness of the greatest excessive attacks on the state of Israel. It for possible terrorist attacks and protests, especially a few possessions, escaping the listener, with ready advice on heinous crimes and to reflect and tragedy in the history of mankind and concluded that the Imperial War Museum related to Middle East issues. Arab riots (after the partition vote any topic. She had a love of life, recognise the growing number of act as a warning as to the evil that exhibition on the Holocaust should be on Israel), and returned to London enthusiasm, wit, and a hugely memorial events that are held across our mankind can do. But, above all, it will expanded with a “Central London” Despite all of this, evidence of any consideration where I was born. engaging demeanour. Her country and worldwide annually. stand to the permanent honour of memorial. of alternative sites is sparse. Rather than allowing grandchildren adored her and she the and as an eternal this to become political, the Public Enquiry should They started a business importing and my father had 68 wonderful This is a matter of honour for our country. memorial for those who perished so Another report, by the University College consider the genuinely practical merits of other children’s wear, working long hours, years together. We must have our own statement to needlessly. London Centre for Holocaust Education locations. but life was also gemütlich with Susan Walsh

16 17 AJR Journal | November 2020 AJR Journal | November 2020

Well connected, his friends included the hugely popular in his day for Das bind secularised Jews to Judaism in face parts: east Europe during the Holocaust, the Wedgwood were over forty. They REVIEWS Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and the Gänsemännchen (The Goose Man), of rising antisemitism. The handling of German DP camps and hospitals were mostly aged between 18 and 30. Duke of Somerset, with whom he stayed Christian Wahnschaffe (The World’s German quotations is occasionally faulty: immediately after the war, Italy and how ‘Women, children and the elderly,’ she THE LIVES OF LUCIAN FREUD: FAME at Badminton. As well as self-portraits he Illusion) and Der Fall Maurizius (The ermordert for ermordet (p. 118), and ‘ein it played such an important part in helping writes, ‘had been the first to die in the 1968-2011 also painted his children, often naked, Maurizius Case), could be dismissed as schnappender Fisch’, ‘a fish gasping for survivors escape across the Mediterranean Nazi camps.’ They came from fourteen By William Feaver including several of his daughters. After mere ‘Erfolgsautoren’ whose success breath’, translated as ‘a snapping fish’ (p. and, finally, Palestine. Many of the people different countries, but the vast Bloomsbury Publishing his architect father Ernst died in 1970 his could be explained by a superficial facility 66). A more serious slip is the statement and places are famous. Ben-Gurion, Ernest majority were from Poland, and many mother Lucie – after whom he was named lacking in ‘true German’ depth and that Eva and her family were released Bevin, Primo Levi and General Patton of them had undertaken extraordinary Exploring somebody else’s mind is – attended over a thousand sittings before seriousness. This had been the charge from internment on the Isle of Wight, all make brief appearances. There journeys across east and central Europe an impossible feat but art expert and her death in 1989. Most famously he first levelled by Richard Wagner in the not the (p. 272). But overall are chapters on Auschwitz, Dachau to get to Italy. Some told terrible close confidant William Feaver does an portrayed the Queen but he fended off nineteenth century against the allegedly this is a most enjoyable and informative and Vilnius. Some chapters are about stories of witnessing pogroms in their amazing job in this second volume of overtures to paint Tony Blair, the Pope, frivolous ‘Jewish’ music of composers introduction to a neglected figure. places which are barely known: Rivne, home towns after the war, before they his biography on Lucian Freud. The first Madonna and Princess Diana. like Giacomo Meyerbeer. Conversely, Anthony Grenville the first city in Poland to be liberated decided to leave Poland for good. volume –Youth – was reviewed in this the more difficult, experimental prose by the Red Army, Landsberg, where Journal in February. Punctuality was paramount for sitters - works by modernist writers of Jewish the Nazis brought almost 4,000 Through the story of one ship’s journey, who needed the patience for many hours origin, like Franz Kafka, Alfred Döblin or THE PEOPLE ON THE BEACH: survivors from the Kovno Ghetto to Whitehouse has written a book about Freud was born in Berlin in 1922. His over prolonged periods. Perhaps his most Hermann Broch, could be dismissed as JOURNEYS TO FREEDOM AFTER THE build underground factories and the endurance and survival, telling the family fled to London in 1933 where well-known feud was with his brother, the ‘bloodlessly intellectual’ creations of HOLOCAUST monastery at St. Ottilien, the first stories of young Jews who ended up on he became one of the most colourful Clement but he also fell out with sitters, authors not racially rooted in the ‘blood Rosie Whitehouse Jewish hospital in Bavaria for survivors a beach in Italy in June 1946. characters in town during his long art dealers and bookies although he and soil’ (Blut und Boden) of German Hurst, 2020 from the camps. David Herman painting career of 70 years. More could show great kindness, consideration national culture. Either way, Jewish stylised early paintings evolved to great and generosity. An inveterate gambler, authors could not win. Between 1945 and 1948 over 70,000 Whitehouse is a powerful storyteller. sprawling nudes, perhaps most famously he made and lost fortunes. Grandson of Holocaust survivors crossed into Italy. She tells some desperately moving Benefits Supervisor series and the the founder of psychoanalysis Sigmund Among the successful Jewish authors Thirty four boats sailed from Italy, stories. How Dr. Grinberg from www.fishburnbooks.com performance artist Lee Bowery. These Freud, he was highly intelligent, articulate, of the early twentieth century whose smuggling Jewish refugees into Palestine, was reunited with his little Jonathan Fishburn unforgettable works fetched millions of well versed in literature and poetry and works have fallen into oblivion is Georg when the British refused to lift the son in , after the end of the buys and sells Jewish and Hebrew books, ephemera and items of Jewish interest. pounds and brought him world fame. phenomenally well informed about other Hermann, born Georg Borchardt in monthly quota of Jews allowed to enter war. When Jack Bursztain’s family artists. 1871 and murdered in Auschwitz in the country. It is a compelling story which arrived at the ramp at Birkenau, his He is a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association. Freud was a complex personality by any November 1943. Hermann is best has attracted writers like Leon Uris and little brother was condemned as unfit standards with a plethora of women He worked to the last, with some of his known for his novel Jettchen Gebert, Aharon Appelfeld. for work, and his mother chose to Contact Jonathan on 020 8455 9139 or 07813 803 889 friends – whom he pursued to the end most famous work produced between which tells the story of a beautiful young stay with him even though she had for more information of his life – and numerous children, by 1996 – 2005. In later years he was helped Jewish woman who falls in love with Rosie Whitehouse focuses on one been deemed fit to live. Rivkale, various mothers. The book starts with and looked after by his assistant David a writer, unfortunately both Christian ship, the Wedgwood (named after the whose family was burned alive in his relationship with Jacquetta Eliot; Dawson. Even when Freud’s powers were and impecunious, but is forced into an former Labour politician) and how it the synagogue of her home town. he shinned up a wonky drainpipe to fading, he still made astute comments unsuitable arranged marriage. The novel’s illegally took over a thousand Jewish Sometimes the photographs tell their Books Bought woo her and she was mother of his son about art until he died in 2011, aged main claim to fame is its vivid depiction of Holocaust survivors to Palestine in the own story. One black and white Modern and Old Freddy. 88. Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Berlin in the 1840s, the quiet years before summer of 1946. But instead of telling photo shows the orphaned Yechiel Williams conducted his funeral service, the city’s transformation into the capital of the story of how it escaped the British Aleksander in his striped uniform after Eric Levene Feaver curated several of Freud’s followed fittingly by a memorial gathering a united Germany and a great industrial blockade, she focuses on its passengers liberation. Below there is another 020 8364 3554 / 07855387574 world-renowned art exhibitions after at the opening of the National Portrait metropolis. and their stories, their experiences of the photo of him, at home today in Israel, [email protected] meeting him in 1973.There followed Gallery’s Lucian Freud Portraits. Holocaust, how they came to Italy and with his grandson beside him. near daily phone calls which he Hermann was a prolific writer; many of his how she tracked many of them down, painstakingly recorded. They show Nobody was ever his own man more other prose works enjoyed considerable years later. The People on the Beach is full of incredibly perceptive, erudite but than Lucian Freud and nobody could success, but his flight from Germany to fascinating historical detail. Only switch on electrics curiously formal and concise opinions. have portrayed him better than his close Holland in 1933 and his death in the Whitehouse divides the story into four twenty one of those who sailed on Rewires and all household This is utterly fascinating and indeed confidant William Feaver has done in Holocaust largely removed him from electrical work what ‘makes’ the book. The subject assembling so much diverse material. public view. It is an unexpected pleasure PHONE PAUL: 020 8200 3518 speaks for himself. Janet Weston to learn that his oldest daughter Eva was able to reach Britain with her husband Mobile: 0795 614 8566 Fond of good living, driving and children before war broke out, and dangerously, dodging bailiffs and GEORG HERMANN: A WRITER’S LIFE an even greater pleasure to discover that benuri.org bankruptcy, bohemian and yet By John Craig-Sharples John Craig-Sharples, the author of this prodigiously hard working, Freud Legenda study, is the writer’s great-grandson. WHY NOT CONVERT painted the famous – Kate Moss, Jerry The book is a thoroughly researched DISCOVER YOUR OLD CINE Hall plus uniformed Brigadier Andrew Even before 1933, success could prove account of Hermann’s life and works. It FILMS Parker Bowles. He portrayed other a mixed blessing for German-Jewish examines Hermann’s changing attitudes Why in 2018 Ben Uri decided to transform AND PUT THEM painters including Francis Bacon, David writers. All too easily, authors like Lion to such themes as life in the modern city, ON DVDS Hockney and his great friend and Feuchtwanger (see the review of his the relationship of assimilated German itself and pioneer a digital future at benuri.org FREE OF CHARGE? fellow-Jewish refugee and Berliner, novel The Oppermanns in our September Jews to the fatherland that was to betray Contact Alf Buechler at [email protected] Frank Auerbach. 2020 issue) or Jakob Wassermann, them, and the ties that continued to THE FIRST FULL SCALE VIRTUAL MUSEUM AND RESEARCH CENTRE or tel 020 8554 5635 or 07488 774 414

2951_BU_AJR_120X60.indd 1 15/10/2020 13:59 18 19 AJR Journal | November 2020

ZOOMS AHEAD Details of all meetings and the links to join will appear in the e-newsletter each Monday.

Tuesday 3 November @ 2.00pm Rami Sherman – My role in the Raid on Entebbe https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88653048779

Wednesday 4 November @ 2.00pm Nick Dobson – Swinging London (the ‘60s) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81494824476

Thursday 5 November @ 2.00pm Paul Anticoni – How World Jewish Relief supports victims of crisis https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87352184079

Tuesday 10 November @ 2.00pm Lola Fraser – The Armistice: the end of the war to end all wars https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88583245737

Wednesday 11 November @ 2.00pm Dame Helen Hyde & Michael Mail – Saving Jewish heritage https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87898902168

Thursday 12 November @ 2.00pm David Barnett – Herbert Samuel: Statesman, Philosopher & First Jewish Cabinet Minister https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87861601804

Monday 16 November @ 4.00pm The Ghetto – with Bryan Cheyette & David Herman in conversation https://us02web.zoom.us/j87490106519

Tuesday 17 November @ 2.00pm Nathan Abrams – A Golden Age of Jewish Television https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83238814628

Wednesday 18 November @ 2.00pm Book Club Discussion https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86033111379

Thursday 19 November @ 2.00pm Helen Fry – The Secret Listeners https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87410382708

Tuesday 24 November @ 2.00pm Judy Karbritz – Behind the scenes at the Movies https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82023934587

Wednesday 25 November @ 2.00pm Yael Ciro – The history and traditions of the Roman Jews https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83920177950

buried in the Cambridge Jewish cemetery. in Rosenheim, escaped to USA [email protected] • Kohn Salo, 5 October 1900 in India, LOOKING escaped to London, 1937 • Kohn, Margot (née Spieldoch) born FRED GRAETZER/PETER GRAY 13.May 1909 in Duisburg FOR? Friedrich (Fred) Graetzer, later Peter Frederick [email protected] Gray, was born in Berlin on 14 July 1921. He www.stolpersteine-rosenheim.de KINDERTRANSPORT HOSTS was deported from Britain to Australia on the The United States Holocaust Memorial SS Dunera as an ‘enemy alien’ and returned Museum, through its Oral History project, to Britain c. 1950-54. He married in 1955, in HENRY J. ELWIS (HEINZ LEWINSOHN- is seeking British families who took in 1959 he took British citizenship and probably ELWITZ) Kindertransport children. If your family or worked as an architect. Jeremy Antrich is researching the later career friends welcomed children to their home or [email protected] of Henry J. Elwis, producer of animated if you are a Kindertransport child yourself films. Born Heinz Lewinsohn-Elwitz in and still have contact with your host family, Berlin, he moved to London in the 1930s please contact Carolin Lange. FAMILY KOHN from ROSENHEIM and produced short animated instructional [email protected] Stolpersteine are to be placed for members films, e.g. for the Ministry of Information. of the Kohn family by Dr. Tom Nowotny on He moved to Rio de Janeiro with his young behalf of the city of Rosenheim; information family in 1949 and in the early 60s to Israel. ARTUR FINKIELS on their fate would be very welcome, as well He died in 1966. Any information about his Robert Marks would like information on Artur as information on other Jewish families from professional life in Brazil or Israel would be Finkiels, born in Poland in February 1912, Rosenheim. appreciated. who came to Britain as a refugee. Artur is • Kohn Heinrich, born 9 November, 1910 [email protected]

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