VOLAJRume JOURNAL 10 NO.9 september 2010

The Free German League of Culture

oday, it is hard to imagine that 1939 at an informal meeting held at the the AJR was once overshadowed Hampstead home of the refugee lawyer T by other organisations claiming and painter Fred Uhlman. It was formally to represent the refugees from Germany constituted at a meeting on 1 March 1939, and Austria in Britain. Yet this was the when Uhlman was appointed chairman, case during the wartime years, when and four honorary presidents were the Free German League of Culture elected: the artist Oskar Kokoschka, the (FGLC, Freier Deutscher Kulturbund) drama critic Alfred Kerr, the writer Stefan was active as the body representing the Zweig and the film director Berthold refugees from Germany, and the Austrian Viertel. The presence of these eminent Centre those from Austria. These were names indicates the importance of culture politically inspired organisations, aiming to the League and to its political aims. It to represent all anti-Nazi refugees from had close relations with the small group Germany or Austria irrespective of of German Communists who had fled to religion or race, unlike the AJR, whose London. Its strategy mirrored Communist constituency was the Jewish refugees tactics during the Popular Front period of irrespective of nationality. the 1930s: to use a programme of cultural Both the FGLC and the Austrian Centre and artistic events to enlist the support of were founded in 1939, just before the FGLC honorary president Oskar Kokoschka a broad spectrum of left-liberal, culturally outbreak of war. Both had an impressive and politically progressive opinion and to record in gaining membership among that is very readable and easily accessible weld it into an anti-Fascist alliance under the refugees and in providing their to lay readers. It complements the study Communist control. members with valuable social and cultural Out of Austria: The Austrian Centre in The FGLC advertised itself as politically services, under very unfavourable wartime London, 1939-1947, by Marietta Bearman neutral, describing itself as ‘a German, conditions. The refugees were then and others, published by Libris (London) anti-Nazi, anti-Fascist, non-party, refugee ‘enemy aliens’ who, forced to flee from in 2004. organisation’. Refugees from Hitler could their native lands, were living as uprooted, As the authors say in their admirably not have created a campaigning left-wing impermanent emigrants in a country clear introduction, the FGLC was the organisation in the conditions of 1939, that could devote scant attention to their foremost cultural, social and political as the British authorities would not have welfare. The importance of the FGLC organisation representing anti-Nazi permitted it. Communist influence over the and the Austrian Centre can be gauged Germans in Britain during the war. At League should not be overestimated: of the by the affection with which they are still its peak, it had some 1,500 members, but eight members of its executive committee, remembered by those who benefited from many more people attended the impressive only three, Hans Schnellenberger, the their services. They form a significant, list of cultural events that it put on. It League’s secretary, the composer Ernst but largely forgotten chapter in the early produced a newsletter, Freie Deutsche Hermann Meyer and the actor Gerhard history of the refugees from Hitler in Kultur; it had a lively youth wing, the Freie Hinze, were Communists. When the Britain. Deutsche Jugend; it created a university anti-Communist Uhlman was replaced as The publication of a full-length in exile, the Freie Deutsche Hochschule chairman later in 1939, his successor was historical study of the FGLC is greatly (Free German Institute of Science and the non-aligned left-winger Hans Flesch to be welcomed. Politics by Other Means: Learning); and, when the time was ripe for (Flesch-Brunningen). From December The Free German League of Culture political activity, it formed the core of the 1939, the FGLC had premises of its own, in London 1939-1946, by Charmian Free German Movement, which sought at 36a Upper Park Road, Belsize Park, Brinson and Richard Dove, published by to rally all anti-Nazi Germans behind a London. Vallentine Mitchell in 2010 (253 pages, £45 single political agenda and to plan for a The League was established as an anti- hardback), is a thoroughly researched and democratic, peaceful post-war Germany. Fascist organisation, aiming to mobilise a impeccably scholarly account that tells These were substantial achievements. substantial section of the refugees from the absorbing story of its subject in a way The FGLC was founded early in continued overleaf

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the free german league of culture cont. from page 1 Intern Jan will be missed by all Germany around a platform of anti-Fascist was restricted to such non-political but political and cultural activity. Its first invaluable tasks as rendering assistance declared objective was ‘to preserve and to those of its members who had been advance Free German Culture’. It believed interned and carrying out social welfare that since culture inside Germany had activities generally, to mitigate the many been destroyed, suppressed or distorted problems of homelessness, loneliness and by the Nazis, it was the responsibility of restrictive government regulation that those in exile to preserve the true heritage affected the refugees. Only after the entry and traditions of German culture. The term of the Soviet Union into the war in June ‘exile’ is significant, for it implied that once 1941 was the League able to embark on Nazism had been defeated, the refugees in political work. Victory over Hitler was its Britain would return to Germany, bringing primary objective. It sought to integrate Jan with ‘befriendee’ Michael Warner their brand of progressive, democratic the refugees into the war effort against t was with some trepidation that I German culture with them. The League Germany; it campaigned to support the welcomed Jan Botsch, from Tübingen saw its members as Germans temporarily Soviet Union and to promote Anglo-Soviet Iin south-west Germany, to the AJR a in exile, but the great majority of those friendship; and it strove to attract British year ago. This was the first time the AJR who had fled Hitler saw themselves as friends and patrons to its conception of had worked alongside ARSP (Action Jewish refugees, permanently estranged the democratic, progressive Germany Reconciliation Services for Peace) and had had a full-time intern. However, from Germany and unwilling to return. that would rise from the ashes of the within days my fears were allayed and If the FGLC could not openly campaign Third Reich. Jan became an integral part of the politically in Britain and was instead The specifically political dimension team. obliged to use culture as ‘the continuation of the FGLC was embodied in the Free Jan spent one day a week at the of politics by other means’, it did so most German Movement, which held its AJR Centre, where he helped members; regularly attended and supported the energetically. It was divided into five inaugural meeting at Holy Trinity Church team at the Hendon and Ealing regional sections – for writers, actors, artists, Hall in Finchley Road on 25 September groups; and befriended two clients. musicians and scientists – and it was 1943. The FGM leadership included In his ‘spare time’ in the office, he set within these culturally defined sections important Communist figures like Johann up and ran the computer help project, that much of its work was carried out. Fladung, Wilhelm Koenen and the brothers as well as writing the articles for the volunteer newsletter and updating the The writers included figures like Max Max and Siegfried Zimmering, as well as application process for new volunteers. Zimmering and Jan Petersen, as well as people of other political persuasions. But Everyone at AJR will miss Jan’s warm the young Erich Fried (an Austrian). The the FGLC’s push towards a new post-war smile, calming manner, sense of humour Artists’ Section had figures of international politics for Germany brought hitherto and compassionate nature. renown in Kokoschka and John Heartfield. latent conflicts to the surface. A group of Carol Hart Head of Volunteer Services Music, predictably, was a particular non-aligned, left-liberal members of the strength: the Musicians’ Section included League, mostly intellectuals and writers, figures like Ernst Hermann Meyer and suspicious of the influence wielded by and were eager to return to Germany Fritz Berend and helped to launch the the Communists and their enthusiasm for (mostly to the Soviet Zone), and the careers of such youthful prodigies as the Soviet Union, broke away in January Jewish refugees, who were largely non- Norbert Brainin of the Amadeus Quartet 1943 to form Club 1943, the distinguished political and had no wish to live in and the pianist André Asriel, who made refugee cultural forum that survives to Germany ever again. The AJR, which his career in East Germany. this day. made no secret of its disapproval of the The actors created a number of The FGLC failed to bridge the divide Free German Movement, proved better successful revues in the style of the Berlin between the political exiles from Hitler, a attuned to the needs and aspirations of cabaret, notably Going, Going – Gong!, number of whom shared its political views the Jewish majority among the refugees. staged at the Arts Theatre in 1939, and While the FGLC was urging the refugees Mr Gulliver Goes to School, staged at the AJR Directors Gordon Greenfield to return to Germany, the AJR, along with FGLC’s own Little Theatre in Upper Park Michael Newman its sister organisations in America and Carol Rossen Road, one of several witty and intelligent Palestine, was submitting to the United AJR Heads of Department revues scripted by Fritz Gottfurcht and Susie Kaufman Organiser, AJR Centre Nations Conference at San Francisco in Egon Larsen. The Scientists’ Section Sue Kurlander Social Services 1945 a statement demanding that Jews included scholars of many disciplines; AJR Journal Dr Anthony Grenville Consultant Editor from Germany should have the right to under the leadership of figures like Dr Howard Spier Executive Editor remain in their countries of refuge and the economist Jürgen Kuczynski, the Andrea Goodmaker Secretarial/Advertisements should not be treated as Germans. The educationalist Hans Siebert and the FGLC was wound up in 1946. Sixty years economist and sociologist Alfred Meusel, Views expressed in the AJR Journal are not later, it has at last found the historical necessarily those of the Association of Jewish it gave rise to the Free German Institute. Refugees and should not be regarded as such. recognition it deserves. In the early part of the war, the FGLC Anthony Grenville

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The future of the AJR spring grove RETIREMENT HOME s we approach our 70th anniver­ receipt of legacies and we cannot over- sary, we at the AJR are planning state our gratitude to those members 214 Finchley Road Ahow best to continue to serve who remember the AJR in their wills. Put London NW3 our members with the delivery of simply, their forethought and generosity London’s Most Luxurious ­social, welfare and financial services are enabling us to continue to provide to more than 3,000 individuals across our much-needed services.  Entertainment  Activities the country. Today, the membership of the AJR  Stress Free Living From our origins as a self-help group is an assortment of former refugees  24 House Staffing Excellent Cuisine  Full En-Suite Facilities to our current status as a modern, from Central Europe, survivors from Call for more information or a personal tour ­outward-looking organisation, our the camps, child survivors, Kinder and unique and specialist work with second generation. Counter-intuitive 020 8446 2117 ­Holocaust refugees and survivors is as it may sound given that our first- or 020 7794 4455 unrivalled and we can rightly be proud ­generation members have an average [email protected] that our life-changing assistance and age of 86, the AJR is looking firmly to the intervention have helped to enhance future and to how we can best continue our members’ lives. to blend our continental heritage whilst Our dedicated Social Services team preparing to be at our busiest in the and committed Volunteers attend to coming years. NEWTONS the day-to-day requirements of those At this time of economic difficulty, it is Long established of our members with the greatest need likely that the most vulnerable in society Hampstead Solicitors while, through our regional groups, will face cuts in welfare payments. former refugees and survivors have the Also, as with many other organisations, Personal and Prompt opportunity to socialise, hear from an the returns on our investments have Legal Services eclectic mix of expert speakers, and be ­suffered during the worst of the present reunited with friends. financial crisis. 22 Fitzjohn’s Avenue The AJR Centre in Cleve Road continues We can also expect in the very near London NW3 5NB to provide a warm setting for kosher future a tailing off of support from the Tel: 020 7435 5351 lunches, entertainment and outings and, Claims Conference for our emergency Fax: 020 7435 8881 judging by its correspondence columns and homecare programmes. [email protected] alone, the AJR Journal reaches the parts It is with these pressures in mind that that other publications cannot. we are asking you to consider leaving a But all this comes at a great cost. As legacy to the AJR. After ensuring that the AJR’s Chairman, Andrew Kaufman, your families and friends are adequately highlighted at the AGM in June, the provided for, a residual legacy to the AJR JACKMAN . stark fact is that the AJR operates Charitable Trust will help to guarantee at a considerable deficit, with our that our vital services can continue for SILVERMAN ­expenditure almost £1,500,000 greater as long as necessary. COMMERCIAL PROPERTY CONSULTANTS than our income. Michael Newman This shortfall is met through the Director, Media and Public Relations We are grateful for legacies received from those named below during 2009

Lizzie Anderson Mrs E Millman Telephone: 020 7209 5532 Louise Barnard Freda Muller [email protected] Mr L Branin Martha Francisca Nuki Edith Cross Anna Elsa Rado Elizabeth Eisner Charles Roberts Edith Greenwood Peter Schiffer Dr MHE Hulbert Werner Schloss The Chairman, Dr W Jonas Ingeborg Schubert Management Dorothea Kaiser Margarete Schuster Julius Kiwi Gustav Sheldon Committee and Staff Ilse Kurnik Anthony Stalbow wish all Frank G Manning Henry Stanhope AJR members a Frank G Marshall Gertrude Stein Martha Marx Eva Stern Happy, Healthy and Mark May Ilse Strauss Peaceful New Year Elizabeth McIntyre Ilse Tych Selma Meyer Carl Werner Zikel

 AJR JOURNAL september 2010

As written in The Book of Fate: How Albanians rescued Jews fleeing Nazism

Scarlett Epstein OBE: Many Jews fleeing Nazism found a safe haven in Albania, where the population, irrespective of which religion they followed, shared a ‘code of honour’ – besa – which dictated that they risk their own lives to save Jews. Natasha Korn, whose family was persecuted by the Nazis in Odessa, has lived in Albania since 2003 with her American husband, who works there with the Peace Corps.

hat if it were I who had found interviewing numerous people, many of him naked and shaking from them no longer alive. Satisfied his research Wterror with the letter ‘J’ stamped was complete, he published his book The on his forehead and a prayer for mercy in Jews in Albania over the Centuries. his eyes? What if it had been my country Kotani does not analyse why the Alban­ under Nazi occupation and it had been ians acted in the way they did, but his the death penalty for hiding a Jew? What book is extraordinarily powerful in the if it had been I and my entire family of stories it pieces together and the hope 17 who had been transported almost 100 it inspires. km from our native Monastir to Skopje to When I read of the industrial methods a concentration camp where we were all employed to kill millions of people and to live our last day? when I see the photos of endless lines of I try to imagine myself as one of this emaciated, naked humans, like Botticelli’s Jewish family. I try to feel the way they did drawings of the Last Judgment, waiting in when they decided to save one man to Joseph Kambi with Aneta and Margarita Kristidhi, Durrës, 1943 front of the gas chamber to be murdered, carry on the family name. They drew lots I feel a huge sense of loss and it leaves me and Joseph pulled the straw of salvation. the chosen one. My family handed all their without hope and with great shame. Yet, His loved ones collected all the money money and valuables over to me and I walked when I read about people saving people, and valuables they had and he paid it all up to one of the less fearsome-looking German it fills my spirit with hope and pride. in ransom for his freedom. guards. I offered him the money in exchange for When I read Kotani’s book as well letting me out. He accepted and I left. That same It is at least 155 km from Skopje to as Harvey Sarner’s Rescue in Albania Tirana, the Albanian capital, where Joseph night, I learned later, all the prisoners had to undress and they were burned the next day. ­(Cathedral City, California: Brunswick found shelter until the end of the war. Naked as I was, I travelled through the night Press, 1997), I realised that the treatment There is no information about all the and finally came upon a village, where I found a of the Jews by the Albanians and Albania people who helped him escape. I found, cattle shed and hid in the straw. In the morning, is unique throughout the history of their when the owner came to feed his cattle, he among other incredible life-saving stories, coexistence. I needed to clarify what was the names of only three families in Apostol found me there. He was shocked to see me naked with my forehead stamped and my sad unique about this treatment during the Kotani’s book The Jews in Albania over the face. ‘What are you doing here?’ he asked me. Second World War. Centuries (Tirana, 1996). ‘I will be destroyed, I will be dead! Please leave I realised that all the Albanians were It was midnight when Joseph knocked immediately!’ he yelled. I told him my story and saving all the Jews. By this I mean that gave him a choice: he could either help me or at the door of Tirana eye specialist Albanian Christians, Albanian Muslims Kristofor Kristidhi. ‘His shabby clothes hand me over to the Germans. Fortunately for me, he chose to help me. He gave me some and the Albanian government all took and long beard showed just how much local clothes, a hat to hide my forehead and a equal risks and made equal sacrifices in he had suffered,’ recalls Dr Kristidhi. ‘I bag with bread and cheese and guided me out saving Jews: ‘[R]eligion doesn’t affect helped him with some new clothes and of the village. After endless days of suffering, I ­national custom’ (Edith Durham, High arrived at Korça and finally made it to Tirana. sheltered him in my house for some time Albania (London: Phoenix Press, 2000), before I could find other safe places for ‘All the time Joseph was talking,’ said p.125). him to stay. We hid him at first in villages Nora, ‘I was crying in pain. As I was making When I say all Jews, I mean that they around Tirana, then in Durrës, and again a morning coffee for him, he said to me: did not discriminate between the Jews in Tirana’ (Kotani, p.190). “Nora, you remind me of my sister-in-law who lived in Albania before the war (300 Nora Sheko (Imami) says Joseph was though no one in my family is alive any of them) and the Jews who came there sheltered in Irakli Lako and came to her longer.” legally or illegally before and during the house in Elbasani Street in Tirana from ‘We kept him hidden in our home for a last war – hundreds, perhaps thousands of Dr Kristidhi: ‘He was a young man, thin, few months, aware of the enormous risk. them (Sarner, p.33), escaping from other swarthy and nice. When he took his hat Once he asked me: “Are you not scared, countries to Albania or via Albania. off, I was shocked when I saw the “J” Nora? You have a time bomb under your Bulgarians also saved Jews – but only stamped on his forehead. I cursed the roof which could go off any moment!” I their own – and sent the 11,400 Jews Nazis who had done it to him. The story of answered: “Whatever is written [in The from Macedonia to the death camps. his escape from the Nazis and how much Book of Fate].” My husband and I had Joseph was one of the Jews destined he had suffered on his journey from Skopje made up our minds to see it through to to die in Macedonia but to survive in touched me deeply. He told me how the the end and protect him and, thank God, Albania. Nazis had rounded them up in a camp in we did’ (Kotani, pp.191-92). What makes the Albanians’ treatment Skopje’: Apostol Kotani was the first to reveal of the Jews unique is that they acted in this There were 17 members of my family. We were the names of those saved in Albania and way when the rest of the world (excluding all anxious to know what was going to happen the names of those who saved them. He Sweden and a number of brave individuals) to us. When we learned we were all going to found them in documents in the State die, we decided that one of the men in our acted in the opposite way. Albanians did family had to escape in order to carry on the Archive, by personal investigation, by not have their world-famous humanists family name. We drew lots and I, Joseph, was visiting many parts of Albania, and by continued opposite

 AJR JOURNAL september 2010 Refugees in far-away places

preponderance of the Jewish were told that his speedometer had been refugees from Central Europe went doctored to give a lower reading so that A to the UK, the USA and Palestine/ his wife wouldn’t worry. Israel. Others, in smaller numbers, found A few years ago I found old photographs shelter in Sweden, Albania, Turkey, South from that camp and on the back of one of Africa, etc. Some finished up, often very them it said Karli Djerassi. Professor Carl isolated, in far-away places. I know of at Djerassi, just over a year older than I, is least four such locations. a most eminent chemist, who achieved I met Professor Robert Heilig, a great success both in industry and in distinguished Viennese physician, in academia. He is now Professor Emeritus 1969. As the first invitee by the Indian at Stanford University, USA. Among his Professor Robert and Annie Heilig, Vienna, government under the Commonwealth 1986 many achievements is that he helped Education Co-operation Scheme, I toured to develop the first oral contraceptive India and lectured at numerous places. although he had corresponded with Heilig and he is known as the ‘father of the One of these was at the University of earlier about one of his Vienna patients, contraceptive pill’. Carl has also become Jaipur. The Acting Vice-Chancellor and who had occurred in the Schnitzler diaries, a well-known writer and dramatist. He Head of the Chemistry Department, which Braunwarth was editing. The library told me he had met Walter Grünwald Professor R. C. Mehrotra, was a former PhD in Jaipur has been named after Heilig in around 1955 in Bolivia, where he ran the student at Birkbeck College, where he had view of his distinguished service to Indian small Austria Hotel in La Paz. What a pity I been before my time. I had met him on his medicine. didn’t know this earlier as I had visited La not infrequent visits to Birkbeck. During During my army service in the Second Paz with my wife Leyla in 1986. We had at my Jaipur stay, I was collected one evening World War, I spent some time with that time visited Chacaltaya, the world’s by Mehrotra and his wife and taken to the the Queen’s Royal Regiment stationed highest ski resort, served by a ski lift at residence of the Governor of Rajasthan, in Bangkok. There I met in 1945-46 a 5,421 m and a view over Lake Titicaca. Dr S. Hukam Singh (the ex-speaker of Lok German-Jewish refugee couple, Dr and Chacaltaya, which in the local language, Sabha) for an evening of classical Indian Mrs Hofbauer. He was a medical doctor, Aymara, means Cold Road, had one of music and dancing (dancing by Sunal who had practised in Bangkok and had South America’s highest glaciers. Since Mansingh). There were about 60 guests. survived the Japanese occupation. The our visit the glacier has shrunk rapidly and The only other Europeans present were Hofbauers managed to emigrate to the by 2009 it had completely disappeared. a Professor Robert Heilig and his wife USA after the war and the last I heard of By sheer chance, a picture of this former Annie, both ex-Viennese. Professor Heilig glacier appeared in the Sunday Times was a cardiologist, then aged 72. He Magazine (29 November 2009). It now had left Vienna after the Anschluss and shows only dry slopes and bare rocks due had lived in India for about 30 years. He to global warming. was a former Professor of Medicine at My paediatrician in Vienna was a Mysore and Jaipur and had also practised Dozent Dr Richard Lederer. I liked him in Bombay. very much and had made him some A very interesting and enjoyable typical figures out of coloured wax (I believe Indian evening. Everybody squatted it was a basket containing flowers or cross-legged and shoeless on the floor. fruit), which I found on his display in a In May 2009 I heard through my highly Dr and Mrs Hofbauer with Robert Shaw, glass cabinet of the waiting room of his Bangkok, 1945-46 valued and enthusiastic correspondent surgery. I was told he had left Vienna at the Österreichische Akademie der them was in a letter written on the boat for Baghdad in 1938, but in spite of all Wissenschaften (AAC), Professor Peter taking them to their new homeland. my efforts I have been unable so far to Michael Braunwarth, that the Heiligs had In 1937 I spent a summer holiday in find out any more about him. He, and returned to Vienna in 1971 after he had the Kinderheim in Kirchberg am Wechsel many other refugee doctors driven out experienced a heart problem in Jaipur. in Austria. I was 12 years old at that by the Nazis after the Anschluss, are In Vienna, they both lived to a ripe old time. The owners of the camp, Walter mentioned on the website (complete age – Robert to 92, Annie to almost 100. Grünwald and his wife, were both rather with photograph) (http://ub.meduniwien. Professor Braunwarth also told me he portly figures. He used a motorbike with ac.at/blog/?p=654) had met them accidentally in a cinema a sidecar (I remember riding in it) and we Robert A. Shaw continued from previous page and who lived up to their code, counting ­Albania, married, had children and ful- but they had their code of honour, which their life as nothing when it was a case of filled the final hope of his exterminated was not written down but imbibed with keeping honor spotless’ (p.157). family. He has remained in touch with their mothers’ milk. The code demands Reading and thinking about the people Nora Sheko, one of his Albanian saviours. that anyone who knocks at the door and of Albania, the country in which I am now When Nora’s husband died, he sent asks for shelter is treated better than the living, causes me to ask myself each time her some money and a black garment. family’s own children. As far as is known, I go and see who is knocking at my door Every letter of his ends: ‘Dans l’attente de not one Albanian stained his or her honour – what if it’s someone who needs help? vous servir!’ (I am waiting to serve you) by not helping a Jew, despite the death And what if this person is related to the ­(Kotani, p.193). penalty such help could incur. All who hundreds of Albanians ready to sacrifice I feel that what the Albanians did to were saved in Albania might repeat after their lives saving, who knows, possibly save Jews during the Holocaust is also Edith Durham ‘And it will be long before I even one of my relatives? ‘waiting to serve’ each of them and their shall forget my hospitable and gallant hosts Joseph Kambi lives in Israel now. Country of Eagles. I hope it is written! who took me in and gave me of their best, He settled there after the liberation of Natasha Korn

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cages while the Germans walked up and down smiling. What best describes the attitude displayed on the letter pages of our journal towards a beleaguered Israel from the vantage point of the UK is yet another figure of speech: ‘I’m all right, Yenkele!’ Frank Bright, Martlesham Heath, Suffolk

Sir – If you google Col. Richard Kemp’s address to the UN emergency session on human rights on 16 October 2009 ‘THE ORDER OF TREMBLING ISRAELITES’ wished to seek the company of their you will find the antidote to the accus­ Sir – Peter Phillips (July) has written fellow Jews. ations made against Israel by both some such a farrago of errors, half-truths and Lionel Blumenthal, London NW11 Jews and the general media concerning prejudices that it is difficult to know where its military action in Gaza. Col. Kemp to begin. Sir – So today’s Israel is not the place Peter was the commander of British forces in He does not like the Haredim or Phillips knew. If he was honest to himself, ­Afghanistan. Yisrael Beitenu. That is his privilege. But nor is the UK what it was when he grew There is again so much international to suggest that they are responsible up. Significant reasons for this are the fuss directed against Israel’s decision to for Israel’s low status in the eyes of the decline of the Church and religion and the build houses in the ‘occupied’ West Bank world is as absurd as to suggest that rise of European secularism and the G-d of and East Jerusalem, lawfully occupied after anti-Semitism is the fault of the Jews. He human rights. As a lawyer, how can he be a war. Russia’s and Poland’s occupation is disappointed with the way Israel has proud of a country where, even after ten of conquered German territories after turned out. So are we all, but the miracle years, one is not able to deport the likes the Second World War was greeted with is that Israel has survived at all, faced as of a terrorist rabble-rouser like Abu Hamza approbation. There is no overt protest it is with the implacable hatred of wide to the US but a UK court offers no redress against China’s occupation of Tibet and sections of the Muslim world, the hostility against a group of persons who trash a the establishment of Chinese settlements of much of the former Christian West, factory and cause major damage, all in the there. Is it because Israel is a small bedazzled by raison d’état and sheer funk, false belief that they are the arbiters of the (Jewish?) nation, while China is large and and – last but not least – the betrayal by rule of law? I would say this is the new fas- powerful and – let’s face it – provides us so many Jews, blinded from reality by the cism. If that is what Peter Phillips admires, with cheap goods? leftish ideology that pervades our political good luck to him. He is making the same Col. Kemp’s address to the UN received and cultural environment. mistake as his ancestors in the 30s. no publicity, no headlines … While espousing moral relativity except Peter Simpson, Jerusalem Alex Lawrence, Marlow when it comes to Israel, so that the Arab refusal to talk peace is met only by ever Sir – I was thoroughly confused by Peter Sir – Once again Peter Phillips is giving us further demands for Israeli concessions, Phillips’s article. The meaning he gave his biased and uninformed views on Israel. this ideology has no difficulty in allying to the figure of speech which he used Why does he not check his facts before itself with the demands of some of the to describe the Israeli action in Gaza in claiming that Israel shoots first and asks most primitive regimes in the world, united December 2008-January 2009 – ‘[S]hoot questions later? only by their demonisation of Israel. It is first, ask questions later’ – cannot possibly Fact. Israel waited seven years before not easy to be odd man out when most of be used to describe the sequence of events retaliating to the Hamas rocket attacks. If the world is prepared to let Israel and the unless one has to scrape the bottom of the Winston Churchill had waited that long Jewish people go under, something which barrel trying to find fault. before retaliating to Germany bombing, Mr Phillips’s father would have understood Rockets had been fired from Gaza since neither he nor I would be here now. from his experiences of the 1930s. 2001. By January 2009 no fewer than Fact. Israel asked the Turkish flotilla Mr Phillips and other members of what 8,600 rockets had been launched against ­repeatedly to enter peacefully into the Namier called the ‘Order of Trembling Israel in general and Sderot in particular, port, where after a search it would be ­Israelites’ should lift their eyes from their leading to 28 deaths and several hundred escorted into Gaza. Their response was navels and see how Israel is treated as a injured as well as widespread psychologi- ‘Go back to Auschwitz!’ The Israeli com- pariah, ripe for destruction, just as the Jews cal trauma and disruption of daily life. The mandos then boarded the first ship, which were treated in the 1930s. Daniel Johnson, counter-attack, ‘Cast Lead’, took place was filled with armed insurgents, not writing in the current issue of Standpoint, at least seven years after the start of the peaceful volunteers bringing vital supplies. can see this: ‘[T]his summer may also prove indiscriminate and continuous bombard- The aim of the insurgents was to provoke to be the last interlude of calm before a ment of Israel by Palestinians. Waiting for the Israelis – which they did – by shooting war of annihilation is being unleashed seven years is hardly ‘shooting first’. and fighting them, injuring and capturing against the Jewish people and against the As far as the pre-state struggle against several commandos in the process. It was state of Israel in the first instance.’ the British goes, to which he alludes by only then that the Israelis began shooting, Chilling words. Alas, they may be closer mentioning the two British sergeants, it as clearly the aim of the insurgents was to the truth than the vapid outpourings is as well to remember that British troops to capture several Israeli soldiers and add of Mr Phillips. shot dead, shot and severely injured and them to Gilad Shalit in captivity. The other Incidentally, on a personal note, as a clubbed unarmed Jews, men and women, boats all entered peacefully, which fact past chairman of the Oxford University on the Exodus in 1947 all of whom had seems to have been forgotten. Jewish Society, I take exception to Mr been through the horrors of the camps. There are many websites where these Phillips’s characterisation of that body as The rest were forcibly returned to prison facts can be checked and I would advise religious. By no means. Instead, it sought camps in Germany, Popendorf and Am Mr Phillips to do so before repeating what and obtained members of all types of Stau near Lübeck, and fed lower than DP he hears and reads in the media. religious affiliation, and of none, who rations as punishment. There they stood in As for his criticisms of the Israeli

 AJR JOURNAL september 2010 government, there is a good way to is all the work you do. left without identity and relatives. If they implement them: go on aliyah and protest Werner Conn, Lytham St Annes managed, despite these severe traumas, through the ballot box. to make a life for themselves they too can Thea Valman, London NW11 A HIERARCHY OF SUFFERING? be called ’survivors’. Sir – It is both interesting and amusing Martha Blend, London N10 Sir – When the first pioneers came to that the two issues ‘Who is a Jew?’ and ­Palestine they decided to shed the ‘ghetto ‘Who is a Holocaust survivor?’ come round ‘THE UNHOLY LAND’ mentality’ and fight for their country come again and again in the Jewish press. Of Sir – I’m not a ‘Kind’ (though just what may. This is why they won’t stand for course, there can be no one answer, only old enough to have been one), but a any nonsense from the Arabs or anybody a wide range of opinions. It only becomes comfortably assimilated British Jew. else. Their attitude was aggravated by the problematic when a person or group insists Sometimes I wonder if I’m Jewish at all, British Mandate – ‘pussy-footing’ to the that they have the ‘only answer’ and every but I feel a Jew most strongly when Jews Arabs and pacifying them by keeping out deviation from this one answer is wrong. are oppressed or oppress others. refugees from Nazi oppression. They fought It is clear to me that every Jew alive in Frank Bright (August) is not fair in virtu­ for the Jewish state as envisaged by Herzl. I Europe today is affected to some extent by ally blaming the Palestinians (‘Arabs’, in his wholeheartedly endorse their decision not the Nazis’ determination to eradicate all letter) for the loss of his relatives in the to not stand for any hostile attitude. They Jews from Europe, and perhaps even from Holocaust. What colonised people – which are in the right and they know it! the planet. According to Nazi policy, none is what the Palestinians were under the Incidentally, when I was about to go to of us should be here today, and there were Mandate – would approve the entry in to Palestine on Youth Aliya in 1938, we were people ready to further this policy in every their already occupied country of ‘tens of encouraged to get married so that two country in Europe. Levels of recognition thousands’ of people, just because those of us could get out on one permit. And I of survival are a personal matter. Who people had their own Koran which deemed wasn’t yet 15! am I to reject anyone’s identity as a it their ‘Promised Land’ (though very few (Mrs) A. Saville, London NW4 Holocaust survivor? There are Gypsy camp German Jews thought like that)? survivors (not many) and other, non-Jewish Blame for the Holocaust remains with its Sir – How sad that Peter Prager’s (August) Holocaust survivors too. perpetrators, and with the British, French, tears for the Palestinians keep flowing! The Similarly, I accept anyone’s identity American and Russian governments, British created Jordan from our land and as a Jew. Is it not one of the important who stood by and not only watched then invited the surrounding Arabs to it, ‘lessons of Auschwitz’ that there is only its preparation but did business with, keeping Jews out! All until 1948. These are one human race to which we all belong? and sometimes even encouraged, those the so-called Palestinians – why are they So-called races are inventions: they are perpetrators (Halifax congratulating Hitler not going back if they are so poor with all cultural groups, not races. While we have on Germany being a ‘bulwark against the millions from England and Europe’s no choice but to belong to the human Communism’, Stalin and his pact). donations they are getting? And it’s not race, we can choose our cultural group. When we understand that the the West Bank – it’s Judea! Inventing races takes this vital choice away Palestinians too were victims of the Clare Parker, London NW3 when someone else, such as the Nazis, Holocaust, we might find ourselves on the decides you are born a certain ‘race’. road to a brighter future in Israel/Palestine Sir – Marcel Ladenheim (August) equates The word ‘holocaust’ was first coined – the ‘Unholy Land’, as I prefer to call it. the US with ‘its Guantanamo Bay prison and fairly widely used about communities Nicholas Jacobs, London NW5 camp’, and Britain with Russia and China, of Christians herded into their churches in naming countries which one could not and burned alive by the Ottoman Turks. So NEW BIOGRAPHY OF – or should not – love. I wonder why he there are many second-, third- and fourth- WHITE ROSE ACTIVIST chose to live here? generation Christian survivors of the Sir – I was glad to see Susan Cohen’s Nicholas Marton, Bromley Ottoman holocaust. Sadly, as the human review in your August issue of Frank race, we have great difficulty refraining McDonough’s biography of Sophie A BIG THANK YOU from categorising some people as more Scholl. It is perhaps worth noting that Sir – I would like to say a big thank you deserving and some as less deserving of a comprehensive biography of Sophie to all the staff at AJR, who are working something or other! Scholl has just been published in Germany: so hard and efficiently in making life so Ruth Barnett, London NW6 Sophie Scholl. Biographie, by Barbara much easier for us ‘old uns’. Since joining Beuys (Munich: Carl Hanser Verlag, 2010). the AJR, my life has been much easier and Sir – It was agreed some time ago that the It is based on all the documents relevant I have met so many wonderful people. term ‘Holocaust survivor’ is applied only to the history of the Scholls and the White Also, a big thank you to Susanne Green to someone who was in a concentration Rose resistance group deposited in the and Ruth Finestone for another wonderful camp (in Europe) and was alive on 9 May Institut für Zeitgeschichte in Munich. holiday at Lytham St Annes. They worked 1945 or later. Bending this simple defini- Professor Ernst Sondheimer, London N6 so hard to make sure we had a good time tion for whatever reason is considered and we all did! As it’s nearly the new year, rather painful by the very few genuine ‘VOTE, VOTE, VOTE FOR I wish all staff and readers a Happy and survivors still alive. CLEMENT ATTLEE?’ Healthy New Year! Roman Licht (Mauthausen Number Sir – Re Dr Grenville’s very interesting front- Rachel Hunter, Sheffield 86853), London NW8 page article on Churchill and Attlee (July): the Yugoslav response to the 1945 election Sir – A great many thanks for the Imperial Sir – I must reply to your correspondents that I have seen quoted was ‘Your Mr War Museum brochure you included with who seem to have missed the point of my Churchill – will he now take to the hills?’ the August issue of the Journal. I have letter. I in no way sought to minimise the George Schlesinger, Durham not been able to visit their very laudable suffering of concentration-camp survivors, Holocaust Exhibition because of our as my poem ‘A Hierarchy of Suffering?’ DUNERA PASSENGERS ‘SAVED physical inability – much less the sites clearly shows. I merely wished to point BY ILL-TREATMENT’ at Theresienstadt and Auschwitz, where out that rigid distinctions do scant justice Sir – I must take issue with Martin D. my family died. Your thoughtful inclusion to the experience of very young children Stern (August), who brought up the with the Journal is much appreciated, as torn from their home environment and continued on page 16

 AJR JOURNAL september 2010

expectation, broken promises, false hope. His videos have a touch of Dadaism but a political statement looms too. From his REVIEWs studio in Mexico City, Belgian-born Alÿs examines the absurdity of effort in city Autobiography of a violinist life. In one video, he pushes an ice block OF EXILE AND MUSIC: or a portraitist, John Singer around town until it melts; its symbolism A TWENTIETH CENTURY LIFE by Eva Mayer Schay Sargent was a remarkable suggests frustration at the lack of social West Lafayette, Indiana: Purdue seascape artist. The Royal improvement. In another video, he F University Press, 220 pp., paperback Academy’s exhibition Sargent and the leads a circle of sheep endlessly around his is the autobiography of a Sea, until 26 September, contains none of the flagpole in the ceremonial square. Jewish professional violinist, born the pre-Raphaelite paintings which made It alludes to civil servants once being Tin Cologne, who had a varied and him the Van Dyck of his day. paraded in the city to show government interesting career. She kept a diary, from Born in Florence to an American ship- support who bleated like sheep to imply which she frequently quotes, and had owning dynasty, Sargent loved beaches, their powerlessness. In another, a red access to many old letters, both sent and received, extracts from which provide children bathing and – famously – oyster VW Beetle is driven up a steep hill valuable insight into the letter-writer’s women laden with baskets, bonnets and accompanied by a brass band rehearsal. motives and feelings. Furthermore, the children, whom he depicts walking in With each pause the driver takes his narration is interspersed with quotations beach puddles, lit by sun on water and, foot off the accelerator and the car rolls of direct speech, which are to some extent later, returning exhausted in the dark. downhill. For Alÿs this suggests Latin probably based on ‘poetic licence’, as they may go back to her early childhood American delayed modernity. In 2004 There’s little evidence of the artist who and could not possibly be remembered. became notorious for his full-length Alÿs walked along Jerusalem’s green line All this is done with great skill, resulting portrait of socialite Madame Gautreaux dribbling a can of green paint behind him in an entertaining style that is easy to read in an off-shoulder black dress which so at a time when the separation fence was and never boring. being constructed to the Eva Schay’s parents decided to emigrate soon after the Nazis came to east of the green line. power and went to Mallorca. She recalls In Tate Britain’s an idyllic childhood there, but for various Rude Britannia: British reasons it was decided in 1936 to re- C o m i c A r t , until 5 emigrate to South Africa and the family September, the grotesque, settled down in Johannesburg. She knew when she was about nine rude or subversive are years old that she wanted to play the a matter of their time. violin and, after finishing school, she The show, dating back became a music student. On graduation, to the social satire of she went to London to study further with Hogarth’s day, includes the well-known teacher Max Rostal. In 1956 she felt she should rejoin witty contributions from her mother in South Africa and in due cartoonists and comedy course joined the orchestra of the South Rude Health Cartoonist Martin Rowson’s postcard from Britain writers like Steve Bell, African Broadcasting Corporation. After Harry Hill and Gerald three years her contract was not renewed shocked the Parisian elite. The sea is Scarfe. Most loveable are Donald (presumably because she had befriended an African couple) and she then gained a less controversial and this work, painted McGill’s once-banned, now innocuous position with the Durban Civic Orchestra. in Normandy, Brittany, Nice and Capri, sexy postcards and Beryl Cook’s hilarious Her mother was a strong opponent of betrays his sense of the climate, the light, fat ladies. There’s a grinning Tony Blair the apartheid regime and the author the surf and the wind moving the sand on filming himself on his mobile phone shared her views. As the anti-black laws introduced by the government became the beach. against a bomb blast, and Churchill’s increasingly restrictive, they both decided On transatlantic journeys Sargent black dog – a metaphor for his depressive to leave the country and came to Britain became fascinated by the wildness of state. Death to the Fascist Fruit Boys is a in 1961. the ocean and Atlantic gales. While the menacing installation by Shaun Doyle In London the author at first worked Norman coastline – duller, cloudier, and Mally Malinson which includes a as a freelance, playing as an extra or deputy with BBC orchestras, for musicals, crepuscular – captured his imagination, ‘dead’ hot dog in an open bun with its and with the English Chamber Orchestra. one painting of Capri releases the full boots on, bleeding tomato ketchup. In 1968 she joined the orchestra of the majestic colours of the Tyrrhenian Sea. English National Opera on a permanent Few artists have so successfully captured basis, remaining with them until her his sense of wind and weather and Annely Juda Fine Art retirement in 1998. She loved the job, particularly enjoying the conductorships the fragility of scenes conveyed in the 23 Dering Street (off New Bond Street) of Charles Mackeras, Reginald Goodall in Tel: 020 7629 7578 Fax: 020 7491 2139 aqueous light. Wagner, and Mark Elder. Francis Alÿs: A Story of Deception, CONTEMPORARY PAINTING An entire chapter is devoted to her at Tate Modern, speaks of failed AND SCULPTURE life with Henry Mayer, whom she married

 AJR JOURNAL september 2010 in 1967. He had originally been a naval Becoming a proper Englishman London and spends all his resources and architect, but had, before the author energy on the golf course and studying MR ROSENBLUM’S LIST, OR FRIENDLY met him, changed course completely books and articles by past masters of GUIDANCE FOR THE ASPIRING and become a mental health social golf. In addition to his aim of becoming a worker. As he turned out to be a manic ENGLISHMAN true Englishman, he wants his daughter, depressive, life with him was often by Natasha Solomons who is already at Cambridge, to be proud extremely difficult and, on one occasion, Sceptre 2010, 320 pp., £12.99 of him. he tried, unsuccessfully, to commit hardback The locals, at first hostile to the ‘Krauts’, suicide. Despite all this, the author looks any readers of the AJR Journal eventually take Jack and Sadie ‘Rose-in- back to her married life with gratitude will remember the little blue bloom’ to their hearts. Sadie’s recipes from and fondness. Mbook Helpful Information and her mother’s cookbook help considerably The title of this book is a little puzzling Guidance for Every Refugee. The hero in this. Lasting personal friendships are – few of us would have considered of this novel, Jack Rosenblum, took formed with some of the agricultural ourselves as being ‘in exile’ after arriving the blue book very much to heart and, workers and Jack is delighted when he and in this country. The term implies that we in his enthusiasm to become a proper Sadie are invited to the home of the local would have hoped to return to Germany Englishman, expanded the list of do’s and squire, Sir William Waegbert. However, the one day, whereas that was not in our don’ts to over 150 items. invitation is intended purely to make fun minds – we were looking forward to One item which caused him particular of them in front of the other guests and become fully-fledged citizens of Britain. concern was that to be a true Englishman Sir William’s subsequent behaviour sharply The author refused to work in Germany he had to join a golf club! Unfortunately, lowers Jack’s regard for the aristocracy. but for many years did not feel ‘at home’ no golf club would accept him as he was Eventually, despite many setbacks, anywhere. a Jew. The solution: to create his own and not in the way he intended, Jack The book is likely to appeal to anybody golf course. achieves his ambition to be accepted as interested in classical music, but possi- He and his long-suffering wife therefore an Englishman. bly less so to others. It would benefit moved to a cottage in Dorset to achieve There are fine descriptions of life in from a little less detail: is it necessary to his aim. Apart from the fact that he had Dorset and of its landscape, as well as of quote the exact date when the author no knowledge of golf and that the land local mythical folklore. In the background, played quartets with some friends, or was completely unsuitable, he anticipated to balance the humour, especially for the works they played, or the names no problems! Sadie, there is the memory of ‘before’ of the friends? While the book is well The amusing yet sympathetic descrip- and of her parents and brother, lost in the produced, some potential readers might tions of his efforts cause the reader to vary Shoah. Parts of the book are somewhat be put off by the small typeface, while between sniggering at his stupidity and sentimental and whimsical, but this seems the many photos – printed on the same naivety and admiring his optimism and appropriate in the rural setting of most pages, and therefore the same paper, as persistence. Even the destruction of his of the book. the text – are not as well reproduced as early achievements by an alleged mysteri- Altogether, this book is an enjoyable, light on glossy paper. ous giant woolly-pig doesn’t deter him. read and can safely be recommended. Fritz Lustig Jack neglects his carpet factory in George Vulkan

Edmund Wolf – a divided life

dmund Wolf was an important mem- translated, filmed, applauded wherever ber of the Austro-Jewish refugee seen – except in England. There were other Ecommunity but not known to many plays, some of them written in English, by name. There was a good reason – a life but the English theatre, and especially divided by living in England but working the West End stage, proved out of reach. mainly in Germany in the years after the Wolf’s inventive energy demanded war. another outlet and he found it by writing, The Literaturhaus in his native Vienna pseudonymously at first, for the German has recognised his attachment to his press. Soon a steady stream of reports, mother tongue, notwithstanding his feuilletons, personal profiles and political detachment from his motherland, with an commentaries attracted the attention of exhibition devoted to his prodigious output the German media, and in 1963 Wolf was as playwright, broadcaster, journalist and able to give up his employment by the TV director, and the publication of a BBC to become a journalistic force under 184-page Festschrift to mark the 100th his own name. anniversary of his birth in April this year. The move into press journalism and He started life agreeably enough as a out a return to Austria. His golden youth soon into TV documentary direction Wunderkind of theatre, member of the ended abruptly with the outbreak of war, marked the third and, in some ways, the Reinhardt Seminar, successful playwright internment and deportation. most successful phase of Wolf’s career, and dramaturge of the Volkstheater at Returning to England in 1942 marked as he became one of Germany’s foremost 25. His course was set fair as a writer of the beginning of Wolf’s long association TV auteurs with some 80 documentary comedies for an international audience. with the BBC, first as translator and features to his credit, among them the Except that it wasn’t. As the shadows presenter, later and until 1963 as renowned reconstruction of the Arab ter- of oppression lengthened, Wolf, Programme Director of the German rorist attack on a Lufthansa plane, LH615 politically more astute than many of his Service. But this was never enough of – Operation München, which earned him contemporaries, decided to explore what an outlet for his creative drive. Plays the Bambi, German TV’s Oscar, and set a opportunities might lie in England, but continued to pour from his pen and in new standard for realistic docudrama. with as yet no idea of emigration. The 1952 Räubergeschichte had its premiere These successes, achieved in such year 1938 changed all that and ruled in Vienna and became a worldwide hit, continued on p.11

 AJR JOURNAL september 2010

Searching on

hat started me thinking himself and her, my grandmother, totally Herr Bernd Ahnike – the genie in the was a radio programme on bereft of family but me. bottle. No one could have done more W the Australian Broadcasting The Jewish community in Newcastle, for me. And it wasn’t easy: he speaks Corporation. A Daniel Mendelsohn was New South Wales was wonderful to no English and my German had gone being interviewed about his award- my father – the support and friendship with my grandmother’s death. With the winning international bestseller The they gave is immeasurable. Through help of Joan as translator and Google Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million, connections with the community, my translation, Bernd and I understood regarding his consuming interest in the father eventually remarried, to a girl each other. There was no way I could fate of his uncle’s family in Ukraine. from Sydney, and brought her into the Daniel never knew his uncle but for a home in Newcastle. But things didn’t photo – and I didn’t know my mother go well between her and Mathilde and but for a passport and a death certificate. my grandmother knew she had to find Daniel set out to find the fate of his a place of her own. She had very poor uncle and family and who they were. English and I was her translator. My And, at this late stage in my life, this Saturday morning visits to her left me in sparked a similar question: What do I rather a torn state. My stepmother was know of my mother? raising me, resenting my connection My mother died when I was 19 to my grandmother, and I couldn’t months old. The death certificate rationalise the mess in my early teenage The Rosenthal Stolpersteine states that she died at the age of 34 of years. When I was 14 my grandmother ‘retroperitoneal cellulitis’ – whatever passed away. Her husband had died get to Germany for August but, since that is – at the Mater Misericordiae in Buchenwald, their son, Siegfried my children would all be in Europe in Hospital in Newcastle, New South Rosenthal, in the Battle of the Aisne in December, why not tie a journey in with Wales. But I knew very little about her. France in the First World War, and her a visit to them in December? My father Hans, a graduate from daughter, my mother, in Newcastle. I I’d taken the first small step. I arrived Munich and Bonn, left Willich in North was the only living relative of this part at Frankfurt railway station after a 23- Rhine-Westphalia for England in 1933 of the Rosenthal family. hour flight from Australia, in the coldest and, as the family story goes, met All I have of my mother is her December for 30 years, heading for Grete Rosenthal, my mother-to-be, ‘Alien’s Certificate of Registration’ Hildburghausen. on a train in England. She was from – Grete Rosenthal, 47 Wentworth Road, Europe travels by rail! Three train Hildburghausen, Thuringia, on her Golders Green, London NW11 – with her changes to Hildburghausen with three way to employment as a housemaid photo and some needlework she must minutes for one change and one minute have done in her teens. No memory for the next – and it worked! And there whatsoever of any conversations about was Bernd at this tiny railway station her. When you are young you look to greet me and, somewhere from forward – now I was looking back and all the subconscious, bits of my German I could see was a passport and a death came back – enough to make rough certificate. My father died in 1979 and, conversation. as I read so often in so many other cases, I thought I’d get to Hildburghausen, we had never spoken of ‘before’. look around and acquire a feeling for Then, suddenly, after many years, a how my mother had spent her early second cousin on my grandmother’s years. But Bernd had organised every The Rosenthal home in Hildburghausen, side living in New York contacted me day. First was a visit to my mother’s and Thuringia, central Germany with data about the family. We each grandparents’ home – a large building and they got chatting. They connected had our family origins in Thuringia, at recently renovated now with a coffee again through the AJR in London and that time in East Germany, so obtaining and cake shop on the ground floor. I in 1938 came to Australia, where they information was near impossible and, of found it quite emotional to be inside married and I was born. Hans applied course, there was no internet. the house my mother and grandparents to have his parents and in-laws follow Time passes. Bits of information had lived in. Bernd arranged a gathering them to Australia, but for three of them dribbled in. Then a reconnection after of elders who had been around in my it was too late. His mother had died many years with a fraternal cousin grandparents’ time and they had some in Willich of liver cancer, his father in – Joan living in Hale in the UK, a insights and memories of the time. Theresienstadt, and my mother Grete’s wonderful and warm contact. Visits to Each year Hildburghausen holds a father in Buchenwald. Grete’s mother, Australia, visits to England and now Kristallnacht service for the Jews at a Mathilde, my grandmother, did get out the wonders of Skype. In May 2009 commemoration plinth where the last to join us. Joan, surfing the net, saw there would synagogue had stood. Last year they After my mother’s death, for two be a Rosenthal Stolperstein placing in delayed it to coincide with my visit – a years or so my father, with the help of Hildburghausen in August 2009. I made wonderful honour for my family. Each Mathilde, struggled on, now working immediate contact. Person A passed day of my four-day visit was filled. A as an upholsterer, having had to train me to person B, who put me in touch visit to the beautifully kept old Jewish in something in England to support with the contact in Hildburghausen, a continued opposite

10 AJR JOURNAL september 2010

than a Jew living in Hampstead, but that’s democracy. British Jews have a perfect right to kvetch about anyone – Fabio A bizarre delusion Capello, BP, Robert Mugabe, Israel – and it’s fun. But we shouldn’t kid ourselves that it will do any good, and it may well do harm. In the words of the late Hugo ith the conclusion of the World legitimacy, I can make donations to Israeli Gryn, ‘Do not run with the dogs who seek Cup, the world has reverted to charities that agree with my views – the to destroy Israel.’ its second favourite pastime left-wing New Israel Fund perhaps or the W Bryan Reuben – slagging off Israel. The front page of right-wing Im Tirtzu. The Economist a couple of weeks ago If I have a serious contribution to proclaimed ‘Israel’s siege mentality’. But make to Israeli policy, then I can write edmund wolf cont. from page 9 Israel is indeed under siege – from Iran’s to Ha’Aretz or the Jerusalem Post (as I surrogates Hezbollah in the north and occasionally do) or email my relatives in profusion and with such apparent facility, Hamas in the south. Since 2006 the UN Israel to say, for example, that Avigdor came at a high cost in political infighting, Human Rights Council has passed 25 Lieberman is not fit to be a bouncer in a particularly at the Bayerische Rundfunk, resolutions, of which 20 are against Israel. clip joint. Ha’Aretz is (legitimately) awash where Wolf’s artistic integrity was often Then there are the loony left and the with criticism of the Israeli government at odds with political correctness and British trades unions and, at the supposed and, if an idea is worthwhile, it might left-leaning bien-pensants. There was other end of the political spectrum, the be adopted, but – let’s face it – most blood on the floor of the editing suite neo-fascist fringe. kvetching is from people who are trying when Wolf, by now nearly 80, presented But where are British Jews in all this? to salve their consciences at Israel’s what he hoped would be his crowning Some of them, of course, have enjoyed expense. If they could extract even a verbal achievement – a six-part series to be called slagging off Israel for years, just like a concession from the Palestinians admitting Hitler und die Generäle, a meticulous few Jews were permitted to join gentile Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, then depiction of relations within the German golf clubs in the old days. Others have Israelis might take them seriously. High Command. Perhaps it was an over- remained silent, yearning to join the party The popular view is that British Jews ambitious undertaking for a non-domiciled but restrained by trivial considerations like are entitled to make an input to Israeli Jew. Powerful counter-pressures asserted truth and decency. But now that is ending. policy because they love Israel. But the themselves from the left and the right and Criticising Israel is open to everyone. effect of their public criticism in Britain is the ‘safe hands’ in between, and Wolf’s Criticism comes at a number of levels. I to focus on Israel as the main obstacle to work was cut down to size, leaving him have the right to criticise the government world peace, a position shared by George with just two films and a broken heart. of Britain because that’s where I live Galloway, Abu Hamza and Mahmoud He was all of one piece, a man of non- and pay taxes. The government needs Ahmadinejad. Where are the Jews for jus- negotiable convictions, rigid yet riven to listen to me because I (among many tice to Christians in Arab countries? Jews by conflicts he could never escape – a others) vote for it. I also have the right to against Saudi racism? Jews against judicial committed Jew who was not a believer, criticise the governments of totalitarian mutilation? Jews against the Darfur and at home in England but having to seek countries, where the citizens themselves Rwanda massacres? Jews against China’s professional acceptance in Germany, and, risk execution or imprisonment if they illegal occupation of Tibet, an area a hun- above all, haunted by the sense of a legacy speak up. World criticism of the stoning dred times larger than the West Bank? unfulfilled, that of a man of the theatre. of an Iranian woman apparently had some Peter Phillips complained in these col- Perhaps he would have derived a effect – and the ayatollahs are deciding umns in July that he was disillusioned with measure of contentment from another whether to hang her instead. Israel. Tough! What did he do to build it legacy: his son Martin has become But my right to criticise the governments up? And what other country founded since Britain’s – perhaps the world’s – most of foreign democratic countries is more the Second World War has done better? read economic commentator, writing in circumscribed. To make it legitimate and I am personally much more disappointed the Financial Times for the enlightenment not merely kvetching, I have to convince that, overwhelmingly, the Muslim coun- of those who guide our destinies; his the citizens of that country that they are tries and the Africans have failed to create younger son has followed his father into doing things wrong. How should I do it? decent democratic societies since they TV journalism as well as immersing himself The Reform Movement’s proposed ‘policy were freed from colonial rule. in the study of Chinese language and review’ is not going to send the inhabitants Anglo-Jews have the bizarre delusion culture; his daughter-in-law is a professor of Sderot scurrying to their shelters. Jews that they are entitled to govern Israel. of public administration at the University for Justice for Palestinians is fond of But how would we feel if the Israelis of London; and his granddaughter is the putting adverts in The Times, claiming that criticised the British? How about British Director of the New Schools Network, this is the way to persuade Israel to change Israelis for justice to the Irish or the Iraqis consulting with government on changing its policies. That’s rubbish. Israelis do not, or the Afghans? It’s a shame that a Druze the climate of education. in general, read The Times. With greater living in Haifa has more say in Israeli policy Victor Ross

‘Searching on’ continued cemetery, a visit to the cenotaph that a visit to Buchenwald. Joan couldn’t find inside the home. I’ve seen the schools commemorates the soldiers from the courage to come with Bernd and and I’ve been treated with kindness and Hildburghausen who died in the Great me, but I can only say that this extremely great respect and, as far as I can make War that includes my Uncle Siegfried’s sobering and puzzling grey visit was for out, sincere regret from the generation name, long discussions with the help me a mind-searing memory. of German people who are my age. of my cousin Joan on the history of Four full days walking in their The local newspaper interviewed me the Jews of the area, and a visit to the footsteps. What did I learn of my and we are hopeful that the coverage nearby town of Gleicherwiesen, which mother’s early years? I learned to this interview received will find more can trace its history of Jewish families imagine their lives – but of her very contacts and there is a glimmer of light. back to the thirteenth century – and, little. There are no photos and no I will search on. after much soul-searching on my behalf, history that we can yet find. I’ve been Peter Lion

11 AJR JOURNAL september 2010

Fascinating stuff. Paul Samet were asked to give their names and state Next meeting: 2 Sept. Alan Cohen, where they were born and how they ‘Women of the Bible’; Outing: 28 Sept: arrived in the UK. Lunch was delicious. Visit to London attractions Essex Chairman Otto Deutsch, who was a guide for many years, gave us a most Bromley Lots of lively conversation interesting tour of Westcliff, Southend At our social get-together, we talked and Shoeburyness. A most successful about our background, our memories, excursion, highly appreciated by all ‘Hero of the Holocaust’ and Israel – the changes that have taken participants. Rosette Wolf place and our experiences there. Lots of Next Essex meeting: 14 Sept. David lively conversation. Eva Byk Barnett, ‘London’s First Hotels’ Ealing Co-authors speak The Rothschilds and the refugees Helen Fry spoke about her book on the many loves of concert pianist Harriet Cohen, whilst her co-author, James Hamilton, spoke about the novel Goodnight Vienna (from left) Steve Mendelsson, Denis Avey, and its sequel Moonlight over Denmark. Jeanette Rubenstein, Rachael Hunter, Otto Gerald Wold Jakubovic No September meeting due to Jewish holidays The Harold Cantor Suite was filled to ­capacity when Sheffield CCJ and AJR (from left) Dr John Goldsmith, Colette Scotland and Newcastle Get-together Warbrick, Eric Cohen combined to hear the remarkable 91- Holocaust Memorial year-old Second World War veteran Day Trustee Paula At our annual lunch in the Liverpool Denis Avey relate his experiences as a Cowan and Glasgow Reform Synagogue hall, Colette Warbrick PoW in a camp adjacent to the synthetic m e m b e r M i c h a e l of the Rothschild Collection at Waddesdon rubber plant I. G. Farben outside Ausch- Sankie Manor spoke to us about the extensive witz. In 1944 Denis befriended a Jewish Meeting at the work the Rothschilds did to help Jewish slave labourer, known to him as Ernst, Edinburgh Hebrew children escape from Nazi Germany. She and persuaded him to change places in Congregation, we also spoke about the Cedars, the house each other’s camp for two nights so he had a successful event in which children from Frankfurt saved could gather evidence of the cruelties with a well thought-out programme. Sue by the Rothschilds lived. Guido Alis there. He became so traumatised that Kurlander spoke about the AJR’s Social Next meeting: 2 Sept it took him 60 years to recount the Services and introduced a young German horrors he saw. Ernst survived and Brighton & Hove Sarid intern at the AJR, Jan Botsch of Action ‘Jews and the Mind’ emigrated to the USA. Earlier this year, Reconciliation Service for Peace. We Denis was awarded the ‘Hero of the Professor Gerald Curzon spoke about then divided into three lively discussion depression among Jews. Providing us with ­Holocaust’ medal by Prime Minister groups: ‘Second Generation’; ‘The Way Gordon Brown and is being considered a historical review of the ‘Jewish mind’, he Forward’; ‘Are HMD and Yom Hashoah quoted philosophers and psychiatrists and by Yad Vashem for the title ‘Righteous Remembered the Way You Wish?’ Later among the Nations’. pointed out that 25 per cent of Nobel Prize Paula Cowan, a Holocaust Memorial Day winners were Jews. Ceska Abrahams Steve Mendelsson Trustee, spoke about Holocaust educa- Next Sheffield meeting: 5 Sept Next meeting: 20 Sept. David Merron, ‘The tion in Scotland. We concluded with a Kibbutz in Crisis’ showing of the film ‘Churchill’s German Kent History of the Quakers Army’. Halina Moss Northern Get-together We were delighted to see a recovered Guest speaker Gillian Esther back, and enjoyed an interesting Ilford Life and times of Max Reinhardt Walnes of the Anne talk by Betty Raymond on the origins Dr Fred Rosner spoke about Max Reinhardt Frank Trust and history of the Quakers. The founding and the many people he influenced O v e r 8 0 p e o p l e of the Quakers, by George Fox in 1650, in Vienna and later in the USA. Max ­attended the Northern was a rebellion against the fixed views of Reinhardt passed away aged 80 in New Groups Get-together Christianity, stressing the equality of all York in 1943 and his funeral was attended in Manchester. An in- – clergy and laity alike. Inge Ball by many members of the New York Jewish teresting programme community, who recalled his numerous was eagerly anticipated by those from North London Anthony Grenville famous productions. Meta Roseneil mainly Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and speaks about his book Next meeting: 1 Sept. Suzanne Bardgett Sheffield and a few from further afield We were privileged to have as our guest of the Imperial War Museum such as Israel. Sue Kurlander spoke about speaker Dr Anthony Grenville, Consultant AJR social work services, while Michael Editor of the AJR Journal. His talk, on his Great start for new HGS venue Newman spoke about the AJR and the recently published book on German and We kicked off to a great start at our new importance of legacies. Keynote speaker Austrian refugees, stimulated a lively dis- venue, Hammerson House, when Helen Gillian Walnes MBE, Co-director of the cussion. Herbert Haberberg Fry spoke to us about her book on the life Anne Frank Trust UK, delivered an inspi- No meeting in September due to Jewish and loves of the renowned pianist Harriet rational talk on the myths and miscon- holidays. Outing 28 Sept: Visit to London Cohen. Our new venue enables resident attractions ceptions of Anne Frank’s story. Delegates AJR members to attend Group meetings - chose from 10 discussion groups on sub- including the remarkable Dr Edith Kaufman, Pinner The Jews of Kerala jects including the Kindertransport, the who at the age of 106 enjoyed this morning second and third generations, and the Edna Fernandez told us there had been immensely. Hazel Beiny two Jewish groups in Kerala – the ‘black Middle East. The anticipation with which Next meeting: 13 Sept. Howard Falksohn we awaited the day did not disappoint, Jews’, who settled there at the time (Wiener Library), ‘Children of the Third of Solomon mostly as traders, and the Reich’ with old friends reunited, new friend- ‘white Jews’, who arrived shortly after ships made and 80 people learning so the destruction of the Temple. Relations Hendon and Temple Fortune outing much more about this wonderful Jewish between the groups were never very to Westcliff organisation. May we enjoy many more good. Now, both have moved to Israel The Hendon and Temple Fortune Groups of these events in the future! with their prejudices still largely intact. had a lovely outing to Westcliff. All present Eric Cohen, Second Generation (Liverpool)

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Cardiff Argentina, Jews and Germans Radlett ‘London’s First Hotels’ The Wiener Library’s Howard Falksohn gave The development of the modern hotel was Paul Balint AJR Centre us an illustrated talk on the popularity of one of many unforeseen consequences of 15 Cleve Road, London NW6 Argentina, even before the First World the industrial revolution, David Barnett Tel: 020 7328 0208 War, among Jews and Germans alike. told us. He gave an interesting account - Marian Lane much enjoyed by his audience - of one of the byways of recent social history. AJR LUNCHEON CLUB Café Imperial The story of the Dunera Fritz Starer Wednesday 15 September 2010 An interesting morning spent surfing the Next meeting: 15 Sept. David Merron, ‘The Andrea Littleton web looking at the latest BBC documentary Kibbutz in Crisis’ on the Dunera. Two of our members, Peter ‘Graphology’ Eden and Willie Field, were on the ship and ‘REMEMBERING FOR THE FUTURE’ Please be aware that members should not feature in the programme. Sunday 12 September 2010 automatically assume that they are on the Luncheon Esther Rinkoff at the Royal Armouries, Leeds Club list. It is now necessary, on receipt of your copy First, Second and Third Generation of the AJR Journal, to phone the Centre on 020 7328 Eastbourne A perfect holiday AJR members 0208 to book your place. I joined an AJR holiday to Eastbourne for are invited to an the first time and thoroughly enjoyed Inter-Generational KT-AJR myself. I found everything just perfect. Question Time-style event Kindertransport special I liked the outing to Rye, including the aiming to promote dialogue interest group free cream tea, and the musical show at between the generations Monday 6 September 2010 the local theatre. I met a lot of friends For further details, please contact but, most of all, I felt secure – there Susanne Green on 0151 291 5734 Axel Reiserer was always Carol, Annie, Joseph and or at [email protected] ‘Is the Far Right on Andrea to help out and they couldn’t the Rise Again?’ do enough for us. Wembley Get-together KINDLY NOTE THAT LUNCH Rita Brent A sixth-form JFS pupil on work experience joined in our discussions of topics of WILL BE SERVED AT Leeds CF A lively meeting interest. She also learned much from 12.30 PM ON MONDAYS Reservations required At another lively meeting, we discussed the hearing of members’ endeavours to Please telephone 020 7328 0208 topic ‘Should we have more contact with escape Nazi persecution and finally find Jewish communities on the Continent?’ We refuge in the UK. Myrna Glass Monday, Wednesday & Thursday were also shown photos of the interesting No September meeting due to Jewish 9.30 am – 3.30 pm London visit held earlier in the spring. An holidays outing to Temple Newsam museum plus Please note that the Centre is a visit to the theatre are planned. ‘CHURCHILL’S GERMAN ARMY’ closed on Tuesdays Barbara Cammerman The National Geographic Channel screened the documentary ‘Churchill’s September Afternoon Entertainment German Army’ in April 2009. Appearing Wed 1 Paul Coleman AJR GROUP CONTACTS in this unique film were members of Thur 2 Ronnie Goldberg Bradford Continental Friends the AJR who fought heroically for Mon 6 KT Lunch – Kards & Games Klub Lilly and Albert Waxman 01274 581189 Tue 7 CLOSED Brighton & Hove (Sussex Region) Britain during the Second World War. Fausta Shelton 01273 734 648 We will be showing a screening on Wed 8 Michael Heaton Bristol/Bath Thursday 21 October 2010 Thur 9 CLOSED – Rosh Hashanah Kitty Balint-Kurti 0117 973 1150 at 2.00 pm for 2.30 pm Mon 13 Kards & Games Klub Cambridge Tue 14 CLOSED at Pinner United Synagogue Anne Bender 01223 276 999 Wed 15 LUNCHEON CLUB Cardiff 5 Cecil Park, Pinner Thur 16 Madeleine Whitson Myrna Glass 020 8385 3077 To reserve your place, please call Mon 20 Kards & Games Klub – Cleve Road, AJR Centre Susan Harrod on 020 8385 3070 Myrna Glass 020 8385 3077 £2 charge for refreshments Monday Movie Matinee Dundee Tue 21 CLOSED Agnes Isaacs 0755 1968 593 continued on page 15 Wed 22 Mike Marandi East Midlands (Nottingham) Thur 23 CLOSED – Succot Bob Norton 01159 212 494 Norfolk (Norwich) Mon 27 Kards & Games Klub Edgware Myrna Glass 020 8385 3077 Tue 28 CLOSED Hazel Beiny 020 8385 3077 North London Edinburgh Jenny Zundel 020 8882 4033 Wed 29 Michelle Wolf Françoise Robertson 0131 337 3406 Oxford Thur 30 CLOSED – Shemini Atzeret Essex (Westcliff) Susie Bates 01235 526 702 Larry Lisner 01702 300812 Pinner (HA Postal District) Glasgow Vera Gellman 020 8866 4833 Claire Singerman 0141 649 4620 Radlett Harrogate Esther Rinkoff 020 8385 3077 Hazel Beiny, Southern Groups Co-ordinator 020 8385 3070 Inge Little 01423 886254 Sheffield Hendon Steve Mendelsson 0114 2630666 Myrna Glass, London South and Midlands Hazel Beiny 020 8385 3070 South London Groups Co-ordinator Hertfordshire Lore Robinson 020 8670 7926 020 8385 3077 Hazel Beiny 020 8385 3070 South West Midlands (Worcester area) Susanne Green, Northern Groups Co-ordinator HGS Myrna Glass 020 8385 3070 0151 291 5734 Gerda Torrence 020 8883 9425 Surrey Susan Harrod, Groups’ Administrator Hull Edmée Barta 01372 727 412 020 8385 3070 Susanne Green 0151 291 5734 Temple Fortune Ilford Esther Rinkoff 020 8385 3077 Agnes Isaacs, Scotland and Newcastle Meta Rosenell 020 8505 0063 Co-ordinator Weald of Kent 0755 1968 593 Leeds HSFA Max and Jane Dickson Trude Silman 0113 2251628 01892 541026 Esther Rinkoff, Southern Region Co-ordinator Liverpool Wembley 020 8385 3077 Susanne Green 0151 291 5734 Laura Levy 020 8904 5527 KT-AJR (Kindertransport) Manchester Wessex (Bournemouth) Andrea Goodmaker 020 8385 3070 Werner Lachs 0161 773 4091 Mark Goldfinger 01202 552 434 Child Survivors Association–AJR Newcastle West Midlands (Birmingham) Walter Knoblauch 0191 2855339 Fred Austin 01384 252310 Henri Obstfeld 020 8954 5298

13 AJR JOURNAL september 2010

family announcements GOLDERS GREEN Birth Part-Time Helper Required Elderly, alert, good-humoured Congratulations to Helga and Gunter lady requires kind (George) Lazarus on the birth of their Part-Time Live-In Help grandson Zach Charlie, a brother for To include making breakfast and Jake Freddie. evening meal, some light housework and local shopping Death Own comfortable room & bathroom A HOME FROM HOME & all food provided in well-located Kaye, Evelyn Ruth, lately of Marlow, Are you, or do you have, garden flat Alan’s wife. Born Vienna 4 April 1930; relatives who are looking for a Weekends free Kindertransportee December 1938; residential home with a friendly Call Michael on 07971 436 968 died 18 July 2010. Firmly supported and caring environment? and associated herself with KT and AJR If so, consider the possibility of moving to our Progressive activities whilst never losing her love Jewish Abbeyfield Home for PillarCare for the city and country of her birth. able-bodied pensioners. ‘Irreplaceable.’ Quality support and care at home LILY MONTAGU HOUSE  Hourly Care from 1 hour – 24 hours classified 36-38 ORCHARD DRIVE,  Live-In/Night Duty/Sleepover Care Housekeeper needed to help delightful EDGWARE  Convalescent and Personal Health Care lady in Finchley. Must cook well and Permanent and short-stay residency from £330 per week  Compassionate and Affordable Service ideally be available 5-6 days per week  Professional, Qualified, Kind Care Staff For further information, 9.30 am-2 pm. Superb conditions, perfect  Registered with the CSCI and UKHCA job for the right person. Please call visit our website www.JewishAbbeyfield.org.uk Call us on Freephone 0800 028 4645 07973 775556. or telephone Jane Kessler Studio 1 Utopia Village on 020 8455 3652 7 Chalcot Road, NW1 8LH New ... Luncheon Club open to switch on electrics guests on Tuesdays/Thursdays Home Care Rewires and all household Please phone for further details Colvin electrical work Registered Office: Belmont Lodge, 59, Belmont Care through quality and Road, Bushey, Herts. WD23 2JR professionalism PHONE PAUL: 020 8200 3518 Company 1179914, Registered Charity 268164, Celebrating our 25th Anniversary Mobile: 0795 614 8566 Housing Corporation H1269 25 years of experience in providing the highest standards of care in the comfort of your own home AJR 3-DAY TRIP TO GLASGOW We are delighted to offer a 3-day visit to Glasgow from Monday 4 October to Wednesday 6 October The cost will be in the region of £250 per person, 1 hour to 24 hours care including hotel accommodation and breakfast Registered through the National Care Standard Commission

PROVISIONAL ITINERARY Call our 24 hour tel 020 7794 9323 Monday 4 October www.colvin-nursing.co.uk Burrell Collection and Pollok Park · Dinner with Entertainer at Glasgow Reform Synagogue Tuesday 5 October – Edinburgh Tour of Scottish Parliament · Holyrood Palace and Queen’s Gallery wanted to buy Royal Yacht Britannia · Glasgow King’s Theatre – ‘Calamity Jane’ Wednesday 6 October German and Garnethill Synagogue and Archives · Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum English Books For further details, please contact Susan Harrod on 020 8385 3070 or at [email protected]

Please note: members will be expected to arrange and Bookdealer, AJR member, fund their own travel to and from Glasgow welcomes invitations to view and purchase valuable books. ADVERTISEMENT RATES FAMILY EVENTS – First 15 words free of charge, £2.00 per 5 words thereafter Robert Hornung CLASSIFIED, SEARCH NOTICES – £2.00 per 5 words 10 Mount View, Ealing, BOX NUMBERS £3.00 extra London W5 1PR Email: [email protected] DISPLAY ADVERTS – Per single column inch 65mm £12.00 Tel: 020 8998 0546 COPY DATE 5 weeks prior to publication

14 AJR JOURNAL september 2010

The Austrian National Library

t a commemorative ceremony who are most entitled to them – those In 2006, in order to reach out to the at the Austrian National Library who, like the former owners of these rightful owners of looted property, the A in June, the Austrian National books, were persecuted by the National National Fund set up its own art data- Fund symbolically accepted three of Socialist regime. Those who, unlike the base at www.artrestitution.at. This has 8,363 books seized during the National former owners, were lucky enough enabled a targeted online search for Socialist era, the previous owners of to survive particularly require our art and cultural objects today located which were unable to be traced. The assistance in their old age.’ in the museums and collections of the works were handed over in compliance The publications which were trans- Republic of Austria or the City of Vienna with the Art Restitution Law. ferred are ‘objects which without which, according to the current status Accepting the books, Secretary exception bear no indications as to of the provenance research, were pos- ­General Mag. Hannah Lessing said: ‘Since the identities of their former owners,’ sibly seized during the National Socialist the enactment of the Art Restitution Law the National Library stressed in a press era. … in 1998 art objects are now being release. The provenance report, which It has also emerged that since the transferred to the National Fund for the was completed in December 2003, beginning of the year, the holdings of first time and their proceeds can been listed 52,403 objects which had been the parliamentary library have been used to benefit the victims of National acquired by the National Library dur- subject to examination with regard Socialism.’ ing the National Socialist regime. On to their provenance and potential The transferred books were the basis of this report and of the restitution. subsequently repurchased by the examination by the Art Restitution Written enquiries should be sent National Library for 135,000 euros. Advisory Board, in recent years 35,217 to the AJR, Jubilee House, Merrion Hannah Lessing announced that ‘[T]he individual objects have been restituted Avenue, Stanmore, Middx HA7 4RL or proceeds from these one-time looted to the rightful heirs of the persecuted to [email protected] objects will be received by those people former owners. Michael Newman

inside the ajr continued from page 13 Hendon ‘Diversity of Faith’ All 21 of us had a most enjoyable holiday in again, this year on a lovely summer’s day. Rabbi Daniela Thau gave us a fascinating St Annes. We had four second-generation Our thanks to our hosts for good company overview of nine religious faiths, beginning members with us and we all enjoyed each and a delicious meal. Hanna Cooper with the Zoroastrians, founded in 6000 BC, other’s company. up to the Bahai, founded in 1844. It was most moving to hear the story of Cleve Road The escape of Danish Jewry Annette Saville second-generation member Ron Ibbitson Copenhagen-born Blanche Benedick told No meeting in September due to Jewish and his family. Ron’s mother passed away the story of the Danish-Jewish community’s holidays. Outing: 28 Sept: Visit to London about five years ago, leaving nine children, escape to neutral Sweden from the Nazis attractions all brought up as Christians. Just before she with the help of the Danish authorities. died, she gave Ron a shoebox containing More of Blanche’s story can be read in her ‘Enduring success’ of St Annes holiday documents showing that she came to this book Journeys: Children of the Holocaust I would like to take country with the Kindertransport in 1939 Tell Their Stories. David Lang the opportunity and was, in fact, Jewish. Outing: 16 Sept. Foundling Museum t o t h a n k t h e Only Ron and one of his brothers were organisers, Ruth interested. Ron got in touch with the AJR Bristol/Bath Refugee nurses F i n e s t o n e a n d and tried to find out as much as he could We had a delicious summer lunch courtesy Susanne Green. about his heritage. He and his wife Barbara of Kitty and Gabriel before hearing Tashia Their loving care, spent the week with us in St Annes. They Scott speak about the initial six months of k i n d n e s s a n d joined in with the candle-lighting and her research on refugee nurses. Two of our patience are the ­Kiddush on Friday evening and Ron went members had personal experience relevant principal reason to synagogue on Friday evening and again to the topic and were interviewed by Tashia for the holiday’s Ron and Barbara Ibbitson with other holiday members on Shabbat for her PhD thesis. Hazel Rank-Broadley enduring success. morning. It was heart-warming to see how The holiday is a vital and irreplaceable moved he was. An engrossing day out means for AJR Northern members to Once again, Ruth and Susanne looked Seven of us from Ilford joined members of maintain links with each other, renew and after us all with love and the utmost care other London groups for a Regional Get- strengthen our friendships, and enjoy a and we look forward to doing it all again together at Alyth Gardens Synagogue, relaxed and enjoyable break away. There next year, G-d willing: Next St Annes holi- where we heard Jonathan Margolis air is a real sense of common identity and a day: 26 June-3 July 2011. Ann Cohen his views on Judaism, followed by a deli- strong, unique bond among us which the cious lunch and an opportunity to find holiday has always helped to foster and I would like to express my gratitude for colleagues from our Continental cities. for which I and many other members are the opportunity to meet old friends again. Before tea, three groups met to discuss very grateful. Ruth Finestone and Susanne Green worked topical themes, the outcome of which For people of my generation (I am so hard to make our holiday enjoyable. We was relayed back for the benefit of the 90), the social/emotional need to spend sang songs from our childhood and relived entire gathering. A most enjoyable and extended time together with fellow some of our happier past. Thank you again engrossing day out. Meta Roseneil members is paramount and our AJR for making all this possible! holiday is the only way we can still do Lisa Vincent ALSO MEETING THIS MONTH this. Please carry on the wonderful work Welwyn 7 Sept. Social at Monica’s to let us look forward to another holiday West Midlands (Birmingham) Temple Fortune 16 Sept. Outing to in St Annes. Annual garden party Foundling Museum Susi Linton We held our annual garden party in Eileen Edgware 21 Sept. Judy Kelner, ‘Desert and Ernst Aris’s attractive house and garden Island Discs’

15 AJR JOURNAL september 2010

expected to remain at home, while the Letter from outside world was a male preserve? And that the open-air market was a male club, Israel as it were, with cafés and restaurants where men would meet and exchange information, mainly about football and Going shopping the Israeli way politics. To this day, incidentally, most of Jerusalem’s money-changers are to hen I first moved to Israel, and before paying him I would do the be found in or near the Mahaneh Yehuda some 40 years ago, there was same, or pretend to do so. market, although it is no longer largely a W one supermarket in Jerusalem, Much to my surprise, my husband male preserve. and perhaps a few more in Tel Aviv. My insisted on buying all our fruit and vege­ While women are no longer confined housekeeping requirements as a student tables, as well as basic foodstuffs such to the home, many men still choose to do were not very great and I seem to remem- as rice, in Jerusalem’s Mahaneh Yehuda the household shopping in the market. I ber my forays to the supermarket as rare market. My surprise was doubtless con- have even been informed by an authori­ occasions, requiring little more to be pur- founded by the contrast with my father, tative source that women don’t know how chased than bread, milk and eggs. I lived whose only foray into shops was to buy to choose good fruit and vegetables. It is on black coffee and chocolate biscuits, and flowers for my mother every Friday on true that in order to choose a watermelon ate proper meals only at the weekends, his way home from the office. The idea of one should pick it up, place it on one’s when kind relatives invited me for Friday a man going shopping, and doing so in an shoulder and knock it to test for the night supper or Shabbat lunch. open-air market to boot, was totally alien right resonance, and that is something After I got married and set up a to me. My husband enjoyed this event, for which strong biceps are required. It household of my own, things became which evidently represented something seems, however, that choosing tomatoes more complicated. The corner grocery of a weekly hunting expedition for him. I or cucumbers that are just right for a salad was the source of most of our purchases suspect that he would also indulge in a por- is also considered a masculine skill. and the procedure of going shopping was tion of falafel or a plate of humus at one or Be that as it may, the corner grocery an arduous task. My limited Hebrew and another of the well-known local eateries. stores have almost all disappeared, and the elderly shop-keeper’s non-existent My ignorance of male behavioural these days a plethora of air-conditioned English meant that I had to have a norms in the Middle East was under­ supermarkets and shopping malls vie for dictionary at hand or point to the items on standable, considering my background. the patronage of shoppers, be they male the shelves, then watch with bated breath How could a girl brought up in London and or female. Even the open-air markets have as he perched on a rickety step-ladder to born to parents originating from Germany been spruced up. Shopping in Israel is a get the items down for me. Then he would be expected to know that in this part very different experience today. add up the cost, using pencil and paper, of the world women were traditionally Dorothea Shefer-Vanson

letters to the editor continued from page 7 it equates with ‘einzige Zahlen für eine volle Leistung, keine Anzahlung’. Could a apocryphal story of the warm-hearted Linz, Austria, passed on to me was that learned legal mind please help me out? U-boat commander who had time to personal belongings of both the refugees Peter C. Rickenback, London NW3 salvage some internee’s luggage from the and Nazi prisoners on board were thrown Dunera dumped overboard by the guards into the ocean not as ill-treatment but and, after reading some letters in German, deliberately to fool U-boat commanders Arts & Events Diary September decided not to attack the ship. This is into believing the Dunera had been sunk. Thur 2 Roger Moorhouse, ‘In the Eye of completely contrary to the facts. David Kernek, Bath the Storm: Jews Underground in Hitler’s It is on record that the German U-boat Berlin’. Wiener Library, 7.00 pm. To reserve U-56, under the command of ‘THE MOUND’ a place tel 020 7636 7247 Oberlieutenant Harms, fired two Sir – Re the letter from Ernst G. Aris in your Tues 14 European Day of Jewish Culture torpedoes at a range of about 1,500 July issue, I live just a few hundred yards and Heritage 2010: A Talk and Tour at the from Lord Williams’s School and help with Wiener Library A special talk on the history metres. This occurred on the morning of the Library and its work by its Archivist, of 12 July off the north coast of Ireland. their Holocaust studies, which is very well Howard Falksohn, followed by a tour of the It appears that both torpedoes glanced taught in the school. I have copied Mr Library’s collections. Wiener Library, 10.30 am. To reserve a place tel 020 7636 7247 off the ship’s hull or bottom without Aris’s letter to the head teacher of Lord Williams’s School, Mr David Wybron. Mon 20 Roy Clements ‘A Look at W. B. exploding, apparently due to the ship’s Yeats’ Club 43 (first lecture of season) zig-zagging at the time. I well remember John Fieldsend, Thame, Oxon Mon 27 Dr Fred Rosner, ‘Max Reinhardt the frightening ‘thumps’ from 70 years and his Circle’ Club 43 IN SEARCH OF A LEARNED LEGAL MIND ago. P. Schwab, London NW8 Club 43 Meetings at Belsize Square Sir – I am attempting to find a German- Synagogue, 7.45 pm. Tel Ernst Flesch Sir – Further to Martin Stern’s letter, the language definition beyond doubt of on 020 7624 7740 or Leni Ehrenberg recollection my uncle, Erich Kernek, from the words ‘einmalige Zahlung’. For me, on 020 7286 9698

Published by the Association of Jewish Refugees in Great Britain, Jubilee House, Merrion Avenue, Stanmore, Middx HA7 4RL Telephone 020 8385 3070 Fax 020 8385 3080 e-mail [email protected] For the latest AJR news, including details of forthcoming events and information about our services, visit www.ajr.org.uk Printed by FBprinters llp, 26 St Albans Lane, London NW11 7QB Tel: 020 8458 3220 Email: [email protected]

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