Volume LII No. 8 August 1997 £3 (to non-members)
Don't miss... Dr Wiener's monument /s /t possible to be equidistant from good and evil? Anthony Grenville p.4 New Holocaust Research Project Culpable neutrality Ronald Channing p 13 hat is the moral worth of a neutrality out its entire being like a stick of seaside rock. Be based on equidistance from the combat sides, it requires less effort of the imagination to W ants in a struggle of good versus evil? envisage the Mosleys making Britain judenrein than (Para)normal For an answer to this question one need look no to see Jessica Mitford as a Madame Ceausescu clone. life further than Switzerland which, thanks to the In Nazi-occupied Britain deportations would have pressure of world opinion, is daily made more aware been the task of the SS, dubbed the 'black corps' on aranormal - of how reprehensible its wartime conduct had been. account of their fear-inspiring uniforms. Das dictionary But for all the tumbling of skeletons out of the Schtvarze Korps was the organ of the SS and like definition P cupboards of the wartime neutrals - the Swiss, the Der Stiirmer, reached millions of readers via display 'beyond normal Swedes, the Spaniards, the Portuguese, the Vatican cases up and down the country. explanation' - is - indifference to moral issues has by no means van the appropriate term Unlike Der Stiirmer's Julius Streicher, who was ished from the contemporary world. for describing hanged at Nuremberg, Schivarze Korps editor A case in point is the high esteem in which Ernst the fact (see p. 16) Giinther d'Alquen now lives in comfortable retire that the Allianz Jiinger is held on both sides of the Rhine. Jiinger ment in the Bundesrepublik. His readiness to supply Versicherungs- had, after distinguished service in the Great War, academic researchers with information shows gesellschaft insured written the martial epic In Storms of Steel which Alquen's ability to distance himself from his pre- the contents of Nazi abounds in observations like 'The lust of blood 1945 incarnation when his typewriter was a lethal concentration camps. lowers over war like a red sail above a black galley; weapon on a par with Einsatzkommando rifles. It was already in its boundless ardour it is akin only to love'. In the current issue of History Today Prof William known that In Weimar days this coldblooded aesthete of Combs of Western Illinois University shows his own instruments of Armageddon had kept an equal distance from equidistant approach to moral absolutes and to torture and gas unheroic democracy and plebeian Nazism. World d'Alquen's amour propre: he commends the ex- chamber installations War Two saw him as a Wehrmacht officer in Paris operative in Goebbels' lie factory for his used in the selfsame providing a cultural veneer for the occupation by 'graciousness' in agreeing to be interviewed for an camps bore contacts with French literati. article. Thus docs culpable neutrality live on D manufacturers' Nonetheless, earlier this year Chancellor Kohl and names and logos. President Chirac concluded a Franco-German sum One can only mit with a pilgrimage of homage to the rural retreat conclude that to of the centenarian Jiinger - a less than happy respectable German augury for the spirit of the new Europe. society it seemed the In Britain the notion of equidistance was cited by most natural thing Peregrine Worsthorne in one of his last pieces before in the world to retiring from the Daily Telegraph. Apropos of a integrate Nazi memorial service for the late Jessica Mitford, barbarism into its Worsthorne asked rhetorically if the same number of daily business mourners would have turned out for the Communist routine. The malady Jessica's Fascist sister Diana, Lady Mosley. Answer lingered on. In the ing his own question in the negative, he chided the 1950s apartments mourners for their failure to remain equidistant whose Jewish from the twin evils of Communism and Fascism. occupants had been Worsthorne's polemic rested on crude over-sim deported were plification; the fact is that although both isms shed popularly referred to oceans of blood. Communism was the - admittedly by the cryptic term bastard - offspring of the humanist Enlightenment, Judenivohnimgen D whereas Fascism had inhumanity stamped through The newly unveiled Innsbruck memorial. (See page 3) AJR INFORMATION AUGUST 1997
period of intense frustration. Although Profile some Special Force colleagues - see Walter Freud's article in AJR Infor mation, June 1994 - were being dropped The epic of behind enemy lines, his own turn hadn't come when the Austrian front collapsed. indefatigable Eric After VE Day he was posted back to ric Sanders was born Ignaz Schwarz Blighty, where he acted as interpreter and into a Jewish family eking out a editor of the camp newspaper at a POW living from a grocer's shop on a camp. Finally, still in uniform, he spent a E year in Vienna as a translator attached to Viennese council estate. At Realschule his classmates called him 'Nazi' - a the British-Austrian Legal Unit. diminutive of Ignaz - while routinely Demobbed, he went to an Emergency beating him up as a Jewboy; eventually he Teachers' Training College (where he met learnt to hit back. He compensated for his wife). Over the years he rose through indifferent progress at school by honing the ranks of the profession to become his rudimentary pianistic skills, fondly First Master at a large Comprehensive envisaging a future in Tin Pan Alley. He school. He retired at the age of sixty-one. also spent much time at the Maccabi club Proud of the fitness acquired in the army, Eric Sanders house, while his younger brother joined even as a retiree he would go back to his Betar. the incessantly bombed London Docks. last school for weekly football games with After the Anschluss the latter escaped Their subsequent chores comprised some ex-colleagues half his age. Hubris pro - illegally - to Palestine; the rest of the what less dangerous manual labour: tree voked nemesis: a bare year into his family came to England. Here Eric felling, road building and the construction retirement a footballing accident robbed worked first as a messenger boy at of nissen huts on army camps. him of the sight in his left eye. Bloomsbury House, then as a farm lab Halfway through the war Eric volun However, this impairment has not ourer. Early in 1940 he joined the Pioneer teered for the Austrian special unit cramped Eric's style. Busy both in poli Corps, and within months found himself engendered by the SOE in pursuance of tics and the arts, he has been short-listed in France. After the German break Churchill's directive 'Set Europe for a Euro MP candidacy, has composed a through his company was the last to be Ablaze'. He underwent Commando-style school musical, translated some of evacuated from St. Malo. training, received instruction as a radio Grillparzer's plays, written war memoirs Back in England news of his father's operator and was flown to Italy. (one for this journal), and read short internment awaited him. More dramati By coincidence his brother, a volunteer stories on LBC radio. He has even cally, he and his unit had to dig trenches in the Jewish Brigade, was also in Italy. scripted a part-Arabic TV documentary for troops preparing to repel the appar The two arranged to meet - but, en about President Nasser which awaits ently imminent invasion. Only weeks route to the meeting place, the brother transmission. Rising 78, he's looking for later, they were billeted in an East End died in a car crash. fresh challenges. school, assigned to clearing debris from For Eric this trauma was followed by a DRG
casional letters continued during my serv ages. After a long conversation we ex Closing a 50-year gap ice in the Royal Navy, and then in 1947 I changed addresses. I have already written ne day early in the war - I was was demobbed and an airmail letter ar that letter I owed her. about 12 at the time - my father rived informing me that my friend had It just shows that it never does to give Owas walking home from work emigrated to North America. Fate then up on tracing past friends and I am, ot and came across two young girls in the played a nasty trick: her return address, course, extremely indebted for the help 1 company of two anxious-looking ladies. on the flap of the envelope, was acciden received from the kind persons I con Sensing that they had a problem, he tally destroyed and I could not write a tacted in the Jewish community and the enquired if he could be of help. Told that return letter. This had been on my mind relative in London who saw my advert the ladies had been allocating accommod for many years, particularly lately and 1 and sent it on to Canada. ation to young evacuees and were left decided to try and find her. I started by with the girls, who being cousins would ringing the synagogue at Northampton Wellingborough, Northants O Peter Bland not be split, he invited them home, where where a helpful gentleman suggested sev he consulted my mother. As a result, our eral addresses, including that of AJR already large family grew by two Information. 1 tried this first and at the AJR MEALS ON WHEELS additional girls. After a year or more they Editor's suggestion put an advertisement eventually returned to London. in Missing Persons. Hearing nothing for If you live In North or North West The older of the two girls was a refugee several weeks, I thought my efforts London and wish to take advantage of from Germany of about my age who oc wasted. Then one evening the telephone this service, phone Susie Kaufman on casionally wrote to let me know how they rang and it was the lady herself calling me 0171-328 0208 for details and an were getting on. I even remember visiting from Canada. She married, like me, and assessment interview. them at an apartment in London. The oc we both have two children of similar AJR INFORMATION AUGUST 1997
the survival of 'general' Yiddish - Grand mother tongue didn't Barbara Amiel, aka Mrs Conrad r grandmother tongue: every Black, publicly admonish pro-Europe To PARTNER body likes to pun. (You will ries to keep shtoom} - but I mourn the in long established English Solicitors O recall Mrs Thatcher's 'The demise of Middle European Yiddish. Take (bi-lingual German) would be happy Lady is not for Turning', not to mention the term orl, ie non-Jew, a great favourite to assist clients with English, German the Saatchis' election clincher 'Labour of my Slovak-born grandfather's. What and Austrian problems. Contact isn't working'.) is the use of asking for Der Orlkonig at a Henry Ebner The number one problem for any pun Lieder recital, when the singer only knows ster is that the audience may not share his Goethe's original title? Or of telling a fel Myers Ebner & Deaner language. I, for instance, imagined that low Verdi enthusiast that, at the Vienna 103 Shepherds Bush Road English Jews, many of whom had a back State Opera - where German was de London W6 7LP ground in Yiddish, would understand the rigueur - one made the acquaintance of Telephone 0171 602 4631 Yiddishisms I had grown up with - yet, La Forza del Destino under the title of time after time, my apergus met with Die Macht des Schicksels (Schicksel, a di ALLLEGALWORK blank incomprehension. In the early minutive of shiksa being a pun on UNDERTAKEN 1950s, when John Foster Dulles first burst Schicksal, fate). upon the world scene, my rhetorical ques What about the wonderful piece of tion 'could John foster dalles without kitchen-Yiddish alte neveires, leftovers? intending to?' went down like a lead (The Viennese streetname Novaragasse, balloon. commemorating an Austrian victory in NEWTONS Lack of appreciation owed less to poli Italy, entered local folklore as Leading Hampstead Solicitors tics than to linguistics: unaccountably my Neveiresgasse). Or the delightfully eupho 22 Fitzjohns Avenue, listeners didn't know that dalles - the nious term machlojkes, which I recently London NW3 5NB most frequently uttered word in 1930s re-encountered in the pages of E.E. Kisch? Vienna - meant penury. My plea for the preservation of Mid- 'k All English legal work undertaken and German, Similar disappointment awaited me European Yiddish is not simply motivated Swiss & Austrian claims when, driving past a synagogue one Sun by monocultural nostalgia. Austrian Jews day afternoon just as some overdressed showed their affection for Grillparzer by 'k German spoken Wedding guests were spilling out, I giving his two best known plays Yiddish k Home visits arranged ^"ommented 'an embarrassment of titles: Melech Ottokars mazel iind soff k Associated offices In Hamburg, ^isches'. This double entendre went un and Ejn chulem, ejn lebn. May my modest Los Angeles.Tel Aviv, Sydney, appreciated because my companions had plea send out ripples, and thereby hasten Zurich no inkling that risches - derived from the day when, during intervals at the Tel:OI7l 435 5351 ^osche, evildoer - means antisemitism. Globe Theatre, the groundlings will de Fax: 0171 435 8881 (A rischesmacher is, by extension, a Jew bate the finer points of A sach gevult fiin who engenders antisemitism). gurnisht, preferably in the vernacular! Don't get me wrong. I don't fear for D Richard Grunberger AUSTRIAN and GERMAN Austrian schoolchildren and students rep PENSIONS Innsbruck resented in the 7/ro/ Jugendparlament. The students enacted dramatic sketches re commemoration lating how the idea came to fruition. PROPERTY RESTITUTION memorial to the victims of The memorial, which was designed by CLAIMS Kristallnacht has been consecrated 18-year-old competition winner Mario EAST GERMANY- BERLIN A in Innsbruck by Austria's Chief Jorg, shows a tall seven-branched menorah Kabbi Paul Eisenberg. The ceremony rising from a glass-filled base inscribed On instructions our office will Was attended by Regional Governor with the names of the four victims. Former assist to deal with your Weingartner, Roman Catholic Bishop Jewish inhabitants and relatives of the vic applications and pursue the •^einhold Steicher, Israel Ambassador Yoel tims, who came from Israel, the United matter with the authorities. •^her and other dignitaries, as well as by States and Britain to participate in the cer 'Orty former Jewish residents and their emonies, renewed old friendships with For further information and 'descendants. those not seen for up to sixty years. appointment please During Kristallnacht, in November UHH contact: '^38, four prominent members of the ICS CLAIMS town's Jewish community were murdered, 'Blood Money' 146-154 Kilburn High Road other people injured, property destroyed Author Tom Bower told a JIA gathering in London NW6 4JD 3nd the synagogue burned down. the City, that by the war's end the One of the most encouraging aspects of Germans had deposited vast amounts of Tel: 0171-328 7251 (Ext. 107) the event was that the initiative for gold in Switzerland, much of it stolen from Fax:0171-624 5002 Erecting the memorial had come from Jews or removed from Holocaust victims D AJR INFORMATION AUGUST 1997
serve as a memorial to German Jewry. together and there was an old-age home Reviews The Library is fortunate indeed in the and a hospital. Herzberg concedes that energy and high academic standing of its the SS doctor in charge tried to act like a present director, David Cesarani. But one human being (and was promptly sabo Dr Wiener s can perhaps discern in Cesarani's publi taged by his colleagues). cations (with Tony Kushner) a tendency Inmates were allowed a certain amount monument to assail the myth, as they see it, of British of internal democracy. A Jewish leader Ben Barkow, ALFREDWIENERANDTHE liberality towards the refugees from Hit IJudendltester) and a council (Altestenrat) MAKING OFTHE HOLOCAUST LIBRARY, ler; and hence to undermine the consensus were appointed, while a judicial com Vallentine Mitchell, 1997, £16.50. of British and German-Jewish liberalism mission dealt with minor offences such as his book tells the story of Dr underpinning the - all things considered thefts and disputes about food; Herzberg Wiener and the library that he - not unsuccessful integration of those who had legal training acted as judge-cum- Tfounded, one of the most prominent refugees into British society. 'Dr prosecutor. Such Jewish 'institutions', are living monuments to the contribution Wiener's Library' surely represents the sometimes accused of doing the Nazis' made by the German-speaking refugees values that its founders shared with the work for them, but Herzberg firmly be from Hitler to British life; in doing so, it host community that took them in. lieves that they prevented worse. also outlines a chapter in the history of the D Anthony Grenville Herzberg's diary shows a strong philo refugee community itself. sophical tendency, juxtaposing the Nazi Barkow begins by telling the life story of Weltanschauung with the Jewish respect Alfred Wiener, from his birth in Potsdam for justice - the two opposing streams - to his death in Golders Green, because it is 'Privileged* even under conditions that turn humans impossible to separate the library from survivor's story into animals. Wiener's powerful personality. Standing From Bergen-Belsen the diarist was sent proudly in Devonshire Street the library is Abelj Herzberg, BETWEENTWO STREAMS, to Theresienstadt, where the Russians lib a unique institution, internationally re Tauris, 1997, £16.95. erated him. At this point the diary ends. nowned as a resource for scholars, the hereas other Holocaust In postwar Holland Herzberg was ac product of the farsightedness, devotion survivors' accounts were of tive as a lawyer and writer, dying in 1989. and determination of Wiener and the small W ten written after prolonged njohn Rossall team around him. Barkow rightly accords contemplation, Herzberg recorded his raw recognition to figures like C C Aronsfeld impressions day by day in a special camp Three-in-one and Werner Rosenstock, whose contribu at Bergen-Belsen in which some Jews from tion to scholarship has been undervalued Holland were kept for possible exchange Caryl Phillips,THE NATURE OF BLOOD, Faber, by British academics. with German civilians in Allied hands. £15.99(1997) From its origins in the Weimar Republic, When Herzberg and his wife arrived there his is an unusual book. The author the library moved to Amsterdam in 1933, they were in early middle age, their two is Afro-Caribbean-born, an English then to London in 1939, where its collec children hidden in Holland. This diary, Tnovelist of high quality and a tion of documents about Nazi Germany first published in De Groene Amster- friend of the Jews even unto Israel. crucially assisted the British Government's dammer, in 1950, has been translated into One might say there are three novels campaign of economic and psychological English by Jack Santcross who was in that here: one about the aftermath of the warfare; the government repaid this assist same lager as a child of nine. Holocaust, another about Renaissance ance by withdrawing financial support in The whole enterprise was probably an Venice and a third about racial and social 1945. Consequently, although the Library attempt by Himmler to go behind travails in Israel. provided vital documentary evidence for Hitler's back and establish his own cred Theme One describes the experiences of the Nuremberg and Eichmann trials, it re ibility as the war began to go badly for a Belsen survivor. All but destroyed by her mained in permanent financial difficulties, the Nazis. experiences, she has her tenuous hold on under Wiener and his successor, Walter Of course, it did not work. The awful life restored by a young English soldier Laqueur. Only a fund-raising drive in the bellowing, beating and bullying never who, however, finally adds to her grief by 1980s secured the future of this excep stopped. People on the point of collapse being already married. tional centre of expertise about Nazi had to stand for hours at roll calls and The past is another country. In Germany and the Holocaust. were then marched off to unbelievable Portobuffole, under Venetian rule the Shy- As Barkow emphasises, the Wiener hours of work. But there was no extermi lock-like Servadio, and his associates Library is quintessentially the product of nation as such, with the crematorium render the State great service. They are liberal, assimilated German-speaking restricted for cases of 'natural' death the capitalists who wreak for the Doge Jewry in exile. But that has not endeared from hunger, exhaustion T.B. and typhus. what the church forbids Christians to do it to the groups with Eastern European New burdens, which make the Pharaonic and maintain Venice's financial standing origins or Zionist beliefs that have slavery look like child's play, were con in the world. Popular hatred leads to their dominated post-war Jewry. Barkow stantly heaped upon the vermin-infested destruction for, in the end, the rulers feel details the battles that the Library has survivors who counted the days to ex obliged to burn the Jews to maintain fought to preserve its distinct identity in change or liberation with sickening peace in the Veneto. face of such conflicts, insisting that it swings from hope to despair and back Enter the Black protagonist, the African would be tragic if it lost touch with its again. warrior who has left his people to defend German-Jewish background, or ceased to On the other hand, families were kept the Venetian F^mpire against the Turks. AJR INFORMATION AUGUST 1997
The Venetians need Othello, but do not to modify his own "inwardly directed" like him. Again the Doge and his govern German patriotism. GERMAN ment try to ignore popular sentiment in Diametrically opposed to this esoteric the service of higher interest. The author stance are two German-born TV journal RESTITUTION CLAIMS does not spell out the end; he leaves that ists and authors. Ralph Giordano states Have your claims to recover properties to Shakespeare. that he has remained in Germany despite in East Germany got stuck in legal The third pillar of this novel is the the double burden of his own painful and bureaucradc delays? Falasha Malka, transported by 'Magic memories and the exoneration of far too We, with our German Associates, shall Carpet' from Ethiopia to Israel, where many Holocaust perpetrators. be glad to give you a first assessment she is as alienated, mainly because of her What made him stay on was the feeling of what can be done free of charge. colour and seeming primitiveness. that his ties with the country were Readers must decide whether the author stronger than the damage it had inflicted Please contact Mr H H Marcus has managed to weld his disparate themes on him, his gratitude to Germans who Edmonds Bowen & Co., Solicitors together. I for one, think he has largely helped him and his parents to survive in 4 Old Park Lane, London WIY 3LJ succeeded. hiding, his feelings for his native city of Tel: 0171 629 8000 njR Hamburg, his love for the language and a Fax: 0171 221 9334 sense of belonging. The much younger No pension claim enquiries please Richard Schneider has stayed on in spite of his conviction that Jews should not be Roots in scorched living in Germany. But, for good or ill, earth they are there now. He desperately hopes (against all hope.') that they will not slip 7 YEARS AND STILL NO Suson Stern (ed.), SPEAKING OUT: JEWISH back into a false sense of security, of PROGRESS ON YOUR VOICES FROM UNITED GERMANY. "belonging" in a "host country", only to PROPERTY CLAIM Illinois, USA. finish up in a "perverted form of IN BERLIN & EAST ome 50,000 Jews (not counting Jewishness" which "would mean once 10,000 Israeli temporary residents) again allowing the Germans to tell us GERMANY? Shave now settled in Germany to form who and what a Jew is". We are specialists in speeding up cases. a new community of about one-tenth the Another contributor argues that exag We buy and/or process claims. size of that which existed in pre-Nazi gerated philosemitism serves no purpose, References of satisfied claimants with years. indeed defeats its purpose. The Jewish completed claims are available. Most of them are prepared to acknow function in German society is "to sound ledge the emotional and historical signifi- the alarm whenever there is a need to NAGEL France and Germany. Two thousand lor ries a day pass through Dover Docks alone. Last month my wife and I visited East Germany for the first time. I was l^^So^S^J^^ happy to fill my car with British Petro leum petrol on the Autobahn and see boldly sign-written on Berlin's Reichstag MAY DAY CALL BY ment as antisemites which may or may that a certain Sir Norman Foster was in XENOPHOBES not be the case. Certainly if they were, charge of the reconstruction of the new Sir - To equate vigorous resistance to then it is better not to have them in Par German Parliament building. further integration of Britain in the EU liament. However, I take exception to A large number of us agree with with vulgar xenophobia is itself vulgar your calling Michael Portillo the xeno- Helmut Kohl's view that the closer Euro misrepresentation of the case made by phobe of the 90s. I have held discussions pean ties are, the less likely is conflict in Eurosceptic politicians, Michael Portillo with him at political meetings and at no the future. God forbid that we should (Spaniard), Howard (Romanian Jew), Sir time did I ever notice that he was 'a per force a politically independent Germany James Goldsmith (German part-Jew) and son unduly fearful or contemptuous of to prove yet again what it is capable of! quite a few others. that which is foreign, especially of stran Hayling Island Steven Schrier gers or foreign people' (the dictionary The issue is whether more sovereignty Hampshire description of a xenophobe). should be ceded by Britain - which as we, of all people, ought to know has less I then take the strongest objection to reason than most European countries to you yourself, apparently being very dis AUSCHWITZ -THE VIEW turbed about individuals' foreign birth. disown her poHtical and institutional past FROM ON HIGH - to federal councils in which totally dif Michael Portillo is the son of a Spanish migrant and Michael Howard is the son Sir - According to the Sunday Telegraph ferent political traditions predominate. of 25th May the British Government How much control is to be surrendered of a Jewish refugee from Romania. So what? Does it matter who their fathers knew from August 1941 of the systematic over monetary policy, social and foreign annihilation of Jews. In 1942, Gerhart policy (including control over immigra were? The way you wrote this was deeply offensive. Riegner of the World Jewish Congress, tion), laws and justice, for no great social tried to convince both the British and Is your next step to call me a xeno (as distinct from sectional private) gain? Americans that the massacres were taking phobe because I want to protect, as a A bit more attention to what your per place, but without success. British Jew, the independence and sover sonal betes noires \\3iVe actually been The RAF bombed the IG Farben syn eignty of this country? I hope that in your arguing, and perhaps a moment's reflec thetic rubber factory, next to the future editorials, which I am now obliged tion on the lessons to be learnt from, say, Auschwitz camp, but alleged that the lat to read having become a member, you will Yugoslavia or Russia (or even Belgium or ter could not be attacked, as it was stay away from politics and personal in Canada) on the conditions that give rise 'outside the bombers' range'. to xenophobia might have spared me the sults. In my opinion it only degrades a great organisation. The Americans are equally guilty. Even embarrassment of your latest editorial. as far back as 1939, Roosevelt played Lin^psfield Con]mon Peter Frankel Clarence Gate Gardens Esra Bennathan with the lives of 1000 Jews on the ill- Surrey London NWl fated 'St. Louis', pressurising the corrupt Batista regime in Cuba not to let them land although they possessed perfectly le Sir - I have just joined the AJR many Sir - I was very sorry to read RJ Jaray's gitimate visas, nor permitted them to land years too late. The first copy I received so called 'Non-Xenophobe's Maastricht in the USA. was of the June issue which I found Critique'. Use of evocative words like John McCloy, incumbent US Secretary extremely interesting and informative. I 'surrender' and 'gold hoard' of War, said in 1945: 'This is actually all was, however, horrified at the editorial. completely misrepresent the real situation. just Jewish propaganda, isn't it?' Fur First of all I really do believe that an or We cannot use the Bank of England's thermore, the State Department never ganisation like AJR must remain Reserves to build hospitals and double the allowed the quotas on the immigration of non-political. If it becomes political, it pension. The gold is basically there to Jews to America to be filled, sustaining a loses some of its influence and divides its back every pound printed by the Royal belief that no transport facilities were membership. Mint. The money in your wallet is not available, whereas the troopships returned The article itself was certainly political just expensively printed paper. If it was, it empty. would crash the same way the old and I totally reject some of your com Finally, according to the Sunday Tel Deutschmark did. Obviously, if we ments. egraph, Riegner's campaign resulted in exchange our Pounds for Euros, the Teresa Gorman lost the Whip because Henry Morgenthau's Department at the Reserve will still be needed to back the of her position on the European Union. US Treasury producing a paper that dealt money, and hence a percentage of our She is absolutely right having been in with the acquiescence of his Government 'gold hoard' must sit in an agreed volved in this since 1992. It is my in the murder of Jews. European bank, controlled by a personal view that a very large number of Wembley A Goldsmith voters are concerned about the European representative committee. Middx Union. Britain is one of the world's greatest You describe three members of Parlia exporters, with almost half going to (Continued on page 7) AJR INFORMATION AUGUST 1997 DEPRIVE THEM OF With the help of an AJR member, I SCAPEGOATS traced Viktor's son. After the war his AJR Charitable Trust Sir - Coming from a Conservative father sent us food parcels and I received in aid of Bavarian politician, the proposal to limit a lovely pair of shoes in which I trotted Self Aid of Refugees Jewish immigration into Germany is off to school. presents hardly surprising and deserves censure. Such kindness to non-Jewish Germans stands out like a beacon of light to com MELVYN TAN Fortepiano On reflection, I do not consider that to and the be such a bad thing - as is proved by fort me when memories of the other side NEW MOZART PLAYERS most of us having decided to stay put of my family's history threaten to over rather than return. I personally would whelm me. Haydn - Symphony No 12 in E caution any Jew against moving to Ger Thank you, AJR. You have won a place Mozart- Piano Concerto In E Flat,K27l many. Whoever gets the blame for their in my heart. Jonathan Dove - An Airmail Letter present ills, such as over three million un Farleigh Road Ingrid Numa from Mozart employed, at least it cannot be the London N16 Mozart - Piano Concerto in A, K414 traditional scapegoat, the Jews. at the Robert Miller OY VEH'S MIR Queen Elizabeth Hali Sir - As the Russian cosmonaut said to South Bank Centre the American astronaut. on THE MEN IN BLACK Upminster Canaveral Cohen Sunday, 21 st September 1997 Sir - This morning I was moved to at 3 pm tears,/ to think that after fifty years/ from Seats at £11, a4. £16 Sc £18 Israel there came the news/ that Jews have SEARCH NOTICES Please send cheque payable to been attacking Jews. Peter Frankel would be delighted to AJR Charitable Trust and SAE to: A hundred Jews, that came to pray/ at hear from anyone who worked with him AJR, I Hampstead Gate, Frognal, the Kotel on Shavuot day./ They were at between 1938 and 1940 in the Refugee London NW3 6AL tacked by men in black,/ using stones in Organisation located at Woburn House Enquiries: 0171 431 6161 their attack. under the direction of Captain Davidson. Wearing their distinctive hat,/ threw ex Tel: 0188 373 0524 Fax: 0188 371 7116. crement and also spat. Is this how learned Dittmar Suss (Suess) of Lamperdieim. men behave/ if it's their faith they want Family survivor (Holocaust) desires to save? contacting you or your family Box 1235. It seems to me to be a shame/ that such things happen in His name./ If Masorti Derrick Andrew Sinclair, formerly of Prayers are a sin?/ Leave the punishment Jenkinson House, London. USA relative to Him. seeks letter contact. Box 1235. BELSIZE SQUARE I'm certain that, if He looked down,/ Dora Bernstein, former journalist in SYNAGOGUE he had no smile but a sad frown./ Some Vienna who arrived in England 1940. sixty years ago I guess,/ the men in black 51 BELSIZE SQUARE, NW3 Information about her is being sought by Were called SS. Prof Jean Leventhal, German Department, 'Wembley, Middx El Sabielak We offer a traditional style of Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA, USA religious service with Cantor, 02181. Email: [email protected]. Choir and organ BOUQUET Fax:(617)283-3671. Sir - Thank you for giving me a birthday Werner Daniels, evacuated to the Further details can be obtained Present by publishing my poem Stanbrooks, Breakspear Road, Abbots from our synagogue secretary Mutteraugen in the June edition. It is Langley from St Paul's School, Swiss sixty(!) years since I wrote it for a dear Cottage, with Gunter Loebl on I Sept. Telephone 0171-794 3949 old lady who had suffered great heartache '39, is requested to contact him on 0191 Minister: Rabbi Rodney J. Mariner at the time and she took much comfort 285 2547. from it. Ever since I wanted to see it in Cantor: Rev Law^rence H. Fine Print. After all this time 1 had my wish Ernst (Muky) Schreker. Born Prague Regular services: Friday evenings at 6.30 pm, fulfilled. It shows again u/enn man lebt, 1930, lived in Jewish boys' orphanage in Saturday mornings at 10 am Religion school: Sundays at 10 am to 1 pm <^rlebt man alles. Many thanks again. London, counsellor at 1950 summer camp near Pevensey, graduated from Space donated by Pafra Limited Debora Kadisch Woolwich Polytechnic 195 I, but tragically was killed in a motorcycle accident later SEARCH NOTICED that year. John B Moore of 43 Aldwych BELSIZE SQUARE SYNAGOGUE •^'r - Having put a Search Notice in your Ave., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4J 1X4, 51 Belsize Square, London N.W.3 "^ay issue for descendants of Viktor whose sister was his fiancee, is seeking a Our communal hall is available for Jabkowski, the Jewish friend of my non- cousin in Switzerland or any other infor- cultural and social functions. Jewish grandfather, I was delighted to madon D Tel: 0171-794 3949 •"eceive a prompt response. AJR INFORMATION AUGUST 1997 Getting together outh London AJR have begun a series of 'Get-together' meetings Sheld in a pleasant suite at Streatham's Prentis Road Synagogue. The twenty-two members who arrived for the first meeting in June found plenty to talk about and particularly enjoyed Herbert Wolff's enthusiastic and moving account of a visit to his birthplace, Frankfurt. The next 'Get-together' is to be held on Thursday 14th August when, from 1.30pm, Margaret Goldstein will talk on the Rothschild Family and Walter Woyda will play 'Rothschild music'. Further Thursdays are set for 23rd October and 11th December. Call in at any time be tween 10.30am and 3.30pm, bring AJR Chairman Andrew Kaufman addressing the ACM. (See Page 13 report). sandwiches (no meat please) for lunch, but Berlin memories tea, coffee and biscuits are included in the years of age found himself alone and nominal charge of £l • t a luncheon meeting of AJR's working in the tough Gorbals district of Midlands Group, four members Glasgow. recalled their personal memories A Paul Oppenheimer, a survivor of Belsen, PINNER DISTRICT GROUP of Berlin. who returned to Berlin in 1994, was im Henry Aron remembered his primary Do you live in the Pinner/Hatch End area? pressed by the 167 places of Jewish school being run largely by antisemites interest advertised for tourists. Incongru Would it interest you to meet fellow AJR and told how, in 1927, his father set up a ously, at the Wannsee Conference Centre, members in your district? successful plumbing business although he where the 'Final Solution' was initiated, was a butcher from Hamburg! Henry at rolls of yellow star fabric were on display. Some members are planning tended the 1936 Olympic Games and saw . , O Sonja Shindler the formation of an AJR Hitler walk out when Jesse Owen won a social & special interests group. gold medal. Between 1956 and 1989 he 'Never forget* had returned to Berlin several times, but If you would like to be involved, please found bureaucratic obstacles put in the r James Smith, Co-Director of phone AJR Volunteers Co-ordinator way of his visiting the East. Beth Shalom Holocaust Memorial Debbie Picker on 0171 431 6161 Bert Kornhauser recalled the Reform DCentre, began his address to Synagogue and its school's headmaster. members of AJR's Northern Group by Rabbi Prinz. When his family's work per reading a poem by Holocaust survivor AJR 'Drop in'Advice Centre mits were withdrawn, he established a and writer Elie Wiesel. While most at the small raincoat manufacturing business, people, he emphasized, had learned about Paul Balint AJR Day Centre working with the unions under Nazi rules the wickedness of the Nazi regime, he 15 Cleve Road, London NW6 3RL to employ machinists. When his family asked to what extent were the German between 10am and 12 noon on the were arrested in 1938, he sold the business people, as well as the religious, medical, following dates: to pay for a 'return' fare to England. legal and teaching professions also Wednesday 2 July Though a child of only 10 to 13 years of complicit? How could the veneer of Thursday 10 July age, Joe Folger remembered his parents civilisation have been so thoroughly Monday 14 July working long hours in the family's shops, stripped away? Tuesday 22 July his singing in the synagogue choir, and Despite recent events in Bosnia and Wednesday 30 July Rabbi Jacobowitz Snr., father of the Rwanda, however, Dr Smith remained an and every Thursday from present Lord Jacobowitz. In 1933, when a optimist and continued to believe in hu 10am to 12 noon at: teacher refused to mark his classwork and manity's basic decency. It pleased him AJR, I Hampstead Gate, la former friends shunned him, he was non too that, at long last, Holocaust studies Frognal, London NW3 6AL plussed! had become part of the school curricu No appointment is necessary, but please bring He spoke of his growing awareness of lum. He reminded his audience that along all relevant documents, such as Benefit danger and marching men in uniform. He "How we remember the past fashions our Rooks, letters, bills, etc. left on a Kindertransport and at only 14 future." - nWL 8 , AJR INFORMATION AUGUST 1997 It occurs to me... PAUL BALINT AJR Stephen Dickinson (Piano) ome of you have, in the past, criti DAY CENTRE Wednesday 20 CHANSON d'AOUT cised the stand I have taken on Tel. 0171 328 0208 - Sally Triconnet certain issues. Others have supported S (Soprano) accompanied my views. Today I am going to share my Open Tuesday and Thursday 9.30am -6.30pm, by Geoffrey Whitworth pet hate with you, and I believe most of Monday and Wednesday 9.30am - 3.30pm, Sunday 2 pm - 6.30pm. (Piano) you will empathize with me. Thursday 21 SONGS MY MOTHER But first, try to imagine a possible Morning Activities - Bridge, kalookie, scrabble, TAUGHT ME-Sylvia scenario. America's defence radar has chess, etc., keep fit, discussion group, choir Hartman (Soprano) & just picked up the launch of nuclear mis (Mondays), art class (Tuesdays and Thursdays). Sergei Bezkorvany siles and the President picks up his hot (Violin) accompanied by line telephone, and what does he hear? "If Afternoon entertainment - Hermione Goldsmith you have a star button on your telephone (Piano) key pad, please press it now," followed by Sunday 24 DAY CENTRE OPEN - "if you want China, press 1; if you want AUGUST 1997 NO ENTERTAINMENT Russia, press 2; und so tveiter. Sunday 3 RONNIE GOLDBERG Monday 25 CLOSED- BANK While perhaps our own phone calls are ON GUITAR HOLIDAY not so urgent, how often are we being met 4 IMMORTAL PIANO Monday Tuesday 26 THE DELPHIC DUO by this spread of computerised voices PLAYING - Lawrence - Elspeth Wilks (Piano) leading us through trails of digital dexter Estrey & Clare Wase (Violin) ity, to the final message that "all our 5 THE GEOFFREY Tuesday Wednesday 27 ROYAL WOMEN- agents are busy - try again later". Even STRUM & HELEN IN WORDS- more annoying, this, like the cost saving BLAKE DUO COSTUMES &c MUSIC exercise by companies who keep us on 6 VOCECAMERATA- Wednesday hold while having to listen to canned mu Rachel Taite (Soprano) - Presented by Carolyn sic, is at our expense. 6c John Taylor James Thursday 28 KISSIN-TIME - Henry "Nation shall speak peace unto (Baritone) accompanied Kissin accompanied by nation", but nations, these days, do not by Charlotte Ellis Gilmuir Mcleod (Piano) Welcome the idea of your communicating (Piano) With them. If you want to ring an em Thursday 7 SONGS THAT LEAVE Sunday 31 DAY CENTRE OPEN - bassy to inquire about visa or other THEIR MARK-Mark NO ENTERTAINMENT arrangements, you will very likely be met Rosen (Tenor) by the latest form of telephone rip off - accompanied by the premium rate number. At one time Daphne Lewis (Piano) this was confined to sex chat lines. Now Sunday 10 DAY CENTRE OPEN - SEPTEMBER this money grabbing disease has spread to NO ENTERTAINMENT Monday 1 THE MUSIC MAKERS other more respectable organisations. Monday 11 TWO VOICES 8c A - Elizabeth Winton & The alternative to the premium rate PIANO - Eddy Ray Parfrey (Piano) hne, is the 'always busy' line. How often Simmons & Helen Blake Tuesday 2 THE ORFORD DUO have you tried to make a reservation or Tuesday 12 CLOSED -Tish'ah - Julie Partridge enquire about a service, and been frus B'av (Soprano) accompanied trated by the inability to get through. It Wednesday 13 SHOW-STOPPER - by Elspeth Wilks seems to be one of the immutable laws of Nikki van der Zyl (Piano) communications, that if you want to call accompanied by Wednesday 3 MY SONG OF LOVE a number, everyone else also wants to do Daphne Lewis (Piano) - Katinka Seiner so, at the same time. Thursday 14 SHOWTIME AT THE accompanied by Leslie Unfortunately, organisations are no AJR - Amanda Palmer Barnes (Piano) with longer content to stick to their principal Sunday 17 DAY CENTRE OPEN - Guest Arti.st Laszio business or objectives, but, looking for NO ENTERTAINMENT Easton (Violin) Ways to 'make a fast buck', are treating Monday AN AFTERNOON OF Thursday 4 THE GEOFFREY "Js, the customers, with contempt. This is YOUR FAVOURITE STRUM & HELEN one of the diseases of the decade. We SONGS - Suzanna BLAKE DUO should take every opportunity to protest. Marks (Soprano) D Ernest David accompanied by Janet Beale (Piano &c VISIT BETH SHALOM Accordion) HOLOCAUST CENTRE, NOTTS CONCERT BROCHURE Tuesday 19 WELL-LOVED SONGS 5th November 1997 - Carol-Anne Grainger Don't forget to inscribe your children's Few places: £ 15 incl. lunch (Soprano & Flute) and grandchildren's names, at £2 per accompanied by Tel: Herbert Wolff 0171-252 2297 name, by I Oth August. South London AJR AJR INFORMATION AUGUST 1997 FAMILY DIN DELIS HOUSE PHYSIOTHERAPY SHELTERED FLATS ANNOUNCEMENTS Residential Care Home Treatments in the for Senior Citizens TO LET Birthday convenience of your home. Hans Nathan Feibusch, painter Religion highly honoured Attracdve warden-controlled Therapeutic massage, Pleasant relaxed atmosphere and sculptor, born Frankfurt flats are available lymphatic drainage,care for All single rooms with TV 15 August 1898. Best wishes from time to time the elderly. & telephone on your 99th Birthday from at AJR. NW3 & NWS areas For information contact: Eleanor Rathbone House preferred. Mrs HR Fearon Pennant Barmitzvah Highgate N6 Andrea Langfritz, Phone 0181 903 7592 Nicholas Rosenthal, younger Details from: Chartered Physiotherapist Fax 0181 903 4195 grandson of Lewis and Marion Mrs.K.Gould,AJR,on Tel:OI494 876 043 Smith of Kingsbury, was 0171-431 6161 Barmitzvah on Saturday 5 July. ALTERATIONS Tuesday and Thursday OF ANY KIND TO mornings. CLASSIFIED LADIES'FASHIONS Miscellaneous Dr H Alan Shields I also design and make Viewing by appointment only Massage & Aromatherapy. MB ChB BDS LDS RCS children's clothes West Hampstead area ITEC qualified practitioner, DENTAL SURGEON 0171-328 6571 home visits available. BELSIZE SQUARE Full Dental Service Workshops also given to APARTMENTS groups. For appointment Tel: Home visits. Emergencies C.H.WILSON 24 BELSIZE SQUARE, NWS Carpenter Margot Muller 0181 459 2919 Painter and Decorator Tel: 0171-794 4307 or 46 BRAMPTON GROVE Electrician. City & Guilds French Polisher 0171-435 2557 HENDON, NW4 Antique Furniture Repaired qualified. All domestic work Tel: 0181-452 8324 Car: 0831 103707 MODERN SELF-CATERING HOLIDAY undertaken. Y. Steinreich. Tel: 0181 203 0405 ROOMS, RESIDENT HOUSEKEEPER Tel: 0181 455 5262. MODERATE TERMS NEAR SWISS COTTAGE STATION Manicure 8c Pedicure in the SWITCH ON comfort of your own home. Optician ELECTRICS Telephone 0181 455 7582. Dr Howard Solomons Rewires and all household TORRINGTON HOMES MRS. PRINGSHEIM, S.R.N. Carer BSc FBCO electrical work. MATRON Daily help wanted. English & PHONE PAUL: 0181-200 3518 For Elderly, Retired and Convalescent (Licensed Oy Borough ol Barnelj speaking, mature, responsible Chiropodist • Single and Double Rooms. carer-companion, non-smoker Trevor Goldman SRC • H/C Basins and CH in all rooms. • Gardens, TV and reading rooms. and able to cook wanted for SAKU JEWELLERY by appointment at • Nurse on duty 24 fiours. elderly lady. Tel: 0171 435 3046. The Paul Balint established 1979 • Long and short term, including trial period if required. AJR Day Centre Specialise in repairing Companionship From C275 per week 15 Cleve Road, jewellery watches & clocks, I am a retired business lady 0181-445 1171 Office flours West Hampstead, NW6 pearls & beads restrung 0181-455 1335 otfier times with many interests and if you NORTH FINCHLEY insurance & probate are sincerely looking for Please make appointments with valuations friendship and enjoy what life Sylvia Matus has to offer, please write to TeUOI7l 328 0208 139A Park Road, St Johns Wood Residential Home Box No. 1236. Tel:OI7l 586 8167 Clara Nehab House (Leo Baeck Housing Associalon Ltd.) AJR GROUP CONTACTS 13-19 Leeside Crescent NWl t Societies S. London: Ken Ambrose Association of Jewish Ex- ADVERTISEMENT RATES All rooms with Shower W.C. and 0181 852 0262 FAMILY EVENTS H/C Basins en-suite Berliners. Please contact Peter Midlands: Edgar Glazer First 15 words free of cfiarge, Spacious Garden - Lounge & C2.00 per 5 wordsthereafter. Sinclair 0181 882 1638 for 0121 777 6537 Dining Room - Lift information. North: Werner Lachs CLASSIFIED Near Shops and Public Transport E2.00 per five words. 0161 773 4091 24 Hour Care - Physiotherapy BOX NUMBERS Long & short Term - Respite Care E3.00 extra. NEY/ CLOTHES -Trial Periods AJR INFORMATION DISPLAY, SEARCH NOTICES FOR SALE per single column Incti Enquiries; Josephine Woolf dresses, underwear, is available on tape 65 mm (3 column page) £12.00 Otto Scfiifl Housing Association 48mm (4 column page) E10.00 The Bishops Avenue N2 OBG cardigans etc. if anyone would like to take Phone: 0181-209 0022 advantage of this service COPYDATE 5 weeks prior to Shirley Lever at the publication Paul Balint AJR Day Centre Please contact Wednesday 6 August Mrs Irene White Tuesday 19 August 0181-203 2733 The AJR does not accept AJR responsibility for the standard of Monday I September before 9am or after 6pm 9.45 - I 1.45am Teh0t7l-43l 6161 service rendered by advertisers 10 AJR INFORMATION AUGUST / 997 repertoire. In the drama section Grillparzer's Libussa attempts to portray the mythical founder of Prague as a visionary fighter for women's emancipa tion. Ninety years after its premiere Leo Fall's tuneful Der fidele Bauer, whose original cast included Louis Treumann, Max Pallenberg and Hubert Marischka, is being revived at the Vienna Volksoper in September. The title role will be sung by the ever-young veteran Peter Minich. Austrian-born musicologist Professor Kurt Pahlen, who spent many years in South America and now lives in Zurich, celebrated his 90th birthday. An expert on musical history, he compiled an extensive work about the lives of musicians in all countries, entitled Musikgeschichte der 'hithers at Asnieres by Seurat, at The National Gallery Annely Juda Fine Art A//ce Schwab in tandem with Tatsuo Miyajima: Big Time until August 17. 23 Dering Street (off New Bond Street) Simultaneously the Barbican Art Gal Tel; 0171-629 7578 Fax:0171-491 2139 lery stages an exhibition of photographs CONTEMPORARY PAINTING entitled Marc Riboud in China. AND SCULPTURE Finally, on the Fifth Floor of Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge an Art Super he Sainsbury Wing, National Gal market open all summer has original lory hosts a Seurat and the Bathers contemporary paintings on sale for prices ranging from £125 to £295 D GERMAN and ENGLISH T Exhibition throughout the summer months. Seurat's Bathers at Asnieres is BOOKS BOUGHT One of the greatest paintings of the 19th century. This major exhibition is the first Antiquarian, secondhand and modern ^o place the 25-year-old Seurat's SB's Column books of quality always wanted niasterpiece' in the context of his early Most subjects, but especially ^ork. It will include over 50 other works ustav Mahler, one of the ARCHITECTURE,ART PHOTOGRAPHY °y the artist himself, as well as some 30 century's great musicians, be MUSIC •"elated works by Monet, Manet, came director of the Vienna Court G EROTICA Caillebotte and Van Gogh, and by Opera (now State Opera) 100 years ago. MOUNTAINS, LANDSCAPES, GARDENS •Masters of the past like Poussin who In addition to high artistry as composer influenced the young Seurat. and conductor he had an infallible instinct EASTERN EUROPE.ASIA, POLAR REGIONS FEMINISM,ANARCHISM,ANTI-FASCISM At the same time the Museum of Man- for detecting talent, attracting an l^'nd is staging a Pottery in the Making illustrious ensemble - Erich Schmedes, ECONOMICS & PHILOSOPHY (world Ceramic Traditions) exhibition. Leo Slezak, Selma Kurz, Richard Mayr - SCIENCE.TECHNOLOGY, MEDICINE ^ his compares the skill and artistry of which remained dominant for more than BIBLIOGRAPHY & FINE PRINTING Potters from around the world, from the a generation. Mahler's efficiency, MANUSCRIPTS & ORIGINAL DRAWINGS 'drafting of the first clay vessels, through brusquely dictatorial manner and Jewish ^o industrial mass production. Based en origins made him many enemies during Immediate response to your letter his decade as director. The Austrian or phone call. tirely on the Museum's superb We pay good prices and come to collect ^collections, it consists of thirty-one case Theatermuseum is at present mounting a studies, each prepared by a specialist cu- special exhibition recalling Mahler's Please contact: ''ator. It displays some very unexpected work. Robert Hornung, MA (Oxon) objects, such as Sasanian ceramic coffins Salzburg. At this year's Festival the 2 Mount View, Ealing, f • usual Mozart offerings - Seraglio, LondonW5 IPR fom Persia and pre-Hispanic Peruvian Clemenza di Tito and Zauberfldte - Telephone 0181-998 0546 whistling pots. figure prominently, with Wozzeck (under (5pm to 9pm is best) The Hayward Gallery shows Rhapsodies Abbado) and Boris Godtmov joining the "^ Black (Art of the Harlem Renaissance) AJR INFORMATION AUGUST 1997 integrating the ex-Nazi segment of the Cross-eyed justice electorate, which was proportionately German he four young Americans (research larger than in Germany. For 40-odd years compensation claims ers and camera crew) who had the Second Republic espoused the motto Tcome to see me about a "Let's all pretend that nothing has hap s the result of an initiative by AJR, forthcoming documentary on the Third pened." World Jewish Relief and Jewish Reich were outraged. In the process of This policy, legitimised by the "Jew" ACare, we have arranged to make interviewing Zeitzeugen they had found Kreisky, helped bring about the Waldheim available the services of a lawyer in the former adjutant of Himmler's deputy presidency and the evolution of the out Germany on a success fee basis. Walter Schellenberg enjoying the forest- sider Haider into a potential government The areas in which he can help with girt luxury of a Tyrolean villa, and coalition partner. claims are as follows: showing no scintilla of remorse over the Meanwhile less Machiavellian politi 1. People in receipt of a German ill health heinous crimes he had been party to. cians - like Vranitzky and Klima - pension under the BEG (Restitution At about the same time Austrian papers have, happily, come to the fore in the gov Law), whose condition has reported a 22-year-old Neo-Nazi receiv ernment. Confronted with Neo-Nazism deteriorated, and/or required medical ing a four year jail term for vandalising the judicial establishment seems latterly treatment and/or attention. the Jewish cemetery at Eisenstadt. disposed towards heeding the injunction 2. People who are currently not receiving In the past the Austrian legal adminis principiis obsta (resist the beginnings). an ill health pension from Germany, tration had been scandalously lax in its Such new-found determination comes half but who had applied in the 1950s/60s treatment of Nazi mass murderers - with a century too late - but is to be wel and who had been refused for medical a jury acquitting Riga ghetto comman comed, none the less. (Or is it, since it reasons. It may be possible to reopen dant Murer, and officialdom granting runs the risk of generating public sympa such files. asylum to the Belgian war criminal thy for Neo-Nazi tombstone desecrators 3. Where people had made a claim for Verbelen. These outrageous miscarriages who have to serve longer jail terms than some form of restitution, but not on of justice conformed to the Austrian rapists?) the grounds of ill health, in the 1950s/ postwar Establishment's scheme for re- D f^chard Grunberger 60s, the lawyer can access old government files and support Article 2 Fund Claims to the Claims Conference social issues to the semi-literate and intel where appropriate. Triumph or disaster? lectually challenged. Esther lunges at me. 4. If you have a potential claim within eaders of the more light-hearted Forgetting momentarily how close I am to one of the above categories only and contributions to AJR Information royalty, I fail to rise. A quick prompt and require further information, please R may recall Natural Break, the apology and I launch into condemning the phone one of the following: writer's recent low-key arrival on boredom and misery which is the staple Agi Alexander, AJR, 0171 431 6161. television's audience participation shows. fare of these shows, advocate the off Judith Hassan, Jewish Care, Undaunted by the experience, on receiv switch as a suitable antidote, and add, 0181203 9033. ing a call from Jane Sigaloff of the BBC, "My Dad was a real Eastender and so Lieselotte Montague, World Jewish granddaughter of AJR member Mrs Edith were you Esther." Esther retreats, for in Relief, 0171 387 4747 D Arie, and her invitation to participate in deed she was a native, one of the Esther Ranzen's programme on television immigrant community's many nice Jew soap operas - I took my chance. ish girls who made good. Nevertheless, Prisoners of conscience On arrival at Television Centre Jane she returned to me twice for elucidation. greeted me by name! Soon her colleague A recording of the show was edited for dward Levy, guest speaker at AJR's Simon was giving me the once-over before transmission, but most of my contribution monthly Luncheon Club, described I was whisked off to their victims' gath was left in when transmitted some weeks E the origins and activities of Amnesty ering area, then into the studio. "Esther later. International. Throughout the world, Rantzen would like to meet you!" Recog D Ronald Channing Amnesty researches and publicises the cases nition at last. "How do you do," we of people who are victims of persecution for exchanged. She advises me to "go for it" their beliefs and acts of conscience. and as I sit down a makeup artist puts JACKMAN• Allegations that Amnesty International is pancake on my face ready for action. biased against Israel were firmly rejected Several actors and actresses from the £ SILVERMAN by Edward Levy, who quoted statistical 'soaps' are on duty and Esther handles COMMERCIAL PROPERTY CONSULTANTS analyses which showed that many other them with professional aplomb. governments were the subject of criticism Eastenders, Coronation Street, Emmer- in respect of abuses of human rights. dale, Brookside - even Crossroads - are As a Trustee of the AJR Charitable represented, but I recognise only Wendy Trust and a member of the AJR Manage Richards from her Are You Being Served? ment Committee, Edward Levy, invited days. Am I the only Briton who just can't AJR members with an interest in helping stand watching the genre? 26 Conduit Street, London WIR 9TA to send letters in support of individuals or Wendy goes into action, stressing the Telephone: 0171 409 0771 Fax: 0171 493 8017 by forming Amnesty groups. They can value soaps have in putting across real write to him c/o the AJR office D 12 AJR INFORMATION AUGUST 1997 stored as part of the Centre's archive. RECENT APPOINTMENTS New Holocaust Commenting on the new project, Research Project Andrew Kaufman, who presented Stephen New role Smith with the first of the AJR's three Agi Alexander, former head of the AJR's annual grants towards the new joint AJR/ A]R Annual General Meeting Social Work Department, is establishing a Beth Shalom £44,000 research project, new post as AJR Welfare Rights Advisor JR Chairman Andrew Kaufman said: "I am convinced that the AJR Re and will continue to answer members' announced the establishment of an search Centre at Beth Shalom will make a enquiries on social security, pensions and AJR Research Centre for the significant contribution to teaching chil A other benefit entitlements at both the Day collection of Holocaust-related materials, dren, undergraduates and post-graduate Centre and Head Office D to be situated at Beth Shalom Holocaust students an understanding of the tragedy Memorial Centre in Nottinghamshire, at of the Holocaust and an appreciation of the Annual General Meeting in London. its wider significance". Birthday Honours Guest of Honour Stephen Smith, Direc In his Annual Report, Andrew Kaufman Tim Angel, head of Angel & Bermans, the tor of Beth Shalom Holocaust Memorial praised the success of the recently- theatrical costumiers, was awarded the Centre, gave a thought-provoking and launched Luncheon Club which met OBE for services to the theatre, film and television. Mr Angel is the fifth generation of the Angel family which has been designing and making magnificent costumes for dramatic productions for 157 years. Konigsberg-born Margot Sreberny, who for many years taught at the American School in London, has been appointed MBE for services to the community. She is chair of a working party concerned with nursery provision, a street drinking initiative and other social issues in the Finsbury Park area D Lucas Prizewinner This year's recipient of the Dr Leopold Lucas Prize (awarded annually at Tubingen University) is Archbishop Henryk Muscynski. The award is given in recognition of his endeavours to improve relations between Catholics and Jews in Poland O Chairman Andrew Kaufman, left, presents the first AJR grant for the establishment of an AJR Research Project at Beth Shalom Holocaust Memorial Centre to its Director, Stephen Smith. Behind them are photographs of Holocaust sites talten earlier this year in Poland by AJR reporter Ronald Channing and displayed at the AGM. Original address on 'Forgotten Places - monthly to hear a succession of stimulat 'he Holocaust, Memorials, Memory &c ing guest speakers. With the advance in Meaning'. He went on to describe the the average age of AJR members, the So '^ew project as a readily accessible source cial Work Department's services were of Holocaust materials available to stu- found increasingly to be in demand, lead Israel's Finest Wines '^ents and researchers of the Holocaust ing to the recruitment of a new Period. The Centre is collecting hitherto professional Head of Social Services. He from the Unpublished documents - including let- praised the work of volunteers without Golan Heights '^*-'ts, diaries, photographs and personal whom the AJR could not continue to niemorabilia. It will also contain survivor function. Yarden, Golan & Gamla nianuscripts and testimonies, books and The Chairman announced that the AJR Pamphlets of the period, students' theses would be contributing an interest-free Write, phone or fax ^id information from concentration loan of £850,000 for the redevelopment for full information ^'anips and Holocaust sites. of Osmond House, a residential care House of Hallgarten He invited members to consider contrib- home in North London run by the Otto ^'"ig their own memorabilia to the Schiff Housing Association. Both he and Dallow Road, Luton LUI 1UR •^•"oject. If given on loan, documents will Frank Harding are Hon. Officers of the Tel: 01582 22538 e copied and returned; if donated or be- OSHA Council. Fax: 01582 23240 ^^eathed, they will be catalogued and D Ronald Channing 13 AjR INFORMATION AUGUST 1997 this salad - you can serve the salad on a Cooking with Gretel Beer bed of endive leaves and also line the salad bowl with them so that the ends SPRING stick out for decoration D GROVE •^Vi 214 Finchley Road Just a thought // London NW3 London's Most Luxurious Have you ever cleared out a cupboard RETIREMENT HOME and found forgotten presents? Bubble * Entertainment-Activities baths, powder, soap and perfume, little * Stress Free Living vases, plates and handkerchiefs - one * 24 Hour Staffing would have to live 200 years to enjoy * Excellent Cuisine them! * Full En-Suite Facilities As a special birthday approached I Call for more information Spiced Chicken Salad asked my friends, not for presents, but for or a personal tour similar articles to sell for charity. At the 0181-446 2117 The perfect dish for a summer evening which party everybody enjoyed the kosher buffet or 0171-794 4455 takes very little time - or effort - to prepare. and entertainment from a string quartet; 1 oranges even the sun shone. It all worked like a ViVo (225g) cooked chicken (without skin charm and £1,500 was raised for good causes and others might well wish to do /? ^ or bones) Companions 6oz (160g) mayonnaise the same. My thanks to all the friends who made the day so successful. a handful blanched almonds of London D Irene White good dash of brandy Incorporating Hampstead Home Care salt and white pepper ^ r:^ inse the oranges in hot water and A long established company dry them well, then grate some of EURO BABBLE providing care in your home R the rind until you have about two SOLUTION * Assistance with personal care heaped teaspoons. Peel the oranges, divide * General household duties into segments, then remove all the skin 1. Cotnmis (apprentice waiter) sounds -k Respite care and pith (this is the only troublesome part like Commie, or Communist. Gauche * Medical appointment service of the recipe). If the segments are very means clumsy, left-handed or simply large, cut into halves. Cut the chicken Left. 'OUR CARE IS YOUR CARE' meat into thin strips, mix the grated 2. Mistvieh sounds like missed fee. 0171 483 0212/0213 orange rind into the mayonnaise, add a 3. Capelli is Italian for hair. good dash of brandy. Cut almonds into 4. Praise is French for strawberries. A halves. Fold orange pieces, almonds and phrasemonger is ein Phrasendrescher. sliced chicken into the mayonnaise, taste 5. Er und Sie rescue is a self evident pun Hilary's Care Agency and adjust seasoning if necessary by on Air and Sea rescue. HIGH QUALITY HOMECARE adding salt and white pepper. Sometimes I 6. Cherie Orchard, a pun on Chekhov's FORTHE ELDERLY AND DISABLED Cherry Orchard, refers to the wife of add the merest touch of curry powder, but * CARERS • COMPANIONS the PM. be careful not to overdo it. Crunchy • HOUSEKEEPERS endive leaves go particularly well with • DOMESTICS Flexible service tailored to your needs Daily & Live-in - 1-24 hours - 7 days a week COVERING NORTH & NORTHWEST LONDON, ^^ OSiiAHomecare Services EAST LONDON & ESSEX The complete care and support service in your own home 0181 559 I 110 • Personal Care • Hospital Escort Service • Domestic Assistance • Emergency Phone System • Resident Carers Simon P. Rhodes M.Ch.S. With over 50 years experience providing quality care for the Jewish community, and STATE REGISTERED CHIROPODIST particularly Refugees from Nazi persecution, Otto Schiff Housing Association is proud Surgeries at: 67 Kilburn High Road, NW6 (opp M&S) to provide OSHA Homecare Services: dedicated to helping the older, frailer members Telephone 0171-624 1576 of the community retain their independence in the security of their own home. 3 Queens Close (off Green Lane) For information call our Homecare Services Manager on 0181 458 4088 or write to Edgware, Middx HAS 7PU Telephone 0181-905 3264 OSHA Homecare Services, Osmond House, The Bishop's Avenue, London N2 OBG Visiting chiropody service available Registered Charity No. 210369 14 AJR INFORMATION AUGUST 1997 In 1987 I wrote to the Stadtarchiv in The story of Mannheim to ask what had happened to Full houses another postcard the Marx family, and had the following n its first six months the AJR Luncheon answer: Club has enjoyed excellent speakers, y parents were very friendly with ....Der Regisseur Karl Michael Marx hat I exceptional three-course meals with the director of the National sich am 8.7.1933 in Mannheim das Leben wine and full houses. The organising MTheatre in Mannheim, Karl genommen. Seine Frau imd seine beiden committee set out both to maximise use Marx, whom I called Opa (grandpa) Tochter ivurden am 20.10.1940 nach of the Paul Balint AJR Day Centre and to Marx. The National Theatre, completely Gurs deportiert, wo seine Frau am encourage existing and potential members destroyed in the war, was a Baroque 5.12.1940 gestorben ist. Die beiden to increase their involvement with the jewel. It was famous for the premiere of Tochter wurden im Sommer 1942 nach AJR. The degree of success achieved on Schiller's Die Rduber in 1782. My last dem Osten verschleppt, wo sie unter both counts is due also to the excellent visit was to see the Snow Queen in the unbekannten Umstdnden umgekommen support of volunteers and staff at the Day winter of 1932, unbeknown to my sind. (Jberlebt hat nur der Sohn, Dr Kurt Centre. parents. Although the Nazis were not yet Marxgeb. 9.5.1891. New members will be most welcome to officially in power, it was not a good idea My father kept postcards from all over join for the new season which opens on for Jews to visit public buildings. the world, which had a special signifi 17 September with Kurt Shapira speaking Opa Marx's birthday was on the same cance for him. In 1988 I found one such, on Van Gogh, followed by Ralph day as my own, September 14th. It was dated 16.10.1934. It was addressed to my Blumenau on 'The Value of the custom until I was nine, for dignitaries brother, then aged eight, and signed by History'(October 15), Jeffrey Perry on from the town council and the chamber of Onkel Kurt Marx. There were good 'How Gairmany Calling Stopped' (No commerce to pay a morning visit to the wishes for his birthday, and greetings to vember 19), and Rabbi William Wolff on Herr Regisseur on his birthday, with gifts our parents. It did not mention his mother 'The Friendly Face of Jewry' (December of flowers. I sat next to him, and gra or sisters. I wonder if this was in fact a 17). Suggestions for future speakers are ciously accepted their good wishes. birthday greeting to his mother. It is possi welcomed, including a speaker on a musi I shall never forget the shock when I ble that the postman had been ordered cal topic for next year. heard that Opa had thrown himself from not to deliver mail from foreign countries n Pat Finlay the theatre's gallery into the pit. There to the Marx address. Perhaps this was a Were many suicides in the summer of longed-for message from Kurt to tell his 1933, one was Rabbiner Dr Kiilbermann, family that he had escaped from Germany Wiener Library Lectures & Seminars whose entry to the USA had been refused. and that he was well and safe in Madras. Reinterpreting the He left a wife and five children. D Dorodiea M Fatten Holocaust special lecture by Herman Friedlander, Danzig; Salomca Prof Yehuda Bauer (Yad Vashem) Swiss Bank Accounts Gartenberg, Warsaw; Andreas Gawlik, Thurs 11 th September he Swiss Bankers Association have Katowitze; Andeiji Gdowski, Warsaw; Wiener Library at 6.30pm released to the World Jewish Con Moschek Gliksman, Pari; Stanislaw Tgress the names of 53 Polish Jews Goldstein, Warsaw; Henri Grohman-hole, Womett in Exile from who held Bank accounts with Swiss Banks Lodz; Camilla Hitner, Cieszyn; Adolf in 1939. Kozerski, Warsaw; J Krepel, Warsaw; IMazi Gennany Although the Swiss took possession of Fanny Landau; Paula Lazarus, Danzig; half-day seminar these accounts in 1975 and gave the pro Ludwika Leiner, Lvov; Filip Liebermann, Sunday 28th September ceeds to the Polish Government, it may Stanislavov; Mendel Loscher; Ian Birkbeck College, London still be worth while for relatives of any of Watuszewski, Warsaw; Dr R May, the people named to put in a claim to the Poznan; Herta Mayer-Thiel, Lvov; Helena For further details please contact Swiss Banking Ombudsman, Hanspeter Nasfeter, Wolomin; Helena Pulsaka, War the Administrative Secretary Hani, POB 519, 8027 Zurich, Switzer- saw; Samuel Rabinow, Pari; Salomon 'and. In English law, there is a principle Ramer; Andre Rotwand, Warsaw; David that "what one does not own, one cannot Salinger-Casper, Pammem; Michael give away". Sapcter, Lvov; Elisabeth Schulz, Konitz; Association ofJewish Ex-Berliners Nachum Schartwald, Lvov; Helena 'he names are listed below: A speakers' panel discusses Silberzweig, Cracow; Shopic Skowrenska, Emil Adorjan, PradIa; Charlotte Am Warsaw; Max Sperber, Lvov; Marie 'Britain in Europe - sterdam, Warsaw; Harry Balieu, Danzig; Strasburgcr; Plachas Swiski; Zygmunt a Common Currency' ^scher Bank, Tarnow; Leysor Berenbaum; Teebang, Warsaw; Elsie Trenkler, War ^-eib Selig Blech, Memcl; Bruno Sunday 3rd August at 2.15pm saw; Isaac Weizman, Konigsberg; Rudolf "lumenfield, Lvov; Lewin Blumenthal, Canons Hall Community Centre, OA Weitzel, Danzig; Emma (Ernstine) Warsaw; Marcell Buber, Lvov; Wigdor I -17 Wemborough Road, Stanmore Zionel Achslrad, Warsaw. "ychowski, Warsaw; E>nst Epstein, Crac- Members £2.50Visitors £3.50 ^W; Oswei Epstein, Warsaw; Carl Please Book:Tel. 0181 452 9681 •Teudenthal, Warsaw; Michael Friedberg, We would be interested to be advised of or 0181 449 7849 Warsaw; Use Eriedlander, Danzig; any response D 15 AJR INFORMATION AUGUST 1997 NEWSROUND Berlin Weissensee e walked up the Herbert- Opening up Baum-Strasse, a bleak street, The German-based insurance company W flanked by grey, neglected Allianz has commissioned a history of its houses, some even gutted, towards the open wartime record. Der Spiegel magazine gates of Weissensee, the Jewish cemetery in revealed that the company had insured East Berlin, the contents of concentration camps The Holocaust memorial at the en including Dachau, Buchenwald and trance, all the more eloquent for its Auschwitz. simplicity, stands as a grim reminder of man's inhumanity to man. Slow payers Marble mausoleums, sculptured grave The Italian insurance company Generali stones, intricate iron ornaments, bear has established a $12 million fund in witness to Berlin's thriving Jewish com Israel for the heirs of Holocaust victims munity of the late nineteenth and early who held company life insurance policies, twentieth centuries. Among rows of aban reports the Jewish Chronicle, to be paid doned, overgrown graves several restored out over the next 12 years. gravestones catch the eye - inscriptions The Holocaust Memorial which stands at the Clash of interest Auschwitz, Theresienstadt penetrate the entrance to Berlin's Weissensee Jewish cemetery. Professor Jacques Bergier, head of the consciousness. Auschwitz. commission enquiring into Switzerland's As we move on through the symmetri We retraced our steps. New plots were wartime connections with Nazi Germany, cally laid out lanes, a marked plan our marked out in the centre of the cemetery. is to stand down in November as he guide, I recall my first visit; then I was Brand new stones had been erected. We receives a fee for serving a charitable arm eight years old. Two adults, maternal stopped to read the inscriptions, the Rus of the Union Bank of Switzerland. aunts, led me along these very paths to sian and Polish names. During the Third Albert's, my grandfather's grave; he had Gold tracings Reich the last Jew had been buried here in passed away the previous year. I had met Holocaust Education Trust Chairman the autumn of 1942. Hardly a decade af him as a four-year-old, the bald, bright- Greville Janner has approached Ireland, ter the Final Solution a burgeoning Jewish eyed Opa, his wife ever at his beck and Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Norway and community had begun to establish itself. call. To me, in his mid-sixties, he seemed Brazil in an attempt to discover the fate of What thought-provoking dialogue ancient. My immature mind tried in vain gold looted by the Nazis. An international would ensue, if the victims' ashes embed to connect the grandfather in the rocking conference is planned to be held in ded in the earth of Auschwitz could chair who lifted me gently on his lap with London in November to which 30 communicate with the spirit of the de the slab of stone which, I was told, countries will be invited. parted interred in the consecrated ground guarded his soul. No-one had deemed it at Weissensce. Bronfman heads fund important enough to prepare me for this, OHelga Wolff World Jewish Congress President Edgar or to provide some intelligible answers Bronfman has been appointed head of the about this place - in a young child's per Swiss Government's fund for needy ception a sea of stone. Holocaust victims. Close to a grainy white wall, at the far 50 YEARS AGO thest distance, Albert rests in peace. He French cabinet died a natural death in 1930, surrounded Dominique Strauss-Kahn, a leader of UNO AND PALESTINE by his family. A stonemason had been in France's Jewish community, joined the The fact-finding Comnniuee of the United Nations structed to carve a sizeable stone. Thus new Socialist Cabinet as Minister of has. after an extensive tour of the country and space was allowed for the names of his intensive study of the problem on the spot, left Economy, Finance and Industry. Before wife and unmarried children who hoped Palestine to draft its report. being elected to the National Assembly in to be eternally joined in death. Jewish circles all over the v^orld are disappointed 1986 he was a university lecturer in law This was not to be. Two sons and two that the Committee did not find it necessary to and economics. daughters, uprooted in early middle age, visit the D.P. Camps in Cyprus and on the Conti nent. Much as they may have heard about Rabin remembered struck roots in alien soil. No safe haven conditions there, the personal experience of talk Israel's Knesset unanimously supported a could be found for their mother and two ing to D.Ps. and v^itnessing their frustration and Bill to establish an annual memorial day sisters. despair would no doubt have left a mark on its to its slain Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Sixty-six years on, I faced this grave findings. stone a second time. Commissioned by The United Nations will certainly base their Brighton's backing our daughter, the third generation - as a decisions on a report which is likely to be a sug A memorial to the victims of the gestion for the partition of Palestine. It is hoped generous gift to her mother - four names Holocaust is to be erected in Brighton and that once such a decision is taken, the three had been added: Eva, his wife, who died Hove by the local Jewish communities parties concerned will accept the verdict and that - so we were told - after her eightieth a new epoch of constructive achievements and with the co-operation of the local birthday in Theresienstadt, Johanna, her tranquility will commence in Palestine D authority. unmarried child, Margot, my mother, and AJR (nformot/on, August / 947 D RDC Richard, my father. All three perished in Published by the Association of Jewish Refugees in Great Britain. I Hampstead Gate. lA Frognal. London NW3 6AL Tel:OI71-43l 6161 Fax-.0I7I-43I 8454 Printed in Great Britain by Freedman Brothers (Printers) Ltd. London NW 11 7QB. Tel: 0181 -458 3220 Fax: 0181-455 6860