VOLUME 3 No. 12 DECEMBER 2003

SJIEJ journal ^^^^1 jl^^^l Association of Jewish Refugees ^;.-i .f<. *g»t' The false prophet Size has often been quoted as an But there was worse to come. At the untenable position. How long can they indicator of rightness and it is a fact of UN's Islamic Conference no single keep calling down 'a plague on both your life that victory tends to be on the side of representative - even frompro-Wester n houses' when one party to the conflict - the big battalions. A pre-war panegyric states - dared put his head above the irrespective of whether it is headed by of Stalin's Russia was entitled The parapet to disavow Mahathir Saddam, bin Laden or Mahathir Socialist Sixth ofthe World and, judging Mohamed's melange of the Protocols of Mohamed - asserts that the defence of by the feet that the Islamic Conference the Elders of Zion, Mein Kampf and Islam requires war on the Jews? at the UN embraces 57 states within the Der Sturmer. On the broader front, the world body, one might currently talk abovementioned self-appointed about the Islamic Third of the World defenders of Islam are aiming to turn the (the United Nations has around 180 hitherto relatively limited 'war on terror' members). into a global War of Civilisations. In this In fact, Muslims number 'only' 1,300 war, Christianity, the professed faith of million out of a global population of the West, will be misrepresented by around sbc billion. World Jewry, on the hard-line Islamists as both still imbued other hand, languishes at around the 13 with the lethal spirit ofthe Crusades and million mark. Put bluntly, the worldwide as manipulated by the Jews. ratio of Muslims to Jews is 100 to one. How confused the situation could be is In October Malaysian ex-premier demonstrated by the following. In Mahathir Mohamed addressed the UN's southern Iraq the inhabitants, no doubt Islamic Conference on the topic of that influenced by their clergy, have in some imbalance. He asserted that the few instances taken to referring to Coalition Jews ruled the world by proxy and got soldiers as Jews. Since Poland has others to fight their wars for them - but contributed a contingent to the Ex-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamed ultimately the 1,300 million-strong occupying force, it may well happen that body of Muslims would not be defeated. Nor was the entire West as outraged conscripts from Jedwabne, whose He also claimed that the Jews had by this conjuring up of the mindset that grandfathers massacred their Jewish invented 'Socialism, Communism, led to Auschwitz. President Chirac neighbours in 1941, are now dubbed Democracy and Human Rights' as their showed deplorable hesitation before Jews' by Shia Iraqis. instruments for exercising global condemning it. He was assisted in his But to retum to the wider picture. The domination. obfuscation tactics by Greece, a state so leaders of the Coalition face a daunting Now, to be credited with the invention viscerally hostile to Israel that even the task. The campaign on which they have of democracy and human rights might Malaysian premier's attribution of embarked and which they conceive as a appear a back-handed compliment - but democracy to the Jews - though the war on terror stands in danger of being that is not how it is seen from the honour rightfully belongs to Athens - elevated into a reUgious war. Their task ftindamentahst Islamist perspective, has not made any difference. On the in Iraq is to harmonise the demands of tanian hard-line clerics described the other hand, the US, UK and Italy have democracy with those of religion. If, to recent award of the 2003 Nobel Peace been instant in their condemnation of look at a worst-case scenario, the Shia Prize to a lawyer campaigning for Mahathir's outburst, which must put majority votes to turn their country into ^omen's rights as a European- Jewish critics of the Bush-Blair- a replica of fran, can the will of the uistigated subversion of Islamic values. Berlusconi axis into an increasingly majority be allowed to prevail? AJR JOURNAL DECEMBER 2003

Being nosey about Fagin Richard Grunberger

The subject of noses has always held great fascination for me (and not for me alone - think of what Pascal said about the effect of Cleopatra's nose on world history!). I treasure such arcane bits of nasal knowledge as the Danish astronomer Tycho de Brahe's acquisition of a silver nose after a duelling opponent had sliced off part of his proboscis. Sir Sigmund Sternberg was awarded the Legion d'Honneur by the French Altering nose shapes has been a task Ambassador, who paid generous tribute to his efforts in promoting tolerance allotted to makeup experts (and plastic and understanding between peoples of different religious persuasions. In his surgeons) at least since Edmond reply. Sir Sigmund recalled that earlier this year President Jacques Chirac had Rostand wrote the box-office hit declared that France would not tolerate antisemitism. He went on to express Cyrano de Bergerac. Recently the hope that inter-faith dialogue would develop in France in the manner of the practitioners of that art scored a minor Three Faiths Forum of which he was co-founder in Britain. triumph by transforming the retrousse profile of Nicole Kidman into the aquiline likeness of Virginia Woolf in Berlin Holocaust mennorial building setback the film The Hours. The construction of Germany's long- The chairman of the foundation But the major triumph of prosthenic awaited national Holocaust Memorial to responsible for the building of the art on screen surely occurred in 1948 the victims of Europe's murdered Jews memorial, the Speaker of the German when a British studio filmed Dickens's and others, begun this September near the Parliament, Wolfgang Thierse, said that Oliver Twist. In the movie the caftan- Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, was halted alternative chemicals were being sought. clad, greasy-haired Fagin sported a the following month, reports The Times. Foundation member Lea Rosh, who false nose more appropriate to a To protect the memorial's 2,7(X) concrete initiated the idea of a memorial in 1988, medieval gargoyle on a church roof pillars against graffiti, a contractor began said that 'we had to make this decision for than to a human being. The actor using chemicals produced by Degussa AG, the survivors.' The memorial has been appearing in that repellent disguise part-owner of the company which designed by American architect Peter was Alec Guinness, continuing his produced Zyklon B gas used to kill victims Eisenman, winner of an international climb to fame that had started two in extermination camps. competition. years earlier with Great Expectations. We learn from Piers Paul Read's biography of the actor that he was Calling all forces probably the illegitimate son of a To mark its 80th anniversary, AJEX, the Following World War I a British Jewry profligate member of the top drawer Association of Jewish Ex-Service Men and Book of Honour provided details of those Guinness clan. As it happened, a highly Women, is inviting all of Jewish faith who who served during that conflict (it is now respectable Guinness, ennobled as Lord served in HM Forces from 1939 to 1960 to posted on the 'Moving Here' website: Moyne, was wartime British Resident- answer a questionnaire by providing a www.movinghere.org.uk). A record of General in the Middle East. HM summary of their and their family's those who gave their lives in World War II Government's Palestine White Paper of service details (including those now has already been published by AJEX. 1939 - written to appease the Arabs - disabled or deceased). Replies will be For further details on how to register, was in force throughout the war, and inscribed in a special book as a Lord Moyne rigorously enforced the please contact AJEX House, East Bank, comprehensive record of the contribution ban on Jewish immigration. This made London N16 5RT tel 0208 800 2844. made by Jews to the defence ofthe realm. him a hate figure throughout the RDC Yishuv, and in November 1944 two members of the Stern Gang AJR Journal assassinated him in Cairo. Richard Grunbergcr Editor-in-Chief JACKMAN • Ronald Channing Executive Editor Is it entirely fanciful, I wonder, to Howard Spier Editorial and Production SILVERMAN suspect that the image of Fagin AJR Journal, Jubilee House, COMMERCIAL PROPERTY CONSULTANTS Guinness created on screen owed Merrion Avenue, Stanmore, Middlesex HA7 4RL Tel: 020 8385 3070 Fax: 020 8385 3080 something to vengeful feelings stirred e-mail: [email protected] 26 Conduit Street, London WIR 9TA by the murder of his near-relative? vwvw.ajrorg.uk Telephone: 020 7409 0771 Fax: 020 7493 8017 AJR JOURNAL DECEMBER 2003

Great - but not necessarily NEWTONS Booker-approved - books Leading Hampstead Solicitors advise on Richard Grunberger Property, Wills, Family Trusts and Charitable Trusts First the good news about the Big Read. readers' consciousness in their film (or French and German spoken Thanks to the publicity generated by the TV) version. Not that cinematic Home visits arranged BBC competition, book sales nationwide treatment necessarily does a book any have gone up appreciably. 'It has given favours. I can think of at least two 22 Fitzjohn's Avenue, the industry a huge boost,' said a outstanding novels - Louis de Berniere's London NW3 5NB Waterstone spokesperson. (shortlisted) Captain Corelli's Mandolin Tel: 020 7435 5351 Next the bad news: a third of the final and Graham Swift's (unplaced) Fax: 020 7435 8881 21 shortlisted works are children's Waterland - where I thought the film a books a la Winnie-the-Pooh or Harry travesty ofthe book. Potter This suggests either many The converse can also apply readers' somewhat pathetic yearning to sometimes. Some ten years ago the film return to the nursery, or their director Robert Altman had the inspired CONSULTANT abandonment of the reading habit soon idea of taking several of Raymond to long established English after leaving school. But there's more Carver's short stories and melding them Solicitors (bi-lingual German) bad news. Not only have some of the all- together into an interconnected whole; would be happy to assist clients time British greats from George Eliot to already something of a Carver fan, I with English, German and Thackeray been ignored, but Jewish became an absolute aficionado after Austrian problems. writers are woefully underrepresented seeing Short Cuts on the screen. Contact Henry Ebner (for all that Joseph Heller's Catch 22 and Lastly, given that I put the Booker Myers Ebner & Deaner JD Salinger's Catcher in the Rye made it Prize into the title of this piece it might 103 Shepherds Bush Road into the top 21). Nobody expects Kafka - be appropriate to say something about London W6 7LP or even Proust - to be nominated, but this year's winner, DBC Pierre. TV Telephone 020 7602 4631 what about such accessible towering viewers who watched the awards ALL LEGAL WORK literary heroes as Philip Roth and ceremony will have been startled by the UNDERTAKEN Saul Bellow? author's inarticulate response, and even Something else the poll shows is the more by the revelation that he is a insularity of the great British reading reformed drug addict with a near- public. No huge surprises there, cynics criminal record. And this wasn't just PR AUSTRIAN and GERMAN might say, but I was still amazed at how hype designed to generate publicity for PENSIONS little the average reader is swayed by the Vernon God Little - the man really has a pundits, who for years have sung the shady past. PROPERTY praises of the nouveau roman and the In that he fits into the tradition of the RESTITUTION CLAIMS magic realist' school (Gabriel Garcia poetes maudits or the artists at odds with EAST GERMANY-BERLIN Marquez, Isabel Allende). In fact, not a society. It may be a source of bitter­ single French- or Spanish-speaking sweet pride to us that a few highly On instructions our office will I writer even qualified for the long list of reputed Jewish writers were guilty of assist to deal with your f 1(X) titles. The only long-listed German appallingly anti-social behaviour Elias applications and pursue the matter i author was Patrick Susskind with Canetti was dubbed the 'Hampstead with the authorities. Perfume; why that admittedly finely monster' by Iris Murdoch's husband RDC For further information crafted, atmospheric horror story should John Bailey, Arthur Koestler actually and an appointment have outdistanced Giinter Grass' Tin raped the wife of Michael Foot, and please contact: IMdm - the subject of an excellent film - Norman Mailer (on a drug-induced 'trip') ICS CLAIMS defies my comprehension. stabbed his own wife. Fortunately, the 146-154 Kilburn High Road Of course the transfer of books to the blade didn't penetrate very deeply, and London NW6 4JD screen is of huge significance in the the author of The Naked and the Dead Popularit\- stakes, and most ofthe short­ acquired several unscarred wives Tel: 020 7328 7251 (Ext. 107) listed books may first have impinged on subsequently. Fax: 020 7624 5002 AJR JOURNAL DECEMBER 2003

Austrian compensation fund Arts and Events Diary eligibility extended December All month 'A Storm in Europe: Bala Michael Newman Kadar, Hugo Scheiber and "Der Eligibility for payments from the hotels, etc.); forced labour in industry, Sturm" Gallery in Berlin'. Ben Uri Art Austrian Reconciliation Fund, business and construction including Gallery, 108a Boundary Road, London established in November 2000 and the railroads or postal services; and NWS tel 020 7604 3991 endowed with €436 million (£300 slave labour, work under inhumane To 11 April 2004 'Women and War*. A million), has been extended to include conditions while under detention in a major international exhibition looking Holocaust survivors who were forced concentration camp-like place of to watch their close relatives confinement. at the role of women from the First World War to the present day. Imperial scrubbing the streets as a measure of Completed applications to the War Museum, Lambeth Road, London Nazi persecution in Vienna and other Reconciliation Fund must be made by SEI tel 0207416 5320 Austrian cities. 31 December 2003, although a letter The Fund's remit is to 'make stating an interest to submit a claim Mon 1 Hans Seelig, 'Bicentenary of voluntary payments to former slave received by this date will be accepted Hector BeHioz'. Club 43 and forced labourers of the National as a registered application. (Survivors Socialist regime on the territory of who have received payments from the Tue 2 Vilem Tausky, renowned present-day Austria.' At the outset, its German Slave and Forced Labour conductor and composer, reminisces administrators estimated they would Compensation Programme - the with Michael Haas. London Jewish make payments to 150,000 Holocaust Foundation: Remembrance, Cultural Centre (UCC), 7.30 pm survivors worldwide. The Fund has Responsibility and the Future - are not Thur 4 Nowhere in Africa: Stephanie already disbursed €284 million (some eligible to apply.) Zweig will be speaking about and £198 million) to more than 109,000 For application forms, explanatory showing clips from this award- Nazi victims. A total of 603 survivors leaflets and further information, winning film, based on her own living in Britain have shared please contact P.O. Box 44, A-1011 experiences as a child. UCC, 7.30 pm almost €1.3million (around £900,000) Vienna. Their telephone number is in awards. 0043 1 513 60 16 and their fax Mon 8 Michael Faulkner, The Fate of Applications to the Fund are divided number is 0043 1 513 60 16 15. the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee into three categories: forced labour in Details of how to apply are also in the USSR, 1943-52'. Club 43 agriculture and forestry or in the form available on the Fund's website: Tues 9 Jews and Black Culture: From of personal services (households. www.reconciliationfund.at Al Jolson to Ali G. Lecture by Dr Keith Kahn Harris. UCC, 7.30 pm

Thur 11 'German Jewish Identities at the Margins: 100 Years of Central European Jewry, 1889-1989'. Lecture by Professor Sander Gillman. UCC, 7.30 pm

Mon 15 'ChanuMas' get-together with refreshments and music. Club 43

To Thur 18 David Bomberg (1890- 1957). An exhibition of works for sale on paper and paintings from 1914 to 1953. UCC. 10 am to 5 pm Monday to Thursday

ORGANISATION CONTACTS

Club 43 Belsize Square Synagogue. At Jubilee House, Stanmore, the second floor has rapidly become operational as AJR's new Meetings 7.45 pm. Contact Hans head office, having been transferred to north London after many years in the traditional Seelig tel 01442 254360 German-speaking heartland of Swiss Cottage and the Finchley Road. Situated adjacent to the Jubilee Line Underground station, these smart and well-designed offices are readily London Jewish Cultural Centre King's accessible to members and convenient for the social work team to make client visits, while being just some 50 minutes travel to and from Central London. (The Day Centre at Cleve College, Kidderpore Avenue, London Road, in West Hampstead, remains unaffected by the move.) NW3 tel 020 74310345 AJR JOURNAL DECEMBER 2003

200th anniversary of Bremen Jewish community Lottie Levy

A letter from a friend in Bremen, my the stories of Bremen survivors ofthe old home-town, arrived in July Holocaust, showing shops and informing me of a planned buildings and the destroyed celebration of the 200th synagogue. In 1945 there were barely anniversary of the Jewish 100 Jews in Bremen, while now the community there. I was asked if I community has grown to almost 2,000, would like to come and see the due mostly to immigration from exhibition portraying the history of Eastern Europe. There is a new the Jewish community in the old synagogue, a community centre, a Hanseatic town and to attend some creche, a women's union and a choir - a of the many planned lectures, thriving and creative community. Lazarus Sheridan recapturing his discussions, musical performances I was greeted most cordially by the days behind a school desk at and - especially - a reception with designer of the celebration and Jews' Free School, Bell Lane, in speeches by Professor Brenner of exhibition and asked to participate in a London's East End, where he was Munich University, the local rabbi discussion with another ex- a pupil from 1925 to 1930. and the Burgermeister, with whom I Kindertransportee. It was daunting, Having served in the army had corresponded since a previous but very moving, to be asked about during World War II, he returned visit. I decided to go for four days. events which had taken place so long to education and became head My grandfather had been a ago - and the questions kept coming. I of schools in Stoke Newington Hebrew teacher in Bremen from was touched when we were applauded and Westminster. The Jewish 1861 to 1873 - later he was the at the end ofthe discussion. Museum's new exhibition, 'Faith Gemeinde-Vorsteher. My father had There were some interesting in Education', relates the history officiated as rabbi following the of the school which, having been speakers and a lively and enjoyable departure of the last rabbi in 1939 bombed out of Bell Lane during evening of Yiddish music and songs. the blitz, was re-opened on a site until he and my mother were The reception in the town hall was a near Camden Town in 1958, deported to Minsk with the particular highlight. transferring only this year to a remaining Jews of Bremen. Throughout my four days in Bremen splendid ultra-modern building I myself left Bremen as a I was impressed by the friendliness in Kenton. David Milliband, Kindertransportee. and interest ofthe people I met - not all Minister of State for Education, of them Jewish. It made me feel glad to who opened the exhibition, In 1945 there were have been able to be there, to have spoke of the school as being 'all barely 100 Jews met some good human beings, and to that is good about education.' in Bremen, while now strengthen my belief and hope for the Lord Levy, President of JFS, future. introduced former head Mrs Jo the community has Wagerman OBE and today's grown to almost 2,000' KINDER HISTORY BOOK head. Dame Ruth Robbins. The book by Barry Turner Kenneth Rubens and Rickie The events and exhibition, held in And the Policeman Smiled, Burman welcomed everyone on the lower town hall, had been a history ofthe behalf of the Jewish Museum. planned with great care and Kindertransport published attention to detail. There were by World Jewish Relief, The exhibition, at the Jewish panels of pictures of the earliest is being sought by the AJR office. Museum, Camden Town, will run families permitted to settle in the until 29 February 2004. town and lists of the names and life Please contact Ronald Channing on stories of many who had perished. Ronald Channing 0208 385 3070/71 Evocative audios and videos related AJRJOURNAL DECEMBER 2003

with young people arriving here as refugees, often with no family or personal contacts in this country. The lETTEftS^ The Editor reserves the right project aims to help this vulnerable to shorten correspondence group by offering experience and skills submitted for publication to help them face challenges with confidence. Members of Kol Nefesh Masorti Synagogue, where the project originated, will be supporting the project by being trained to assist with the immigration process. APOLOGY DEMANDED them neither benefactors nor villains. It If Ms Cohn or any other reader would Sir - I am a regular reader of the AJR is just that they would have appeared like more information they can direct Journal and particularly enjoy, to have taken the easy way out before enquiries to Clare Hedwat, Marom although I do not always agree with, shutting up shop. Projects Co-ordinator, by telephone on your comments on the political The easy way was to concentrate on 0208201 8772 ext 203. scene. However, after having been reclaiming the value of Jewish persecuted for 2000 years, no Jew can properties and fixed assets. Even there Richard Wolfe make racial/religious accusations, in the Claims Conference found London NWl particular the editor of a Jewish themselves in controversy and faced journal. accusations of interfering where not Sir - Exiled Writers Ink! In my opinion, it would therefore be wanted. There are, however, still at www.exiledwriters.co.uk works with appropriate for you to issue an apology least two areas where little, if anything, and for refugee and exiled writers in with regard to any such statements you has been done to reclaim substantial educational, creative, performance, may have published in the past. values from the German government. academic, awareness-raising and H Edward Levy These are the recovery of the dialogue fields. Those involved in the London SWl equivalent of some 30 billion organisation are mainly current Reichsmark, namely the proceeds of refugees and other interested people I am disinclined to make the suggested the so-called AKTION 3, and the who include a number of second- apology. As to racial accusations, you recovery of the iniquitous 'Judensteuer' generation children of Continental probably have in mind my phrase' in as levied on Jewish citizens following refugees, including myself. far as Arabs are amenable to reason' Kristallnacht. The amount involved was We would be very interested in (Editorial, June 2003). This appeared at 1 billion Goldmark at thattime. devising a programme whereby a time when the Palestinians faced the Writing to the Claims Conference current and ex-refugees read narratives choice between President Arafat and draws a totally meaningless response and poems and talk to a range of Prime Minister Abu Mazen as their accompanied by a glossy brochure - organisations. chief spokesman. The former had almost like communicating with a mail Jennifer Langer destroyed hopes of an accord at Camp order company. The organisation was London NWl 1 David - and the latter was the author of set up to recover the value of all assets a doctoral dissertation denying the confiscated, stolen, sequestrated and Sir -1 am one of the lucky 669 children Holocaust. otherwise illegally acquired by the whom Sir Nicholas Winton managed to Concerning religious accusations, I Germans from Jews in the period 1933- get out of Czechoslovakia to England have certainly criticised both 45. This they have failed to do. There is on the children's transports in 1939. For Christianity (especially Catholicism) a justified feeling that their activities every single one of us he had to hnd a and Islam. The Roman Church has show a lack of clarity and transparency. sponsor who would guarantee to look depicted Jews as Christ-killers Opaqueness to the point of blackness after us until the age of 17, having also throughout history right up to Vatican seems to be the order of the day. paid £50 for future repatriation - a II. Admittedly, Islam merely large sum of money considering the Herbert Haberberg condescended to us till the 1920s, since average yearly wage was then £500. Barnet when the Mufti of Jerusalem, the Not one of us was allowed to be a Muslim Brotherhood and Ayatottah burden on the English tax-payer If he Khomeini have engendered a tidal ASSISTING TODAY'S REFUGEES had not had this stipulation to meet he wave of Judeophobia - Ed. Sir - In your October letters section Ms would have been able to rescue many Cohn asks: 'Have AJR members any more children. Even the 10,000 CLAIMS CONFERENCE knowledge and experience on how to children who were allowed to enter this Sir - The article in two parts by David assist present-day refugees in their country on transports after Rothenberg (September and October locality?' Kristallnacht were taken care of by issues) was most interesting and timely Marom, the young adult department voluntary organisations and charitable in that it has now been announced that of the Assembly of Masorti individuals. Not one of them was a the Claims Conference is scheduled to Synagogues, has undertaken a major burden on the UK tax-payer The older wind down its activities. I consider project to train 16 mentors to work children were given work and many AJR JOURNAL DECEMBER 2003 were sent to Canada and Australia. As to the sinking of the Wilhelm Nor could adults enter the country Gustloff, why did so many Germans ARE YOU ON A LOW without either a job to come to or a flee from the Russians? Could it have INCOME AND IN NEED sponsor My parents would not have been a case of bad conscience? Do Herr perished in Auschwitz had they been Grass and his fellow revisionists not mix OF HOMECARE HELP? able to meet these requirements. up cause and effect? AJR might be able to offer The English public is as generous and Frank Bright financial assistance. welcoming to genuine refugees as ever: Ipswich Members who might not what they object to is economic othenvise be able to afford migrants and spongers. We did not REMNANTS homecare please contact: come here seeking free handouts and Sir -1 recently visited Berncastel-Cues, a we did not burn down accommodation Estelle Brookner, Secretary small town on the Mosel well-known provided for us at great expense. We AJR Social Services Dept for wine-producing and a tourist spot were grateful to be safe and free and we Tel: 020 8385 3070 due to its attractive medieval centre. I settled down to be hard-working and tried to trace remnants of bygone law-abiding UK citizens. Jewish life. In the old town, I found a Bronia Snow narrow, stepped passageway clearly Surrey marked 'Zur alten Synagoge.' I walked Companions up (it must have been quite an effort of London ALL PASSION SPENT for elderly people to attend services) Incofpofating Sir - Following on from your October and found the old synagogue building Hampstead Home Care editorial, you might be interested to now being used for other purposes. A long established company know that I am one of Diana Mosley's Obviously, it was not destroyed by fire providing care in your home grandsons and that I married a due to the proximity of other houses. I daughter of a Kindertransport child found a plaque on the wall of the last Assistance with personal care (Hans-Adof Isenthal) in 1990. Naturally remaining city gates in memory of their General household duties Respite care we didn't share her politics. She and my Jewish citizens dated 1988 (they took Medical appointment service wife had no problems with each other, theirtime over this). though initially I thought that they I also visited the Jewish cemetery, 'OUR CARE IS YOUR CARE' wouldn't get on. L 020 7483 0212/0213 about one mile outside the town, in the Our four children were made midst of vineyards overlooking the welcome in Diana's Paris flat without river I am pleased to report that it was any lingering antisemitism on my in good order: all gravestones were ^^ SPRING granny's part. While Diana's politics and upright and the grass was being cut. C<3}, GROVE views are incomprehensible to us, she This might interest readers from 214 Finchley Road did not actually kill anyone. neighbouring parts of Germany. London NW3 My father-in-law has been too hurt FH Edwards London's Most Luxurious and is too proud to claim compensation London N2 RETIREMENT HOME for his family's deaths and property losses in Berlin. His father, Rafael • Entertainment-Activities VOLTE-FACE Isenthal, was sent to Terezin and then • Stress Free Living • 24 Hour Staffing • Excellent Cuisine finally to Auschwitz at the end of 1944. Sir - The Germans refuse to go to war, • Full En-Suite Facilities With best wishes for the work you do. writes Mr M Goldenberg (September issue). If that is the case, do they have Call for more information Patrick Guiness an army for display purposes only? I or a personal tour was always of the opinion that 020 8446 2117 MISPLACED SYMPATHY abolishing the Parademarsch would or 020 7794 4455 Sir - Unlike Mr Goldberg (October issue), emasculate them as a fighting force. [email protected] I think the bombing of Dresden resulted Ernest G Kolman from the sowing of the wind by the Greenford, Middx Luftwaffe on 7 September 1940. From Simon R Rhodes M.Ch.S. Dresden to the end of the war were 81 STATE REGISTERED CHIROPODIST CORRECTION long days for those on death marches. Surgeries at: Even 73 days after Dresden, or 8 days Sir - The deplorable Archbishop Marcel 67 Kllburn High Road, NW6 (opp M&S) before the surrender, 2,775 Jews from Lefebvre (October editorial) was never Telephone 020 7624 1576 Rehmsdorff near Buchenwald were a cardinal. Incidentally, you might have 3 Queens Close (off Green Lane) being marched towards Theresianstadt. added that he and his followers were Edgware, Middx HA87PU Telephone 020 8905 3264 Only 500 reached the ghetto alive. excommunicated. Killing Jews remained a priority until the Francis Steiner Visiting chiropody service available Very last moment. Deddington, Oxon AJRJOURNAL DECEMBER 2003

process of eternal change. Willie Doherty roots his art in daily RGs INTGRFACG life in Northern Ireland. His video Re- NOTES USA Among the German Jewish Run 2002 comprises two opposite exhibits currently on display at New screens, showing a man running Gloria Tessler York's Jewish Museum are a video towards you and away from you. The installation devoted to Arnold When you grow dizzy from watching man in flight makes no progress and is Schonberg's opera Erwartung and a Olafur Eliasson's vaporous sun and painting by Frida Kahlo entitled My therefore doomed to run for ever. He is its recumbent sun-gazers on the Grandparents, My Parents and I. Kahlo, caught in the metaphor of a bridge, floor of Tate Modem, you can take the subject of a recent critically which in Northern Ireland implies the acclaimed film, was Mexican-born but the cUpper along the Thames to Tate urban terror from which two warring had a German Jewish father. The Britain. Saihng past the House of factions find no escape. The painting, executed in the stylised form Commons at the precise moment the unbridgeable gap which exercises this of a family tree, shows that as early as sun was setting on Ian Duncan 1936 the artist felt apprehensive about artist derives from the imagery and Smith's leadership of the Tory Party, the fate of her relatives. language of tabloid journalism and Germany (a) Films of Jewish interest the link seemed ironic. Turner's television reportage. shown at the Berlinale included Istvan milky, yet dazzling sunsets are Then there is the satirical eye of Szabo's Der Fall Furtwdngler (based on legendary, but the four artists short­ Ronald Harwood's Taking Sides), Costa Grayson Perry - for me the most listed for that most prestigious prize Gavra's Stellvertreter (based on original artist here - with his in his name have more than Hochhuth), and Bertrand Tavernier's elaborately painted urns and his Laissez-Passer. (b) The East German something of the night about them. elaborate 'coming-out dress', which Jewish writer Stefan Heym was a In fact, they seem to have been reflects the artist's transvestite alter communist with a penchant for selected for their preoccupation with dissidence. In an interview, his widow ego Claire. The beautiful pottery - a death and putrefaction. pointed up another ambiguity in his symbol of domestic refinement - makeup: while making Jewish confuses the eye, however, as its real characters like King David, Ferdinand intention is to convey Perry's Lassalle and Karl Radek the heroes of obsession with brutal paedophilia, his historical novels, he left instructions that his tombstone in the Weissensee often based on Greek or Victorian Jewish cemetery should not have the sources, in which children seem both Star of David engraved on it. etherealised and victimised. Perry (c) On the occasion of the centenary of engraves the pottery with the tragic Ernst Bloch, the author of Das Prinzip graffiti of child abuse or murder. Hoffnung, a study of utopianism, the Suhrkamp Verlag Frankfurt has Jake and Dinos Chapman, famed published a biography of the dissident Because Nothing Has Changed, for their sexually mutant child Marxist philosopher by Arno Miinster. Anya Gallaccio 2002 mannequins, have vandalised Goya's Austria (a) During the 2003 summer Anya Gallaccio casts a tree in Disasters of War by superimposing season the Reichenau Festival premiered Therese, a play based on bronze on which she strings luscious clownish faces on the master's stricken Arthur Schnitzler's eponymous 1920s red apples in their full prime. She subjects. Comparing sex to death, their novel about a single mother (with sandwiches 800 red gerbera daisies piece de resistance, Sex 2003, is a tree Marisa Horbiger in the lead). The with their long green stalks between hung with decaying, butchered festival also staged Schnitzler's expose huge panes of glass. But, no doubt skeletons, spiders, maggots and flies. of antisemitic bigotry, Professor Bernhardt, as well as a dramatised before the judging panel decides This presumptive, self-proclamatory version of the author's Traumnovelle - between her and her fellow art is the legacy of Damian Hirst's known worldwide as Eyes Wide Shut in competitors, the fruit will wither and maggoty cows and von Hagens's Stanly Kubrick's film version, (b) Three die and the stench of rotting plastinated corpses. In other words, it young Viennese theatre enthusiasts vegetation will fill the gallery. develops from an artistic tradition have founded an Armin Berg Gesellschaft to keep the memory of the Gallaccio sees her art as both sanctioned by the art world. Art says great Jewish cabaret artist alive. performance and collaboration and most when it leaves the viewer a Britain AJR member Lotte Kramer's likes to work with organic things window in which to express his or her poem Exodus has been displayed on the such as chocolate, sugar, flowers and own private response. What response capital's Tube trains as part of the candles to convey the organic can you offer to such overt brutality? 'Poems on the Underground' scheme. AJRJOURNAL DECEMBER 2003

Waltzing on Vesuvius Manja depicts a broad cross-section of German society in order to analyse the TALES FROM THE VIENNA WOODS reactions of various social groups to National Theatre REVIEWS Nazism, from staunch communists and good-hearted liberals to crassly Odon von Horvath chose the title for opportunistic Nazis. The novel is this play with deliberate satiric intent. Cross-section of German powerfully written, though In his view, the tales had as little to do society with romance as the catch phrase 'the occasionally heavily emotional, its view golden-hearted Viennese' denoted MANJA: A NOVEL ABOUT FIVE of German society is incisive, and its generosity of spirit, or die schdne blaue CHILDREN story is well worth the purchase price. Donau described the true colour of the Anna Gmeyner Anthony Grenville eponymous river Persephone Books, 2003, £10 Horvath located the action of the play in Vienna's Eighth District, an area The Weimar Republic opened the road A tale of quest and adventure populated by petty-bourgeois to success to groups like women and SOMEONE TO RUN WITH shopkeepers and civil servants. Three Jews, who had been denied equal David Grossman adjacent shops - a tobacconist's, a access before 1918, and nowhere more butcher's and a toy shop - form the so than in literature. Consequently, translated by Vered Almog and backdrop to the action. The Hitler's accession to power caused a Maya Gurantz tobacconist, a hardboiled peroxided substantial exodus from Germany and Bloomsbury, 2003, £10.99 widow dun certain age sends her lover, Austria of highly talented Jewish A story that brings Jerusalem to life but the work-shy chancer Alfred, packing, women writers who had made their leaves Arab-Israeli politics on a back- whereupon the latter sets his cap at the breakthrough before emigrating to toy shop-owner's daughter Immature burner might seem somewhat unusual Britain. One thinks of Hilde Spiel, later a Marianne breaks off her engagement these days, especially when the author, 'grande dame' of Austrian letters, ofthe to the staid butcher next door and sets David Grossman, is also a respected success enjoyed by Ruth Feiner's novels up home with Alfred without benefit of commentator and journalist. But in his before her untimely death, of Elisabeth clergy When a child comes along recent novel, Someone to Run With, Alfred dispatches it to the salubrious Castonier, and of Gabriele Tergit, an Grossman gives leave to his air of his peasant grandmother's author prominent in the AJR and the imagination to create a tale of quest smallholding. German PEN Club in exile. and adventure. Hereafter the frequently humorous Anna Gmeyner, born in Vienna in Sixteen-year-old Assaf, on a holiday and folksy tone of the play darkens 1902, has undeservedly fallen into job at City Hall, is charged with inexorably - till at curtain fall the jilted obscurity. She made her name as a returning a stray dog to her owner The butcher forces the grief-stricken near- writer in Bedin before 1933, and her long rope connecting the boy and catatonic Marianne into a best-known novel, Manja, was Dinka, the dog, serves as a skilful reconciliation. published in 1938 by Querido, one of metaphor to draw the reader into the The Strauss waltz Horvath chose as the Amsterdam publishing houses that labyrinthine strands of the absorbing his title may have been kitschy, but the favoured refugee writers. Though an narrative, set against Jerusalem's play is an absolute Kitschbuster which English translation was published by subculture of drugs and petty crime. In delivers repeated blows to the Seeker and Warburg in 1939 to the course of his quest, Assaf loses audience's solar plexus. These are, excellent reviews, Gmeyner then much of his adolescent gaucheness however, interspersed with a series of largely disappeared from view. The and can be seen to assume the rib-tickling and, at the same time novel was republished in Germany in mythological qualities of the knight bitter-sweet, set pieces: a children's 1984, and it is greatly to the credit of pursuing the Holy Grail. picnic, a bathing contest, a band Persephone Books that this new Certainly, he has to remain single- performance, a convivial 'Heurigen' and English translation has now appeared. minded. For the dog's owner, Tamar, a/ouche cabaret. Manja is the story of five children, all also 16 and a talented singer, has At the play's end, with the 1,000- conceived on the same night, who disappeared on a quest of her own, to strong audience's applause ringing in become friends despite the differing rescue someone only identified as my ear, I remembered the generally social backgrounds and political views 'Shai'. Although many reviewers have lukewarm critical reception of this of their families. At the novel's centre is production. I would urge readers not to revealed his connection to Tamar, this be put off by the nay-sayers. 7a/es from Manja, the little Polish Jewish gid with a information is withheld until much the Vienna Woods, premiered by Max magical ability to bring happiness, who later, one instance of the economy in Reinhardt in Berlin in 1931 (with Peter is driven to suicide by Nazi brutality. eking out nuggets of background Lorre as Alfred) will, I am sure, still be Like a number of contemporary novels information with which Grossman, a Performed in its centenary year about German society - Anna Seghers's master storyteller, enables the reader to Richard Grunberger The Seventh Cross is the most famous - experience the vicissitudes of the AJRJOURNAL DECEMBER 2003

unknown through which his central The Stasi's greatest coup issues as whether they should go into characters are destined to travel. coalition with the Liberal FDP or the DEMOCRACY To find Shai, Tamar, a female Conservative CDU or try to govern Orpheus, is obliged to penetrate an Michael Frayn alone. Frayn intersperses these with underworld where young street artists Cottesloe Theatre, London internal monologues by Brandt mawkishly wondering about what has are plied with their narcotic fixes and become of his youthful self. milked for their talent. Blocking her The appointment of Willy Brandt, a way is a massive brute, Grossman's man of the left, as German chancellor This bare outline of the play's content and style does not, on its own, make it version of Pluto and Cerberus, the in 1969 was a turning point in postwar appear a 'must see' event. What lifts it ironically-named Pesach. But to enter history. For the previous 20 years West into a different dimension, however, is hell, she must first attract the attention Germanys conservative governments had striven to lock their country into a the direction by Michael Blakemore, of Shai's captors, and this she does by Western alliance while keeping the set designed by Peter J Davison, and singing in many of Jerusalem's streets relations with the East, including the the ensemble acting of the cast of ten. and squares. Grossman captures in DDR, in a deep freeze. Willy Brandt set Yet nagging doubts remain. Frayn's loving detail her lyrical voice and the out to change all that, and his Brandt is hardly a tragic hero whose joys and struggles integral to the act of transparent sincerity and proven downfall stems from a flaw in his own singing. democratic record thawed frozen character A dozen years ago the thesis Each venue is encapsulated in attitudes on both sides of the Iron undedying David Hare's state-of-the Grossman's richly varied prose, the Curtain. His visit to East Germany was Labour Party play The Absence of War most memorable being Zion Square at an enormous crowd-puller, but he was that idealism cannot co-exist with night, pulsating with performing forbore to address the adoring the exercise of power If Frayn has artists, colourful stalls and a retinue of multitudes lest any words of his ignited avoided drawing this facile conclusion, white-clad Breslev Chassids chanting a spark that might turn into a Tony Blair's premiership may have had mystical songs, a scene so vibrantly conflagration. (Little did he know that something to do with it. conveyed I felt I was watching it on within two decades the Berlin Wall Richard Grunberger video. Equally arresting are various would collapse.) Another great, wordless gesture of his occurred, on a personalities Tamar and Assaf trip to Poland, when he dropped to his encounter These include Tamar's friend Annely Juda Fine Art knees at the site of the Warsaw Ghetto. in hell, the tragically self-destructive 23 Dering Street Yet all the time, while the Chancellor green-haired Shell, and two stalwarts (off New Bond Street) was engaged in this ground-breaking from her previous incarnation to whom activity, a Soviet mole ensconced in his Tel: 020 7629 7578 Assaf is led by the wise and virtually office transmitted government secrets Fax: 020 7491 2139 human Dinka. to the East German spy-master Misha CONTEMPORARY PAINTING Leah is the outwardly abrasive Wolff. What enabled the endlessly AND SCULPTURE restaurant owner, with a soft and obliging Gijnter Guillaume to worm his compassionate centre, while Theodora, way into Brandt's confidence was their a cameo-character of striking shared lowly background and originality, is a tiny, wizened nun from fatherless upbringing. After several the sunken island of Lyxos, who years West German intelligence WANTED TO BUY fortuitously avoided death by being 'fingered' and arrested Guillaume, and German and dispatched, aged 12, to preside over a the ensuing scandal abruptly ended convent in the Holy City where pilgrims Willy Brandt's career English Books are awaited but never arrive. Michael Frayn has taken this episode The convent is one unfamiliar locale from recent German history as the Established bookdealer Assaf is taken to. Another, a village subject matter for his play Democracy, (AJR member) which is currently attracting a capacity abandoned by Arabs in 1948 and now always welcomes audience. The danger attendant on occupied by Russian squatters, raises invitations to view such a historical fact-based enterprise the political questions the novel prefers is that the end result may turn out less and purchase to eschew. Assaf recalls the arguments drama than documentary. For all his valuable books his left-leaning sister used to have with well-honed skill as a dramatist, Frayn her former boyfriend. Reli, the sister, For an immediate response, has not entirely avoided that pitfall. has now left Israel for America, needing please contact: Part of the time the audience Robert Hornung 'space', a contemporary state of affairs eavesdrops on urgent discussions 2 Mount View, Ealing, likely to become more common with between the idealistic Brandt, his ex- London W5 IPR no solution to the Israel/Palestine Communist mentor Herbert Wehner, Email: homungbooksSaoLcom Tel: 020 8998 0546 situation in prospect. his pragmatic successor Helmut (Spm to 9pm Is t>est) fmma Klein Schmidt and others, about such arcane

10 AJRJOURNAL DECEMBER 2003

Eric Sanders was born Ignaz the sight in his left eye. Schwarz into a Jewish family eking However, this impairment has out a Hving from a grocer's shop on a PROFILE not cramped Eric's style. Busy both Viennese council estate. At Richard Grunberger in politics and the arts, he has been Realschule his classmates called him short-listed for a Euro 'Nazi' - a diminutive of Ignaz - while parliamentary candidacy, routinely beating him up as a composed Emil and the Detectives 'Jewboy'. Eventually, he learned to Eric Sanders as a school musical, translated hit back. He compensated for Restitution after 67 years several Grillparzer plays, read indifferent progress at school by short stories on LBC radio, and honing his rudimentary pianistic contributed German-language skills, fondly envisaging a future in articles to a journal called Links Tin Pan Alley. He also spent Europa. much time at the Maccabi club In the course of his forays into house, while his younger brother the arts, Eric made contact with a joined Betar. London-domiciled Arab film After the Anschluss the latter left, producer. This chance encounter illegally, for Palestine; the rest ofthe led to the most exotic episode in family came to England. Here, Eric Eric's life: he was asked to write worked first as a messenger boy at the script for a documentary film Bloomsbury House, then as a farm about the Egyptian leader Gamal labourer. Early in 1940 he joined the Abdul Nasser. Preparatory to Pioneer Corps, and within writing the screen-play, he had to months found himself in France. undertake a great deal of research. After the German breakthrough his Nor was that all. During the actual company was the last to be For Eric this trauma was followed by fihning, Eric and his wife Margaret evacuated from St Malo. a period of intense frustration. were flown to Cairo, where, in the Back in England news of his Although some Special Force near-palatial setting of the British father's intemment awaited him. colleagues - see Walter Freud's embassy, he impersonated HM More dramatically, he and his unit article inAJR Information,June 1994 Ambassador involved in the Suez had to dig trenches for troops - were being dropped behind enemy crisis - and Margaret, the latter's preparing to repel the apparently lines, his own turn hadn't come when spouse. (At this point in the imminent invasion. Only weeks later the Austrian front collapsed. interview, Eric quipped: 'Imagine they were billeted to an East End After VE Day Eric was posted back an Austrian yid playing Our Man school assigned to clearing debris to Blighty, where he acted as inCairoV) from the incessantly bombed interpreter and editor of the camp On a recent visit to Vienna, Eric London docks. Their subsequent newspaper in a PoW camp. Finally, talked at length to the staff of his chores comprised somewhat less still in uniform, he spent a year in old school, where a plaque to dangerous manual labour: tree- Vienna as a translator attached to the former Jewish pupils is about to be felling, road-building and the British-Austrian Legal Unit. unveiled. He also subsequently construction of Nissen huts on Demobbed, he went to an met the director of the nearby army camps. Emergency Teachers' Training Volkshochschule (adult education Halfway through the war Eric College (where he met his wife). college). The latter was so volunteered for the Austrian special Over the years he rose through the impressed with Eric's life-story unit engendered by the SOE in ranks of the profession to become that he scheduled a special event pursuance of Churchill's directive first master in a large next March, at which the 'Set Europe Ablaze.' He imderwent comprehensive school. He retired at octogenarian will read literary commando-style training, received the age of 61. Proud of the fitness excerpts and compositions. Since instruction as a radio operator, and acquired in the army, even as a the latter include songs intended was flown to Italy. retiree he would go back to his last for a musical which had every By coincidence, his brother, a school for weekly football games prospect of being staged at the volunteer in the Jewish Brigade, was with ex-colleagues half his age. Theater an der Wien during the also in Italy. The two arranged to Hubris provoked nemesis: a bare 1937/38 season, one could describe meet - but, en route to the meeting year into his retirement, a the up-coming 'one-man show' as place, his brother died in a car crash. footballing accident robbed him of restitution after 67 years.

11 AJRJOURNAL DECEMBER 2003 INSIDE theAJR

Bradford 'Continental Friends' Our meeting, the first of Holocaust survivors in Bradford, was organised by AJR Northern Groups' Co-ordinator Susanne Green, attended by about 16 South London members given a tour of the Cabinet War Rooms by James Taylor people, and held at the Bradford Hebrew origins provided interesting insight into was a change of mood with 'Kiss Me Congregation Synagogue. Each person the background of those present. Good Night, Sergeant Major', with all spoke for a few moments on who they our former soldiers joining in excitedly Next meeting: Monday 22 December at were and why they were attending the in the singing. It was the same with 'Lily 10.45 am: Chanukah Party meeting. This was followed by an Marlene', although the voices did not interesting discussion with memories quite compete with that of Marlene being reawakened. All present were Hull praises recent get- Dietrich. delighted that such a meeting had been togethers Julie Franks held and, indeed, regretted that it had We met at a member's house, where not been held before. Susanne Green gave us updates on Next meeting: Tuesday 9 December, Albert Waxman other AJR groups and developments and 11am distributed the 2004 St Annes' holiday Next meeting: mid-January 2004, to be literature. A review of the recent South London outing to confirmed London day out and of the subsequent Cabinet War Rooms Leeds get-together revealed great On a visit to the Cabinet War Rooms, we llford shaping up well satisfaction from all participants. All four were met by James Taylor, who gave us a Twenty-three people turned up at our Kindertransport members expressed most interesting and informative tour 1 third meeting to hear Michael Rosen interest in a possible visit to Liverpool had never been there before and did not firom the Israeli Embassy give us an Street Station in London. realise that there was so much to see update on the situation in the Middle Bob Rosner and learn. We are very grateful to James East. There was a lively discussion and Taylor for giving up his time on a the vote of thanks was given by Rolf Next meeting: Sunday 1 February 2004 busy day Perias. The group is shaping up well and at the home of Erika Sykes in Brough Herbert Wolff there is already a feeling of permanence among those attending. North London: 'Happiness is an Next meeting Meta Roseneil attitude of mind' Wessex (Bournemouth) Wednesday This was the title of a talk by Bettine Le 17 December. Chanukah Party -I- Next meeting: Wednesday 17 December Quiz at 10.30 am: Walter Woyda on The Beau. Her background in showbiz, clay Rothschilds - The Musical' modelling and film work made her a jolly and entertaining speaker and she had her audience of 23 rocking with laughter. Summer in November in UK Jewish Film Festival For me, and for most of us, a good deal of Bournemouth discussed by Brighton & Hove what she said - 'Look on the positive side We all had to cast off our woollies Sarid in all things!'for instance- rang true. and enjoy the sun. It was At her annual, very welcome visit, Judy Eric Adler unbelievable and wonderful. We Ironside said the UK Jewish Film were taken to see the town of Festival was no longer confined to Next meeting: Thursday 18 December, Dorchester on its market day and to 10.30 am. Chanukah Party Brighton but would be visiting several Swanage on our way back to cities in the UK. Although obviously Bournemouth. Richard, our driver, Jewish themes are predominant, other Essex in tune is a very knowledgeable guide and subjects are being tackled and films from We extended our heartfelt condolences he kept us informed on the local eight other countries (including to one of our members at the recent loss history. Thanks again to our Good Australia, Canada, Germany and India) of his wife after a long illness. David Ball Trinity: Carol, Sylvia and Annie! are being shown. A discussion then played for us various tunes on his Hana Nermut highlighting how Jewish practices differ keyboard. We much enjoyed the Harrow according to their mostly European Warsaw Concerto', after which there

12 AJRJOURNAL DECEMBER 2003

Paul Balint AJR Day Centre 15 Cleve Road, London, NW6 Tel: 020 7328 0208

AJR LUNCHEON CLUB Wednesday 17 December 2003 11.45 am for 12.1 Spm Ernest Kaye 'Mainly Operattas' Early reservations please! Lunch now only £5 Ralph Blumenau addressed AJR Luncheon Club on 'Jewish Medicine in Germany" Please telephone Sylvia or Susie Meeting up Down Under: on 020 7328 0208 Former AJR members Claire Mair, left, and Susan Chotzen have been brought together by AJR TO ALL MEMBERS Day Centre Manager Sylvia Matus. Sylvia put Susan, PLEASE NOTE THAT who visited Australia to see THE DAY CENTRE WILL her son, in touch with Claire, who emigrated BE CLOSED ON several years ago. The two 24 DECEMBER 2003 had never met in England. This is what AJR Is all about!', said Sylvia. Monday - Thursday 9.30 am - 3.30 pm, Sunday 2 pm - 5.30 pm Synagogue Art and Watercolour Paintings special exhibition by Eva Hirschberger (all works are for sale) December Afternoon Entertainment: daily 10 to 31 December 9 am-4 pm Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue Oakland Gate, Northwood Contact Eva on 020 8427 6754 for details Mon 1 Kards and Games Klub ALL WELCOME Tue 2 Yacov Paul Wed 3 Nicola Smedley Thur 4 Michael Heaton - AJR GROUP CONTACTS Show Time Brighton & Hove (Sussex Region) Newcastle Fausta Shelton 01273 734 648 Waiter Knoblauch 0191 2855339 Sun 7 CLOSED Cambridge Norfolk (Norwich) Mon 8 Kards and Games Klub Lisel Eisner 01223 356721 Myrna Glass 020 8385 3070 Tue 9 Curtain Up Dundee North London Wed 10 Opdahl Trio Susanne Green 0151 291 5734 Jenny Zundel 020 8882 4033 East Midlands (Nottingham) Pinner (HA Postal District) Thur 11 Ronnie Goldberg Bob Norton 01159 212 494 Vera Gellman 020 8866 4833 Sun 14 CLOSED Edinburgh Sheffield Mon 15 Kards and Games Klub Fran^oise Robertson 0131 337 3406 Steve Mendelssohn 0114 2630666 Tue 16 Madelaine Whiteson Essex (Westcliff) South London UrryUsner 01702 300812 Ken Ambrose 020 8852 0262 Wed 17 LUNCHEON CLUB Glasgow South West Midlands Thur 18 Jack Davidoff Claire Singerman 0141 649 4620 (Worcester area) Sun 21 DAY CENTRE OPEN Harrogate Ruth Jackson 01386 552264 Mon 22 Kards and Games Klub Inge Little 01423 886254 Surrey Hull Edmee Barta 01372 727 412 Tue 23 Katinka Seiner & Laszio Bob Rosner 0148 2649156 Wessex (Bournemouth) Easton llford Mark Goldfinger 01202 552 434 Wed 24 DAY CENTRE CLOSED Myrna Glass 020 8385 3070 West Midlands (Birmingham) Leeds HSFA Henny Rednall 0121 373 5603 Thur 25 DAY CENTRE CLOSED Trude Silman 0113 2251628 Myrna Glass, AJR South and Midlands Sun 28 DAY CENTRE CLOSED Liverpool Groups Co-ordinator Mon 29 DAY CENTRE CLOSED Susanne Green 0151 291 5734 020 8385 3077 Tue 30 DAY CENTRE CLOSED Manchester KT-AJR (Kindertransport) Werner Lachs 0161 773 4091 Andrea Goodmaker 020 8385 3070 Wed 31 DAY CENTRE CLOSED

13 AJRJOURNAL DECEMBER 2003

FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS THE HOME CARE PRACTICE Deaths ACACIA LODGE Mrs Pringsheim, S.R.N. MATRON Helps you remain in your own home Feist. Ema Alice, n^e Silbermann, born in For Elderly, Retired and Convalescent We can offer you a wide range of Frankfurt/Main in 1898, died peacefully in (Licensed by Borough ot Bamet) London 3 September 2003, one week after • Single and Double Rooms. Personal Care and Support • Ensuite facilities, CH in all rooms. long or short term, living in or out her 105th birthday. Sadly missed and • Gardens, TV and reading rooms. at affordable rates. lovingly remembered by her daughters, • Nurse on duty 24 hours. • Long and short term and respite, Please call Jenny Flavill, our Care Margrit Bishop and Alix Markson, her including trial period if required. sons-in-law, grandchildren, great­ Manager for a no obligation chat on From £350 per week Tel 020 7328 8408 grandchildren, nephew and many friends. 020 8445 1244/020 8446 2820 office hours She was a special lady. 020 8455 1335 other times Fax 020 7624 5002 37-39 Torrington Park, North Finchley, Goddard. Eva Goddard, loving and much London N12 9TB loved wife of Walter, passed away on 14 October. Missed and always remembered by all who knew her. Leo Baeck Housing Association Ltd Clara Nehab House Levy. John. We regret to announce the FROM HOME Residential Care Home If you are lonely, or your family are worried unexpected death on 22 October of John about you alone, consider moving into one of All single rooms with en suite bath/shower Levy, aged 64, of Norman Court. Much our three Progressive Jewish Abbeyfield Short stays/Respite and 24 hour Permanent Care Homes for able bodied pensioners missed by his sister Elizabeth and her Large attractive gardens family, Kurt and Renate Treitel and his Ground Floor Lounge and Dining rooms PEGGY LAG E HOUSE Lift access to all floors V^lm Une, Willesden other cousins, and Barbara, his long-term Easy access to local shops and public transport friend. LILY MONTAGU HOUSE Enquiries and further information Orchard Drive, Edgware Classified please contact: The Manager Clara Nehab House BELMONT LODGE Manicure & Pedicure in the comfort of 13-19 Leeside Crescent Belmont Road, Bushey London NW11 ODA we have a few vacancies, both pennanent your own home. Telephone 020 8343 0976. Phone: 020 8455 2286 and short-stay Paul Balint AJR Day Centre COSTS ARE EXTREMELY REASONABLE For information: check our website - Chiropodist. Trevor Goldman SWITCH ON ELECTRICS wwwjewishAbbeyfieldorg.uk - or phone Wednesday 10 December between 10am- ANN KJRK DtNA LECKER FAY HARKS Rewires and all household 01923821923 02084292317 020S421 5002 11.30am. for Peggy for Beimont for Lify electrical work Lang House lodffi MorWgu House Shirley Lever. New clothes for PHONE PAUL: 020 8200 3518 sale, dresses, underwear, cardigans etc. Wednesday 10 December 9.45am -11.45am SOPHIE'S NURSES ALTERATIONS Suite 51 Park Royal Business Centre 9-17 Park Royal Road THE CARE AGENCY OF ANY KIND TO LADIES' FASHIONS I also design and make children's clothes London NWIO 7LQ Provides you with professional West Hampstead area Teleplione 020 8961 4401 sympathetic, affordable care in 020 7328 6571 Fax 020 8961 0875 your own home. email; [email protected] Live in and hourly rates. www.sophiesrecruitment.com Telephone us on 020 7482 2188 Sophies (SRS) Healthcare at home will Fax: 020 7482 3985 BELSIZE SQUARE enable people to live full and independent SYNAGOGUE lives within their own homes and continue to enjoy comfort and security 51 Belsize Square, NW3 4HX BELSIZE SQUARE APARTMENTS We offer a traditional style of religious 24 BELSIZE SQUARE, NWS service with Cantor, Choir and organ Tel: 020 7794 4307 or 020 7435 2557 Further details can be obtained from the synagogue secretary {^joiAjiny Home Care Modern Self-catering Holiday Rooms, Telephone 020 7794 3949 Care through quality and professionalism Resident Housekeeper, Minister: Rabbi Rodney J Mariner Celebrating our 25th Anniversary Moderate Terms Cantor: Rev Lawrence H Fine 25 years of experience in providing the tiighest Near Swiss Cottage Station Regular Services Standards of care in the comfort of your own home Friday evenings at 6.45 pm Saturday mornings at 10 am 'DROP IN' ADVICE SERVICE Religion School: Sundays at 10 am to 1 pm Nursery School: 9.15 am to 12.15 pm -^> <^ Members requiring benefit advice Belsize Under 3's: 9.30 am to 11.30 am please telephone Space donated by Pafra Limited Linda Kasmir on 020 8385 3070 1 hour to 24 hours care to make an appointment at AJR, Our communal hall is available for cultural Registered through the National Care Standard Comnisston Jubilee House, Merrion Avenue, and social functions ?4 hour telephone 020 7794 9323 Tel: 020 7794 3949 stanmore, Middx HA7 4RL www.colvin-nursine.co.uk

14 AJRJOURNAL DECEMBER 2003

Obituaries categories of payment are now tax-free Jewish Blind Society, then a small and the recipients enjoy the full benefit. organisation providing financial Dr Frank Falk Dr Falk served as AJR Vice-Chairman for assistance to visually impaired Jews. After many years and was known to many the war the JBS became Manfred's life's- Dr Frank Falk, who died shortly before his members for his help, advice and work and vocation and, during the 96th birthday, played a major role in the kindness. He was a member of the AJR subsequent 40 years and as its director, Jewish refugee community and the AJR. Charitable Trust and he wrote many he built it up to constitute an exemplary Born in Dusseldorf, he gained a expert articles for AJR Information and communal organisation, raising funds, doctorate in law from Bonn University. even in retirement he continued to establishing residential homes, holiday Being banned from practising law by the provide advice and help. homes and day centres and helping blind Nazi authorities, he became a Jewish He also served as Joint Chairman of the members of the Jewish community. communal official, ending up as director worldwide Council of Jews from He was awarded the OBE when he retired of the Palestine Office in Hamburg. In Germany, while his further offices in 1980. November 1938 he was sent to encompassed a wide range: from several Manfred, aided by Frances, was a Sachsenhausen concentration camp, but years' membership of the Board of mainstay of the Jewish community of later released to organise German-Jewish Deputies to the chairmanship of the Kingsbury, helping to make it one of the emigration, remaining in Germany until Association of New British (that is, most vibrant and fastest-growing June 1939. refugee) Ex-Servicemen. In between, London congregations. His unique Arriving in the UK, he organised there was Leo Baeck College, the Theodor charm, sharp mind and innate modesty passages to Palestine for some of the Herzl Society and Belsize Square won him the affection of a wide range of 3,000 refugees in the Kitchner camp. On Synagogue. He was a past president of people. He dispensed charity, both the outbreak of war he volunteered for the Leo Baeck B'nai B'rith Lodge, a overtly and covertly, and earned the the British Army, serving in the Pioneer member of the B'nai B'rith executive for undying gratitude of many people, both Corps, later transferring to the many years and one of its only two in England and in Israel. Intelligence Corps. In 1940 he married honorary life members. Lilo Kaufmann. Following Following Manfred's retirement he and Dr Falk entered the Otto Schiff Housing demobilisation, as his legal qualifications Frances moved to Israel, to be near Association residential homes with his were not recognised in England, he their children and grandchildren. In these wife Lilo, who died in 1998, where he studied accountancy and qualified as a 20 years he continued to pursue his spent his last years. chartered accountant, joined a city firm efforts on behalf of the community, and became a taxation specialist. assuming an active role in the English- speaking B'nai Brith Lodge in Jerusalem One of the earliest members of the AJR, Manfred Vanson and serving as its president for two terms. his knowledge both of German law and Like many of those who were forced to British accountancy made him uniquely flee Germany just before the Second For most of his adult life Manfred qualified to pursue restitution, World War, Manfred Vanson sought to served as an example of decency, compensation and pension claims on contribute to the society which had given kindness and unflagging dedication to behalf of thousands of refugee clients, him shelter. helping those less fortunate than himself. particularly in the critical period from He was born in Hamburg in 1916 and Although his father and brother had died 1950 to 1975. By bombarding MPs and escaped to England following before the war, and his sister survived the the Inland Revenue with relevant Kristallnacht. In 1940, together with his war in France, his mother perished in information, he was the key individual young wife, Frances (nee Hirsch), he Theresienstadt, to his lasting sorrow. concerned in obtaining full exemption undertook the care of 25 Kindertransport He is survived by his three daughters, from taxation on such payments from the children in a hostel in Hampstead. At the 18 grandchildren and 25 great­ Inland Revenue. Due to his efforts, all same time, he began working in the grandchildren.

Central Office for persecution, please visit the website Austrian National Fund payment of the International Commission on The Austrian government, through Holocaust Claims Holocaust Era Insurance Claims: the office of the National Fund, Michael Newman vvww.icheic.org. makes a one-time lump sum award 31 December 2003 deadlines The Council for the Compensation of of AS 105,000 (approximately Holocaust Victims in the Slovak £4,500) to Austrian Nazi victims in December is the final month for Republic pays compensation to respect of lost apartment and small making applications to four Holocaust victims (or their heirs) whose business leases, household property compensation funds, which have all properties were aryanised during the and personal valuables and effects. announced extensions to filing Second World War. The Council can be The Austrian Reconciliation Fund deadlines. reached at Kancelaria Rady, P.O. Box See article on page 4. Insurance claims 115, 820 05 Bratislava 25, Slovak To view the list of more than 400,000 Republic. Its website is Applications to the above funds names of insurance policy holders www.holocaustslovakia.sk and its cannot be accepted after 31 who later became victims of Nazi email address is [email protected]. December 2003.

15 AJRJOURNAL DECEMBER 2003

Letter from Israel Dorothea Shefer-Vanson Newsround Israel is quite different from the picture portrayed by scenes of shattered buses and screaming ambulances. German general dismissed There are many aspects of life in A letter of support from Brig. General Israel which are not given prominence Reinhard Giinzel, commander of but occupy an equally important place in Germany's special forces, to MP Martin Hohmann has resulted in his dismissal by the lives of people here. The cultural Defence Minister Peter Struck. life of the major Israeli towns is Hohmann, who sits in opposition as a comparable with that of any large Christian Democrat, described Jews as European city. A plethora of concerts, 'perpetrators' - like Germans - since many exhibitions and plays cater for a wide Jews were Bolsheviks who had taken range of tastes. There are currently at part in the Russian Revolution. least three symphony orchestras 'St. Louis' letter discovered offering concerts almost every night in A rare surviving letter written by a Jerusalem, where I live, and many more passenger on the ill-fated St. Louis, which sailed from Hamburg in 1939 with Dorothea Shefer-Vanson chamber ensembles of various kinds. Numbers of people sing in choirs, Jewish refugee passengers aboard, has Anyone opening the newspapers or participate in amateur dramatic been discovered. It pleads for Cuba's president to allow them to disembark. watching the news in England or societies, attend lectures or go to The ship was forced to return to Europe, anywhere else tends to think that classes on any subject under the sun. where most of its passengers eventually Israelis live in a perpetual state of The Hebrew professional theatre is lost their lives. tension, with people constantly being flourishing, and plays are put on almost Oxford don suspended blown up on buses and in restaiu'ants. nightly in the Jerusalem and Khan Tel Aviv University PhD student Amit For that reason many potential tourists, Theatres. In addition to the Israel Duvshani was refused the opportunity to even Jews, who should know better, Museum, which provides permanent work in Professor Andrew Wilkie's have refrained from visiting Israel in the and changing exhibitions, museums and laboratory at Oxford. The professor had last few years. art galleries offer exhibitions to meet a a 'huge problem' with Israel's treatment of Palestinians and did not wish to take Although there is some truth in that variety of tastes. Cinemas and clubs on 'somebody who had served in the provide another popular form of view, it is far from being the whole Israeli army.' Following a university picture. People get up in the morning entertainment. Tel Aviv likes to think of investigation. Prof Wilkie has been and go to work or school in Israel itself as culturally more advanced than suspended for two months. Vice- much as they do anywhere else in the Jerusalem, and that may be true, Chancellor Sir Colin Lucas said 'he looked world (only the weather is usually but Jerusalem has certainly nothing to forward to applications from able better). Where I work there have always be ashamed of. candidates, whatever their background.' been guards at the entrance, but One outstanding cultural event is the Students to visit Germany that is as much because of what the Choral Music Festival held in the German Ambassador Thomas Matussek central bank contains as to preserve village of Abu Ghosh, just outside has offered to help teachers and Jewish the lives of its employees. In the Jerusalem, three or four times a year. students to experience modern Germany, as an addition to their daytime people toil in offices and Most of the concerts are given in the Holocaust studies, by organising visits, factories, shops and banks. In the church, which has excellent reports the Jewish Chronicle. President evenings they can see alarming stories acoustics. The audience consists Rau and others have expressed concern on television about riots in Bolivia, primarily of Jews but there is also a at many British youngsters' anti-German racism in the British police force, or any sprinking of Christians and Muslims, all attitudes. other news item that has been coming to listen to (mainly Christian) Vichy's handicapped victims selected by editors to be given music. The church is situated in an Arab Most of the 50,000 mentally prominence that night. village whose denizens welcome handicapped victims of Vichy France News programmes must, by their patrons to their restaurants and cafes. starved to death, according to an nature, seize on terrible and unusual This constitutes just one of those gems investigation carried out by academics in Lyon. However, there were no events in order to fill their hourly, daily of coexistence which are more common documents supporting a secret or weekly slot or column inches. And in Israel than is generally believed, genocidal plan as implemented in but which of course are not deemed terrorist attacks on civilians certainly Germany. fall into that category. Yet daily life in newsworthy.

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