V0LUIV1E 1 No.8 AUGUST 2001 QllB journal mm ^^^H Association of Jeu/ish Refugees The widening Atlantic
^^ the 1820s Foreign Secretary horrific Jedwabne massacre of July 1941 Canning looked to the New World - has ignited a countrywide debate about ^erica - to counterbalance the Old. Polish-Jewish relations under the ^rom the 1840s on, the United States Gennan Occupation; in consequence Absorbed Europe's huddled masses the myth that Jews earned their yearning to be free, most famously the neighbours' hatred by collaborating ^sh fleeing the potato famine, and with the Soviets is wearing increasingly Jews fleeing Russian pogroms. In thin. In Russia itself the self-appointed ^^17/18, America became a global 'conscience of the nation', Alexander '^'3yer and helped determine the Solzhenitsjm, who in the past has ^'itcome of the Great War. In the depicted Jews both as promoters and •^terwar years her retreat into The European Union is, overall, a most beneficiaries of the Bolshevik terror, ^^lationism crippled the League of positive development -pace the current has signalled a significant new ^^tions and triggered the Slump. Pearl Franco-German 'alliance' after three departure. He is currently engaged on a ^3rbour brought a vacillating country hundred years of blood-bespattered historical magnum opus which, he says, ^^ the Second World War and, ever enmity, and the sanctions on Austria in will when completed, absolve him of the ••ice, Washington has played a response to the Freedom Party's taint of antisemitism. ^''eponderant - and largely beneficent - inclusion in the government - but it Thus Europe is shining a fitful light •"^le in world affairs. The (flawed) does have its flaws. Most notably, into its gradually receding dark past. 'ections of last November brought Europe takes what it pleases to call a Where this dark past is still alive - at George Bush to the White House with more 'even handed' approach to the least in mens' minds - is the Arab and ^ Agenda that carried troubhng echoes Israeli-Palestinian imbrogho than does MusUm world. Syrian, Iraqi and Libyan ^ 1930s isolationism. This agenda has the US. This is undoubtedly motivated presidents, Iranian and Saudi clerics, "^ce been modified by the pressure of by the above-mentioned financial Egyptian journaHsts, and others, use ^ents, for instance in the Middle East, considerations, as well as the presence invective against the Jews for which '^ere the new President felt obliged to of millions of Moslems in countries like they ought to pay split royalties to '''spatch the Director of the CIA. hi France, Belgium and Spain. Then again, medieval popes and to Julius Streicher. ^er areas though - most notably the though Europe was the actual arena - as By significant coincidence some of the oto Accord and arms control - well as the seedbed - of the Final countries from which this lethal h"•^siden t Bush has stubbornly ignored Solution, the Washington Holocaust propaganda emanates are the very ^^ views of his European allies. Museum plays a more central role in 'rogue states' against whom President y America and Europe are currently the national psyche than do Bush wants to employ his missile ^ting apart, the fault is not all on one corresponding institutions in France or shield. It would be a pity - not to say an even Germany. "^e, however. Some of the founder unintentional crime - if America's go-it- j^^mbers of the EU, most notoriously This is not to downplay the progress alone policy were to prompt Europe into 1^1 '^ce, have often subordinated the Europe, especially its formerly Jewish- taking unilateral counter-actions. That '^'ftmon Western interest to selfish populated East, has been making in would shatter the Western unity that ^^cial advantage in their dealings facing the past. In Poland the has provided large parts of the world ^ Iran and other oil-rich countries. publication of Jan Gross' book on the with prosperity for the past half century. Dark, satanic milltowns AJR Annual General Meeting 2001
Oldham and Burnley currently attract the 'From Kind to the House of Lords' been decided that the project was not media spotlight for two closely related Guest speaker Lord Dubs recalled his viable in the face of competition botn reasons: simmering racial tension which experiences as a Kind arriving in England commercial property developers and the occasionally flares into serious violence, in 1939 from his native Prague. Despite an search had been abandoned. The and double-digit voting percentages underprivileged childhood, Alf Dubs Chairman stressed that AJR had not achieved by the British National Party. The regarded himself as being among the more abandoned responsibility for members two Lancashire towns are in the general living at Eleanor Rathbone House and area where Engels collected material for fortunate. the Marxist classic The Condition of the Entering public life, he served as discussions with OSHA, Jewish Care and English Working Class (1844) and where, Labour MP for Battersea from 1979 to JBG would ensure residents' well-being- some decades earlier, William Blake had 1987 with responsibility for Government The home's management was to be sub conjured up a nightmare vision of 'dark immigration policy. As Director of the contracted to B'nai Brith JBG Housing satanic mills'. Refugee Council from 1988 to 1995, he Association. The Chairman expressed his The textile mills of the Pennines, whose was able to help asylum seekers and appreciation to Jewish Care, OSHA an" postwar demand for labour sucked in refugees. Granted a peerage in 1994, he JBG for their co-operation. immigrants from the Indian sub subsequently served as Minister in Working with five other charities continent, are now largely closed, leaving Northern Ireland for three years, helping involved in Jewish refugee welfare, a neW unemployment black spots in their wake. to further the peace process, and earlier claims and restitution advisory service In consequence, places like Burnley and this year he was appointed Chairman of now operating out of AJR's offices, had Oldham now accommodate a experienced exceptional demand. disgruntled majority of whites alongside the Broadcasting Standards Commission. sizable minorities of insecure Asians. Hon Treasurer W David Rothenberg- Honorary Officers' Reports The whites readily believe myths that detailed financial aspects of the main items AJR Chairman Andrew Kaufman, the authorities favour the immigrants and revealed the intention to combine the reported that 550 new members had over themselves in matters of social AJR's present separate entities into one. provision. This paranoia has reached a joined the AJR, many from KT which was more efficient and cost-saving- point where some are even convinced (Kindertransport). At the Day Centre that the town council allocates more everyone was known and treated Anniversary celebrations money to rubbish collection and traffic- individually; food, entertainment and The celebration of AJR's 60th anniversary calming measures in 'black' than in white atmosphere were second to none and year was to include an anniversary tea and areas. Such myths are assiduously spread there was a special monthly Kinder lunch. cabaret at London's Grosvenor Hous by the professional racist hatemongers A twice-weekly frozen meals-on-wheels Hotel on Sunday 9 September and an the BNP has sent into the area. service maintained a close relationship exhibition chronicling AJR's history- To bring this inflamed situation under with the recipients. The Chairman thanked AJR's many control, the laws on affray and racial To ensure that members could remain in volunteers, members of staff an incitement will have to be strictly invoked for their own homes as long as possible AJR's the Management Committee - and new jobs, especially for the young, their support. created. In addition, immigrant leaders Social Services department offered Mr Ludwig Spiro referred to the themselves need to be more focused on support, and an expanding 'Homecare facilitating integration. Why, for Service' organised and paid for cleaning, excellence of the recent symposium ^ instance, does Burnley have to maintain a caring or gardening. 185 members finding AJR Information, held in co-operation Wi^ costly 'translation unit' almost half a it hard to make ends meet were granted a the Universities of Sussex and London, century after the mass influx of Asians? total of £229,000 from the Self-Aid ftind. which Lord Moser and Dr Anthony AJR Information appeared - in English(l) - AJR spent over a million pounds a year on Grenville had made outstanding within seven years of the mass influx of members' services, leaving a shortfall of contributions and where appreciation w^a German-Jewish refugees into the UK. It £400,000 which could be bridged only with expressed to Richard Grunberger for ni would contribute to inter-racial harmony donations and legacies. 13 years' editorship. Mr Herman if Asian communal leaders applied Hirschberger asked for confirmation AJR was establishing new groups themselves more purposefully to turning the taking of minutes. Mrs Anne Maf* their constituents into English speakers. throughout the UK and kept in touch with invited members to participate in When in Rome... I „^ members through the restyled AJR RG Journal, which maintained its high monthly Luncheon Club Nominees for the Managemen AJR Journal personnel standard. AJR's new website was Committee were re-elected and Sigi Fai Richard Grunberger Editor-in-Chief accessible on: www.ajr.org.uk Ronald Channing Executive Editor and Eric Reich, both Kinder, were electe Vv Marion Koebner Staff Reporter Project unviable for the first time. Andrew Kaufman, AJR Journal, 1 Hampstead Gate, 1 a Frognal, London NW3 6AL A new site to rehouse the Day Centre, David Rothenberg and Eleanor Ang Tel: 020 7431 6161 Fax: 020 7431 8454 together with sheltered accommodation, were re-elected as Honorary Officers- e-mail: [email protected]( www.ajrorg.uk had been sought by AJR- Regretfully, it had HDC 'Sorry' is the hardest word Richard Grunberger NEWTONS Leading Hampstead Solicitors "^ live in an age of celebrity and given sunlamp treatment - for 22 Fitzjohn's Avenue, endorsement. Lady Thatcher was Robeson to interview. At the meal the London NWS 5NB endorsed by the Spice Girls and Tony writer was distant and silent, whereas • All English legal work ^lair by Sir John Mills. One doesn't want his voluble 'translator' gave Robeson all undertaken ° sound snobbishly superior about sorts of assurances. The singer • Assistance given with German, ^"owbiz personalities, but half a century believed the lie because he wanted to Swiss & Austrian matters 80 'big names' involved in political believe it. On his return to the US he • German spoken ^zzamataz were people of greater maintained that the allegedly jailed • Home visits arranged p"avitas: none other than JB Priestley Yiddish writers in the USSR were at 'facilitated' Labour's first landslide liberty, and condemned the American Tel: 020 7435 5351 Victory in 1945. papers' biased reporting. Fax: 020 7435 8881 1945, of course, also ended the vogue Another pro-Communist celebrity °^ celebrity involvement with the with reason to regret things he had said ^efunct 'great' dictators. Suspecting that earlier was Jean-Paul Sartre. Asked after e^ readers know the extent of this 1956 (i.e. Khruschev's exposure of PARTNER 'aboration, I will just quote the names Stalin) why he had previously denied the in long established English '^bree collaborationist Nobel Prize existence of the Gulag, Sartre argued Solicitors (bi-lingual German) j^ers for Literature: Knut Hamsun, that such an admission would have would be happy to assist clients erhart Hauptmann and Luigi confused the 'men of Billancourt' - site of with English, German and ""andello. The last named died in the the Renault car plant - and would have Austrian problems. ^d-thirties, but Hauptmann survived strengthened the forces of the Right. The Contact Henry Ebner e War by one year, and Hamsun by British Communist Party, unable to ven. Neither even tried to justify thefr enlist intellectual 'superstars' like Sartre, Myers Ebner & Deaner ^'•er conduct. Given their great age - made do with the eminent scientists 103 Shepherds Bush Road th Were over eighty - this was perhaps Bernal and Haldane. The geneticist JBS London W6 7LP ^
^ong the Jewish refugees firom Hitler I have gathered material about no intention of doing anything. Given ^ho came into contact with British Jews refugee domestics in Anglo-Jewish the shortage of time before the war, this ^ry early were those young women households, and by and large it tells a sealed her mother's fate. That a Jewish ^ho had come to Britain as domestic sorry tale of exploitation, insensitivity family should sabotage the last chance of ^rvants - one of the categories of and a lack of compassion often verging a young Jewish refugee's mother to ^fugee to whom entry visas were most on callousness. Of course, many escape from the Nazis, pocketing her readily granted - and found themselves refugees had positive experiences of wages into the bargain, is shocking. orking in Anglo-Jewish homes. Anglo-Jewry and many developed close Clearer evidence of the lack of natural 'Astonishingly enough, this area has ties with that community. But it did not bonding between the two groups of Jews ^en almost completely ignored by the take many cases of bad treatment in the would be hard to find. Scholars who have worked on the Jewish early days to embitter relations between •^^fugees fi-om Hitler in Britain. For the two groups permanently. The Cultural divide example. Professor Tony Kushner's experiences of two former domestics Part of the problem lay in the fact that Powerful account of the plight of those writh whom I conducted interviews are the Anglo-Jewish hosts, though "0 came to Britain on domestic cases in point. Both came to London reasonably affluent, were still only on a Permits, An Mien Occupation, contains from Vienna as very young women not relatively lowly rung of the British social ''^ sohtary sentence on the treatment long before the war and both endured a ladder, and that the level of JiQUred by refugee domestics in Jewish succession of truly dreadful jobs in sophistication in such lower middle- '^useholds. To read Kushner, one would Anglo-Jewish homes. What struck me class households compared "•nk that the ladies who mistreated was not so much the humiliating unfavourably with the emphasis on ^ir refugee servants were all gentile drudgery, poor wages, demeaning culture and education in Continental "^tish and that none was Anglo-Jewish. treatment and squalid conditions: these Jewish homes. My interviewees would have been the lot of servants "^s is plainly far from the case. On the encountered levels of ignorance and everywhere, in Vienna or Berlin as well ^ntrary, it is obvious that many young even illiteracy that astounded them, not as in England. ^*Ugee women would have been to speak of habits of personal hygiene J'thestics in Anglo-Jewish households. that led one former refugee domestic to Lack of compassion Tstly because such households would remark that whenever she began to like ^^e been more likely than their gentile Far worse was the lack of basic human her employers, she only had to walk up '^^nterparts to take on Jewish refugee compassion shown by fellow Jews to the stairs close behind them for liking persecuted co-religionists, helpless /^dservants, out of a sense of duty and and respect to evaporate. Another young women desperately concerned 'fig better informed about the plight of interviewee, who after the war worked about their famihes trapped in Nazi ^ Jews under Nazi rule; and secondly with a Jewish fund-raising organisation, Austria. One was offered a job by a <^use the refugee women, or their commented that the local committees wealthy Jewish lady, but on condition /fellies who made arrangements for were composed of volunteers who that she never spoke about Hitler or her ^^, naturally often aimed for included magnates from the financial family in Vienna; when she asked ^'tions in Jewish homes. another employer to act as guarantor for and property worlds, but who had little interest in the musical and artistic high ^^oo subject her mother and brother, he shouted at cultiure in which the refugees were ^'^ foracademic s like Kushner, who are her and told her that she was asking him steeped. Wealthy British Jews might be ^i^ly concerned to highlight the to sign his own death warrant. When her seen at the socially prestigious opera, r^"" treatment of the refugees by the brother did get to England, he was but not at the theatre or at concerts, , '^ish, any evidence of hostility forbidden to enter the house. Her whereas for the refugees the Wigmore ^een the refugees and Anglo-Jewry mother never got out. Hall became something of a cultural is ^ unwelcome diversion, since it The other young woman was the Mecca. This difference in interests \ ^atens to obscure the supposedly victim of a cruel deception. To stop her cl( proved a real barrier to closer social ^ division between the refugee handing in her notice, her employers interaction. The ascent of British Jews . ^ish ethnic minority and an promised to bring over her sister and up the social scale took place under a "^lerant, xenophobic and latently mother. When her sister arrived and '•'Semitic British majority. The subject refused to work for the family because of system of values quite different from Confiic^^ between the Jewish refugees the appalling conditions, it emerged that that of the Continental Jews, . '^ Central Europe and British Jews is the employers had not made an accentuating the divide between the ^,•iiall y taboo for such scholars. application for her mother, and now had two groups. date of birth, concentration camp and - where known - date of death. .AETTERS^ The Editor reserves the right Some entries include short to shorten correspondence I TO THE 1 submitted for publication biographies and photos. The information can be obtained by post ^ EDirOR i from DOW, Altes Rathaus, Wipplingerstrasse 8,1010 Vienna, or from the website (www.doevvjt). Goethe Schule in Berlin-Wilmersdorf A DIFFERENT GERMANY? A form is available to register in the mid 1930s, did his best to be a Sir - Driven not by generosity of spirit information about victims, as well as role model too. First, he tried or remorse but by the knowledge those Jews who were living in Austria unsuccessfully to kick me out for that German business will not now in 1938 but who managed to escape- insolence to my maths teacher Then be sued, the German Parliament I hope this project, which will help to he summoned the whole student approved the compensation for slave refute revisionism, will be supported body to the Aula, called me to the labourers not less than 56 years after front and gave me an official warning by survivors here. they were freed. At the same time a George Vulkan not to incur one more Tadel before Munich court will sentence Anthon Harrow, Mddx the following Easter In the event, I Malloth (89) - it took 30 years to bring left without collecting another Tadet. him to justice for more than 100 RIGA GHETTO MONUMENT Bern Brent murders and many witnesses have Sir - The preparations for the Ferrer, Australia since died. memorial service at the cemetery if^ So when the reviewer of Haffner's RETURN TO VIENNA the forest outside Riga are complete (see Riga ghetto monument, Octobef book (June 2001) claims that those Sir - My wife and I, along with 80 who fail to acknowledge the former Viennese Jews, recently 2000). The memorial service, to be emergence of a different Germany visited Vienna as guests of the Jewish conducted by Vienna's senior Rabbi must be blind, I just wonder who is. Welcome Service. Among the Dr Chaim Eisenberg, will take pla'^^ Frank Bright highlights was the reception in the on 30 November this year Leading Ipswich, Suffolk Hofburg (televised) by President personalities from various countries will also attend. The names of a" CONFLICT COMPARISONS Klestil who made a moving speech those who perished in the Ri9^ Sir - For Frank Bright to compare the declaring that antisemitism would ghetto will be immured in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with the not be tolerated in Austria, and cemetery in everlasting memory ° 1920-22 Turko-Greek situation underlining Austria's debt to its the dead. All those German citie* [Letters May 2001) is neither helpful Jewish citizens in the worlds of from which there were transports t nor logical. If the Israelis want to live science, medicine, literature, music Riga have co-operated in the Initia^^ in peace with their Palestinian etc. A few days before the re-election neighbours, they should cease to of the Mayor of Vienna, we enjoyed a Riga project and work is in hand to build provocative settlements in Jause in the Rathaus where we met construct a list of all those murdered conquered Palestinian land. the Mayor. There was also a in Riga. The Vienna list is complete. Inge Trott memorable Friday evening service in Anyone - survivor or friend - ^bo Cheam, Surrey the beautifully restored City wishes to attend the ceremony '* Synagogue with an address by Chief very welcome. , PROPHETS WITHOUT HONOUR Rabbi Dr Eisenberg. The work of the Erich Herzl Sir - Readers interested in Vienna's Jewish Welcome Service's Dr Leon Initiave Riga, Wollzeile 9. 1010 Vienna early 20th century cultural Zelman, who is also active in the field contribution will find a thorough and of Austro-Jewish education, is much interesting study of the period in appreciated. Schorske's Fin de Siecle Vienna, Albert Dutch JACKMAN • (Vintage books) published in 1981, London NW2 SILVERMAN which caused quite a stir at the time. COMMERCIAL PROPERTY CONSULTANTS AUSTRIAN ARCHIVE Dr K Schiller Sir - AJR members may be interested Knutsford, Cheshire to know that the Austrian Resistance ROLE MODEL? movement archive has a list of 26 Conduit Street, London WIR 9TA Sir - Martha Goebbels' (May 2001) 61,000 Austrian-Jewish victims of the Telephone: 020 7409 0771 Fax: 020 7493 SOU brother, Dr Quandt, principal of the Shoah. The list includes full names. Tax exemption on Central Office For Arts and Events Diary Holocaust Claims Holocaust bank accounts August Michael Newman Compensation paid by banks on unclaimed accounts, opened by Until 27 Aug Legacies of Silence: etails of the Holocaust era agreement Holocaust victims and frozen during The Visual Arts & the Holocaust. Involving two major international banks World War II, will be tax free, the The contribution of artist-witnesses have been announced. and survivors to post-war culture and Government has confirmed. Barclays and JP Morgan are to pay the arts. Imperial War Museum. •^Ofripensation for their role in operating Under an initiative called "Restore *'th the Vichy and occupational UK", announced on 8 May 2000 by the Until 23 Sep Judaica exhibition at authorities to plunder systematically the British Bankers' Association, the Jewish Museum, Dorotheergasse bank 11, Vienna. accounts, safe deposit boxes and compensation is being paid by banks on other valuables of their Jewish clients Until 14 October Leo Baeck: oth before, and in accordance with, unclaimed accounts opened by antisemitic laws passed in France Holocaust victims and frozen during Aus dem Stamme von Rabblnern. during WWII. World War II under the Trading with the Frankfurt Jewish Museum. 0049 69 21230705. The banks have created Settlement Enemy Act 1939. Where the investor of '^"'ids totalling US$ 6,362,500, with the monies in the unclaimed account Until 28 October Remembering ^ore than half contributed by Barclays. was a Holocaust victim, the banks have LubomI: Images of a Jewish ^Parate funds will be established to pay said they will make an exceptional up- Community. Jewish Museum, Administrative and legal costs. Camden Town. Claims are also admissible in respect of rating payment. ^sets held with the predecessors of No tax will be payable on any monies Until 4 Nov Kladovo successful & ^''clays and JP Morgan, including paid out by banks or building societies unsuccessful escapes to Palestine. ^°thschild Freres, Morgan et Cie and under the "Restore UK" initiative to Photographic exhibition at the Jewish ^Ofne branches of Lloyds Bank. Museum, Vienna. Submission of claims is not dependent Holocaust victims or their beneficiaries. ^ documentary proof. Claims will be This exemption will cover income tax Until December Exhibition of ^Alued by converting to US$ the balance liabilities on any compensation Jewish cartoonists. Jewish Museum, ^^ at 1940 and then calculating its payments made on or after 8 May 2000 Finchley. Equivalent as at 1999 - for Barclays under the scheme, as well as death ^ Aimants - and as at 2000 for JP Morgan duties in respect of the capital held in the Organisation Contacts •^'^imants. accounts. Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Rd., "following a fairness hearing to be held ^^^r this year, potential claimants will Enquiries to: 020 7438 6420/ 6425 London SEI 6HZ. 020 7416 5320 h, A^e until 30 September 2002 to submit The Jewish Museum, Camden Town, Pplications. Then, and not earlier, claims 129-131 Albert Street, NWl 7BN. '" be assessed and awards made. Tel: 020 7284 1997 . ^ an application form or further Companions "J^ormation, telephone 0800 169 8318 of London Sternberg Centre for J^^) or access the Internet at Incorporating Judaism/Jewish Museum, Finchley. Hampstead Home Care "-^'^^aL.barclaysfrenchclaims.orayst q or 80 East End Road, London N3 2SY. iPmorganfrenchclaims.org A long established company Tel: 020 8346 2288/ 8349 1143. Svvi'S S banks providing care in your home To ensure their application will be Assistance with personal care ^^ssed, applicants who have had no General household duties f% SPRING "^firmation of receipt of claims Respite care ornitted in respect of Swiss bank Medical appointment service GROVE founts should send a registered letter 214 Finchiey Road °*heciaims Resolution Tribunal, PO. Box OUR CARE IS YOUR CARE' London NW3 020 7483 0212/0213 j^66, JAF Station, New York NY 10116- London's Most Luxurious j "6, USA. The deadline for filing claims RETIREMENT HOME ^SAugust 2001. Simon R Rhodes M.Ch.S. • Entertainment-Activities Sherhelp STATE REGISTERED CHIROPODIST • Stress Free Living Surgeries at: • 24 Hour Staffing • Excellent Cuisine ."^'tten enquiries should be sent to 67 Kllburn High Road, NW6 (opp M&S) • Full En-Suite Facilities ^Ef^tral Office for Holocaust Claims (UK), Telephone 020 7624 1576 . "lampstead Gate, 1a Frognal, London Call for more information 3 Queens Close (off Green Lane) ^3 6AL. For assistance with the or a personal tour Edgware.Mlddx HA87PU "^pletion of application forms please Telephone 020 8905 3264 020 8446 2117 ^^'^Phone 020 7431 6161 for an or 020 7794 4455 '^fointment. Visiting chiropody service available [email protected] RGs INT6RFACG
Ml Opera uproar. Opera houses in different countries are much in the &. REVIEWS headlines - but, unfortunately, largely for non-musical reasons. La Fenice in Venice burnt down, the Bolshoi face financial ruin, Bayreuth is riven by Art Notes feuds among the Wagner clan and the Gloria Tessler cash-strapped Berlin municipality needs to shed an entire opera house. You always sense a kind of awed silence The municipal authorities, who in Cold in the presence of genius. It was true of War days subsidised the arts to the hilt the Renoir Exhibition, and it is true of for propagandist reasons, are currently embroiled in a painful cost-cutting the National Gallery's Vermeer and exercise - while captains of industry the Delft School, which continues until The Milkmaid - Johannes Vermeer seem to lack the Maecenas instinct. ©Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam 16 September. Although genius is (One wonders if German musicians sometimes regret the emigration of difficult to define, it is instantly contrast the heavy splendour of dress or the likes of Paul Hamlyn.) recognisable. There are no histrionics drapery with a face so subtle it is Broadway Praterstrasse. In June with Vermeer. He works subtly and almost etiolated. Vienna's Jewish Museum staged the three-week Mazeltov 2001 festival of without egotism. The Delft School of the By contrast, Pieter de Hooch's rigid exhibitions, music and dance. A unique Dutch 17th Century celebrated the family scenes contain a geometric sense feature of the event were guided tours material lifestyle of the landowner class. of space where children themselves of sites in the Second District, where By the time Vermeer came along in the appear less as children than mini adults. Yiddish theatre and cabaret had once been performed. mid 1660's, this preoccupation with solid While his linear perspective and matter softened into a more subtle geometric clarity became a feature of Playwright 'outed'. Some years ago Patrick Marber burst on the London examination of light and the way it filters Delft painting, he lacks Vermeer's grace. theatrical scene like a two-stage and suffuses its subjects. Thirteen of My overwhelming impression of The rocket. Soon after the poker-based Vermeer's works are presented here Royal Academy's Summer Dealers' Choice, came the cutting-edge play Closer featuring the Internet and there are references to worldliness Exhibition is of being overwhelmed. (alongside sexual explicitness). With in the background maps, perhaps a nod But the Academy's 233rd Summer Howard Katz - currently at the to Dutch imperialism, heavy tapestry Exhibition does have some saving Cottesloe - Marber has revealed himself as a sentimental Jew. The curtains, voluptuous folds of cloth - - and graces, and among them is its sheer revelation (of Marber's state of mind, yet what he conveys is people at work. vitality and modernity. Kitaj's delightful not his ethnic origin) ha' In The Milkmaid, with its wonderful charcoal, Braiding Hair, and Peter discombobulated the critics. curves and attention to detail, it is the Blake's Madonna of Venice Beach, solidity of her face which reflects the showing a girl in a non-matching bikini physical roughness of the pitcher and roller-skating, admirably catches the GERMA]^ and bowl. The Art of Painting shows how the light and the busy scene just behind her. EI\GLISH BOOKN soft yet brilliant light from the left lifts The bed, de rigeur with the modem art the satin of the artist's clothes while world, has had its day or, should we say, BOUGHT Antiquarian, secondhand and retaining the focus of the composition on its night. Tate Modem had its latrine modern books of quality the model. The artist is seen only from and the Summer Exhibition has its bath, always wanted. the back dressed in the velvets and complete with feet and etchings in satins of a wealthy gentleman. So enamel and terracotta by Antoni We're long-standing advertisers here and leading buyers of brilliant is Vermeer's composition that Tapies. A huge painting resembling a books from AJR members. even the background of the painting will cross between a tube map and a allude to the texture or shapes shown in lecturer's blackboard notes attracted We pay good prices and the main subject matter. Other much speculation at the opening. There come to collect. paintings, like Woman ivith a Lute, are some exciting abstracts by George convey the idea of incompleteness - the Rowlett, Arthur Francis Stockham, For immediate response, please contact: subject waits by a window as though for Kenneth Draper, Maurice Cockrill, - Robert Hornung MA(Oxon) a partner in a duet. Similarly, the appeal and Ian Stephenson. For figurative 2 Mount View, Ealing, examples, David Remfry's Party has London W5 IPR of Girl ivith a Red Hat is the look of Email: [email protected] . surprise on her face. Often Vermeer will intrigue and movement Tel: 020 8998 0546 (Spm to 9pm is bcs*'
8 Rev! seamless interweaving of a variety of phenomenon deriving from ews elements into the body of the narrative. postmodernism rather than an "assault Portrait of a trial Aspects of Holocaust history, statistics, on the history of one particular group." seemingly hair-splitting arguments, He takes issue, too, with the hostility THE HOLOCAUST ON TRIAL, anecdotes - all manner of information directed at prominent refugees from ^ D Guttenplan, is pun/eyed, leaving the reader eager to Nazi Europe like Raul Hilberg, Hannah '^ranta, 2001. continue, not knowing what surprise Arendt and Arno Mayer, whose might be coming next. observations and testimonies might ^he controversial title of this recent A striking feature of the trial was the not fit the standard blueprint. In book is certainly justified. Many who defence's use of a team of experts on contrast, he regards the extreme followed last year's libel trial may the Holocaust and historiography, oversimplification of the contemporary '•^member feeling gripped by an rather than survivors. Guttenplan historian, Daniel Goldhagen, who underlying anxiety: had David Irving regrets this absence of "human voices censures the entire German people as prevailed in his suit against Deborah to put flesh on the facts", even though murderous antisemites, as particularly •-ipstadt and Penguin books, the he understands why such a choice was dangerous. No less so are universally historical legacy of the Holocaust made. His assessment of the court accepted half-truths that turn out to be ^ould be under threat. A prediction performance of the experts adds a myths, including the belief that people •^aomi Gryn and I shared after the trial's touch of liveliness and humanity to the were gassed to death in Belsen and 'inal session was that Irving would be account, as do his fair and illuminating ^Warded the proverbial halfpenny pen portraits of the protagonists, Irving Dachau, that the King of Denmark ^^ch a pyrrhic victory would have and Lipstadt, and members of the wore a yellow star and that Pastor proved disastrousforthedefence. defence's legal team. Niemoller opened his memorable testimony to the indifference of '^ is greatly to Guttenplan's credit What makes the book of particular bystanders with "First they came for the ^hat he has succeeded in providing a interest to readers familiar with the Jews ..." rather than "First they came for blow by blow account of the trial whilst subject is Guttenplan's challenge to the Communists ..." All this provides Preserving a sense of suspense, even various Jewish responses to the legacy ample fodder for the Holocaust - though the outcome is known. His of the Holocaust. He is not convinced denier's cannon. Pook benefits, too, from being by Lipstadt's argument, in her Denying Extremely readable thanks to his the Holocaust, that denial is a Emma Klein
^f^ossed Lines? Since the premises had once been used peaceably to a position less demanding to store Zyklon B gas, the objection by on Jewish susceptibilities were all too ^^^E BATTLE FOR AUSCHWITZ, several Jewish organisations to the frequently hampered by scepticism on ^"inia Klein, convent's siting was not unpredictable. the one hand and undisguised ^3"ent/ne Mitchell, 2001. All the same, their response came as a antisemitism on the other. The struggle surprise to Polish Christians, who did continued until, at last, in May 1993, ^nce every two years, thousands of not see why their own suffering under the nuns were to be rehoused in a more I'Oung Jews demonstrate their concern the Nazis should not also be symbolised appropriate location, still near the Or due remembrance of the Holocaust by Auschwitz. But the erection in 1989 camp but less hurtful to Jewish y joining the 'March of the Living' of a large wooden cross on the convent feelings. They refused to move and left ^hich retraces, in silence, the footsteps lawn was bound to give even more Oswiecim altogether. But the large r the Jewish martyrs from the huts of serious offence to Jews and the 'slide wooden cross has remained - and so ^^schwitz to the gas chambers of towards confrontation' was under way. has the problem. In her concluding , "''^enau. It is a poignant gesture. But By the end of that year, battle was chapter, the author surmises that the ^ symbolic significance gains even joined in earnest and years of verbal resolution of this embarrassing greater weight when it is considered in exchanges, diplomatic interventions, impasse might be found in an eventual religious disputations, and heartache ^ context of the events described by - albeit reluctant - acceptance by Jews where comfort should have prevailed, "^rna Klein in her new book. of the Christian cross as a suitable ensued. Before long, the conflict 'his slim volume is the result of memorial for Jewish as well as Christian assumed world-wide dimensions ^'ristaking (and no doubt, at times, martyrdom. But she also acknowledges involving rabbis, priests, bishops, , ^'riful) research into the increasing that the end of the battle for Auschwitz cardinals, politicians, journalists and hristianisation' of death camp is not yet in sight. She is to be broadcasters. ^"^embrance. She records the congratulated on her careful and "^^Umstances leading to the Catholic- Among those who have, over the commendably objective formulation ^ish conflict, which began in August years, sought to repair the damage to of, as Jonathan Webber puts it in his ^84 when fifteen Carmelite nuns Jewish-Christian relations has been Sir Introduction, "at least some of the main ^t^blished a convent in a building Sigmund Sternberg. Unfortunately, his questions." est) "^^e to the former Auschwitz camp. efforts to restore the situation David Maier Economical with the Truth others in the volume which provide bitter-sweet 'light' relief. One article Kecoixl Koviov THE YEARBOOK OF THE RESEARCH deals with the role of the Remigrant CENTRE FOR GERMAN AND Peter de Mendelssohn in re-creating a AUSTRIAN EXILE STUDIES, democratic press in Allied-occupied (ed) Anthony Grenville, Germany. Resentful Berliners accused The American conductor and academic Editions Rodopi, 2000. de Mendelssohn, who had lived Leon Botstein has built up a considerable reputation for espousing unusual and The German-speaking Exiles in Great through the London Blitz, of having neglected repertory on disc. Initially a Britain series presents subject matter observed their ordeal - air raids, street specialist in romantic music, he has set of absorbing interest. Arguably the battles, etc - from a "safe distance". He down admirable recordings of works by most important topic touched on here was also admonished by his wife Hilde Brahms' friend Joseph Joachim (^^ is encapsulated in the title of the book Spiel, who had stayed behind in Classics 3036 702092), the oratorios The Myth of Rescue: Why the London, not to show undue readiness Paulus by Mendelssohn (Arabesque Democracies could not have saved to fraternise with artists tainted by Z67053) and the intriguing Odysseus by more Jews from the Nazis by William their Nazi past. Yet within weeks of her Max Bruch (Koch 365572). More Rubinstein (1997). Frank Baron takes own arrival in Berlin, Spiel accepted an recently he has turned his attention to issue with Rubinstein's thesis in a invitation to take tea with the wife of the 20th century, providing a highly persuasive account of the somewhat contribution focusing on two eye Veit Harlan, director of the 'genocide Brahmsian First Symphony of Dohnanyi witness accounts of the Nazis' promotion movie' Jud Suss. Later, back supported by solid playing from the ongoing extermination programme: in her native Vienna, Spiel also Jan Karski's about Warsaw and Belzec London Philharmonic Orchestra socialised with the top-ranking (TelarcCD80511). in 1942, and Rudolph Vrba's about Austrian novelist Heimito von Doderer, Auschwitz in 1944. When these Perhaps his most interesting whose oeuvre would have earned him discoveries concern 20th-century reached Western leaders they a jail sentence - or worse - in liberated German music. A release containing the prompted some - but lamentably France (pace the fate meted out to First and Sbcth Symphonies and the insufficient - action. In 1944 both Drieu le Rochelle, Celine and others). Symphonic Poem Miserae by Karl Washington and the Vatican But, of course, anybody who Amadeus Hartmann (1905-1963) offers interceded with the Hungarian Regent eloquent testimony to one of the fe^ resettled in a previously infected Admiral Horthy who, however, was German musicians who openly defied the environment, perforce had to come speedily deposed in a Nazi putsch. The Nazi regime while remaining in his native blame for too little being done to save into contact with virus carriers. This is country. This is powerful an° Hungary's Jews is, according to Frank something the directors of the uncompromising music of suffering ano Baron, shared by US Assistant Austrian exile theatre must have protest, drawing upon a diverse range o Secretary of War John McCloy, known intuitively, because in wartime musical influences including MahleC Cardinal Seredi (who justified his London the Laterndl performed the Bart6k and Schoenberg. With the silence by citing the example of his rustic playwright Karl Schonherr, who London Philharmonic Botstein delivers superior. Pope Pius XII) and Budapest had hailed the Anschluss. However, it committed performances of wor* that should be far better known community leader Rudolf Kastner; the appears that not all intending re- (TelarcCD80528). latter suppressed Vrba's Auschwitz migrants had that 'sixth sense.' Eva report because he was pursuing Kolmer, the indefatigable organiser of A more controversial recording is t"^ of Richard Strauss' final opera Die Lieb^ illusory negotiations with Eichmann. the Free Austrian Movement, had der Danae (Telarc CD80570 3CDs)- The most revealing fact in Baron's spent her entire seven-year exile Composed during the Second Worid War- piece, however, relates to the disseminating the myth of widespread but performed only once before Austrian resistance to German hysterically - if understandably - Goebbels' declaration of total war in hostile reactions to the Auschwitz occupation. She was to experience a 1944, this is the most overtly Wagnerian profound shock when, en route to report among ordinary Hungarian of Strauss' stage works. Occasionally tn t>eQ Jews: recently liberated Vienna in 1946, she musical invention outstays its welcond^' witnessed hundreds of Tyrolean the "When Dr A Nathan tried to read though there are passages where " women bidding tearful farewells to composer recaptures the inspiration o from it to a Jewish labour service unit his youth. This first modern recording ° the reaction was awful. They called their departing German Wehrmacht the work made at a concert in New Yor him a defeatist, a traitor If it had not boyfriends. This sad anecdote is has plenty of adrenalin, and although tn been for a few Zionist friends they related by Charmian Brinson, who notes with regret that Kolmer's name quality of the soloists is decidedly mixe > would have beaten him to death." Botstein ensures that the opera move means little to posterity. It is with relief that the reader turns with pace and a sure sense of direction. from this hugely upsetting topic to Richard Grunberger
10 i can t remember a time in my life when Prof Wolffs career with the Medical Wasn't convinced I would do something PROFILE Research Council (MRC) began when *ith science, technology or Marion Koebner he responded to an advertisement for a engineering." Even without seeing the physicist to design equipment to playful bow-tie and absent-minded measure dust concentrations in coal professor coiffure, few would mistake Professor Heinz Wolff mines. Being "one of the few people who the voice of Professor Heinz Wolff, knew how to count little things" and 'amiliar to many from television series wnth a good word from his old boss and a such as the Great Egg Race and Great few influential friends, he got the job Experiments Which Changed the World. despite lacking formal qualifications and Heinz Wolff arrived with his family in moved to Penarth, near Cardiff, where Britain aged 10 on the day the Second he met his future wife, Joan. When the World War broke out. Bom in Beriin, the MRC suggested it was time he got a °% child of a "typical middleclass and degree or other higher qualification, he highly assimilated family", he led a read physiology and physics at ^comfortable life in the family home on University College, London, working •^he Kurfurstendamm, attending a for the MRC during the long vacations. Private Jewish school in Berlin's In 1954 he graduated with a Ffrst. ^runewald. Between 1933 and 1939, Interested in working in the human Respite his tender age, Heinz would physiology field,i t became clear to Prof '^company his father - who had become Wolff that biological establishments, ^^ expert in Gleichschaltung including medical ones, were unable to ^^anisation) when he could no longer make use of technological advances ''^^ke a living from the family textile since the war because they knew business - to business meetings. From After registering as aliens, the family insufficient about them. He saw a niche ^"e age of four, he 'did' chemistry with settled in northwest London and Heinz for people straddling the biological •^'s father on Sunday afternoons, thanks and his cousin attended school near sciences and engineering sciences and ° a schoolboy laboratory built up by Golders Green, his aunt helping to bring coined a new description for himself as a •^•s father who had once yearned to be him up until he was 15. His father 'bio-engineer'. ^chemist. avoided internment by presenting In 1983, he left the MRC and founded Had it not been for the mother's himself to the tribunal leaning heavily the Brunei Institute for Bioengineering illness and death in October 1938, the on his son's shoulder wearing dark at Brunei University. He is now ^ily - including Heinz's aunt, uncle glasses and using a walking stick. He Emeritus Professor of Bioengineering. ^nd cousin - would have emigrated was adjudged not to be a danger to the One of his current projects involves a kit ^^lier. As it was, Wolff senior facilitated state! When a land mine blew in the working on the principle of detecting "Usiness deals which allowed would-be front door and windows of their hazards, which can be installed in the ^niigrants to build up credit balances in Hampstead Garden Suburb home, the home of any elderly person wishing to "Countries (including the UK) which family evacuated to Oxford. Even after continue living at home. Prof Wolffs ^ould not admit them unless they could the family returned to London, Heinz conviction is that, in the 21st century, demonstrate that they could be self- stayed on in Oxford to complete his the community will have to take a larger ^^Pporting. Helped by the Gestapo schooling. Having offered him a place to Contacts of his devoted 'Aryan' read chemistry, St Catherine's College, share of the responsibility of looking after its elderly Differing from the ecTetary, he also became active in Oxford, invited him to postpone his mainstream, his view is that innovation ^Icerfering in the operations of the studies by one year in view of his young in the 21st Century will not be primarily Gestapo thus assisting a number of age and the many ex-servicemen '^ople to leave Germany. On 27 August retuming home who would want places. in science and technology, but will ^39 the Wolff family crossed the Heinz acceded and got a job at the focus on the way in which society erman-Dutch border, intending to Radcliffe Infirmary where he invented a organises itself. "^^main in Holland until all five visa principle which made possible the Looking back, the man who describes "^bers for entry to the USA were construction of a machine to count blood working and dignified practical joking as "^lled. However the Dutch threat to cells - and then the machine itself. He his hobbies, doubts he would have had ^•curn them to Germany saw the family continued working for three years at the the varied life and career he has had in ^"nbarking on a boat to Gravesend, Radcliffe "absorbing electronics and Britain had events not forced him out of '^ving just as the first air raid sirens engineering osmotically" and never took the "more stratified and less humorous" ere sounding. up the university place. German society
11 IDE Kinder) from all parts of Scotland attended a lunch hosted by Jewish Care KINDERTRANSPORT NEWS Scotland at Glasgow's Walton Centre. David Jedwab the AJR SAROK, an independent group initiated 11 years ago by Dorit Sim, has been The Acculturation of Kindertransport managed for the last six years by Rosa Children was the esoteric title of a Sacharin. discussion forum organised by the University of Sussex Centre for German Introducing the newly appointed Jewish Studies last month at the Northern Co-ordinator, Susanne Green, Imperial War Museum. The main Head of AJR Social Services Marcia speakers were Prof Edward Timms, Goodman told the meeting of the Director of the Sussex Centre, Prof support the AJR could offer both AJR Wolfgang Benz, Director Technical and SAROK members. Marcia University, Berlin, and James Taylor of explained that by working together, AJR the Imperial War Museum. The and SAROK members could benefit speakers, who mainly discussed from additional support from the AJR in Holocaust research, undertook to the form of expertise in Claims concentrate on the history of the applications and personal and financial Kindertransport post 1938-39. Five South London AJR visiting Brighton support when appropriate. Further, it is Kinder, including Bertha Leverton and hoped that by advertising in the wider David Jedwab, participated in the Brighton/South London Scottish community, potential members ensuing discussion. The South London group's visit to spend who might otherwise be isolated and the day with Brighton members was the alone will be able to join in activities and Sue Read, director of the film The first time such an event had been avail themselves of the other benefits. Children Who Cheated the Nazis', organised since the formation of AJR showed previously unpublished groups. The welcome by Myma Glass SG material of the film's interviewees who was responded to by Herbert Wolff, who described how, as children, they coped explained that SLAJR had been formed Pinner with their arrival in the UK and when some anthropologists discovered Michael Heppner's intriguing account of struggled to master English. She that there was Jewish life beyond finding the original home of a Czech announced that a further 30 northwest London! After everyone had Torah scroll was beautifully illustrated unpublished film interviews would be introduced themselves with a brief with slides. His 'mission' began in 1978 recorded on video for the benefit of autobiography, a sumptuous buffet lunch with his rabbi's call from the bimah to universities and research institutes. The followed, prepared by Fausta Shelton find the community from which the Kinder recommended that extra funds and Myma Glass. The visitors spent an scroll came. Michael made risky forays be raised to provide explanatory enjoyable couple of hours discovering behind the Iron Curtain to contact captioning or a sound commentary a^o Brighton before retuming to London. remnants of once thriving communities. that the University of Sussex be invited Helped by Rabbi Andrew Goldstein, his to oversee the project. Frank Goldberg and Herbert Wolff efforts brought aid to individuals, Michael Newman of the Centra' Next meeting - 20 August, Susannah restored their synagogue and cemetery Alexander: History of Anglo-Jewry Office for Holocaust Claims spoke to a and 'liberated' many artefacts of well-attended Kinderlunch at the AJR West Midlands historical value. Michael's painstaking Day Centre. He drew on his wide Hosted by Leon Jessell MBE JR the researches are galvanising knowledge to detail the various claim* group's third annual garden party and congregations with a Czech scroll to and organisations involved, and luncheon was held in his beautifully take an active interest in the provided helpful and informed answer* maintained garden in glorious weather. communities which once read from to the audience's questions. them and to honour the memory of The food and drink, some new ideas on 60th Anniversary Tea, 9**' individual Jews who met thefr tragic fate plant maintenance, a good turn-out and September. The Kinder are giving thi* under the Nazis. Mr Jessell's hospitality made it a perfect celebration our fullest support; 400 afternoon. As a token of gratitude to the letters have already been sent to Kinde Walter Weg host, £100 was collected for the AJR Next meetings - 2 August, Garden party. in Greater London inviting them to jo'^^ Charitable Tmst. 6 September, Howard Midgen: Towns, a Kindertransport table (please indicate mountains and tribes of Morocco with Jewish when booking) and to support th E Glaser '-Oft interest. brochure. Glasgow Surrey Next Kinderlunches: Monday 6*^ H Over fiftymember s of AJR and SAROK Next meeting -14 August, garden party at the August and Monday 3rd Septembe'^ (Scottish Association of the Reunion of home of Tony Freund speakers to be announced.
12 Six decades of •AO^ig'%A 'AJR Information' I f^onald Channing AJR Members, family and friends are invited to join in ^ the first event marking AJR's 60th ^•iiiiversary year, a unique gathering of AJR's 60th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION TEA AND CABARET Scholars and senior members of the at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London Wl refugee generation met at London on Sunday 9 September 2001, 2.30pm reception for 3pm tea University's Institute of Germanic Reservations may be made with the Secretary, 60th Anniversary Celebration Tea Studies (IGS) to hear distinguished (For a supervised Isosher tea, contact the number below) German-Jewish refugee academic Lord AJR, 1 Hampstead Gate, la Frognal London NW3 SAL Tel: 020 7431 6161 '^oser reveal that his recent peerage was SUPPORT THE SOUVENIR BROCHURE ©•anted 65 years to the day after his Members and friends of ihe AJR are invited to support the AJR 60th atmiversary celebration hy ^val in Britain. "To have published A/i? advertising in our souvenir brochure. Proceeds to SelfAid of Refugees. Womtation continuously for the best Please telephone Carol Rossen, Joan Altman or Andrea Goodmaker at AJR Head Office P^ of six decades is a remarkable for further information. 020 74316161. achievement," said Lord Moser, recalling 'he 1940s when his parents derived I'^ormation, confidence and support from AJR 'Drop in' Advice Centre at '^s pages. Annely Juda the Paul Balint AJR Day Centre Organised by Prof Edward Timms, 15 Cleve Road, London NW6 3RL ^Tector of Sussex University's Centre Fine Art between 10am and 12 noon on the ^^ German-Jewish Studies, the 23 Dering Street following dates: Symposium investigated AJR's highly (off New Bond Street) Thursday 2 August ^garded monthly magazine as a source Tuesday 7 August Tel: 020 7629 7578 *^' Valuable historical information. Prof Thursday 16 August '^Mger Gorner, director of the IGS, Fax: 020 7491 2139 Wednesday 22 August 'Welcomed his fellow academics and the Tuesday 4 September CONTEMPORARY PAINTING ^Iner refugees from Germany and No appointment is necessary, but please Austria to a "spiritual home." AND SCULPTURE bring along all relevant documents, such as ^r Anthony Grenville presented a paper Benefit Books, letters, bills, etc. '''"awing on his own experiences •"^Searching AJR Information for his ^•^ial and cultural history of the refugee Paul Balint AJR Day Centre 15 Cleve Road, West Hampstead, NW6 '^iimunity to be published next year. Dr ^^^ Hughes (University of Sussex) Monday - Thursday 9.30am - 3.30pm, Sunday 2pm - 5.30pm ^'^ced AJR Information in the context of a AUGUST Afternoon entertainment: ^''niber of other exile publications in Wed 1 Eddie Simmons with Bill Bradley at the piano ^s, Prague, Moscow, Amsterdam, Thur 2 Valerie Hewitt Show ^^w York and London of which only New Sun 5 Day Centre open - no entertainment °rk's Aufbau and AJR's magazine Mon 6 Kard & Games Klub & KT Lunch Survive. Tue 7 David Lawrence, piano b Wed 8 Helen Blake & her daughter Siobhan J^of John Grenville (University of Thur 9 Elaine Gee, guitar ""mingham) discussed the potential for Sun 12 Day Centre open - no entertainment ^kingAJR Information available on CD- Mon 13 Kard & Games Klub •^ni, based on his successful transfer of Tue 14 Amanda Palmer entertains ^^ Leo Baeck Institute Yearbook. The Wed 15 Sylvia Eaves - Act 1 - Scene II )^tftposium ended with a panel Thur 16 Tricia Dibb & Michael Heaton ^Scussion chafred by Prof Timms in Sun 19 Day Centre open no entertainment •^ich members of the current editorial Mon 20 Kard & Games Klub ^m, Richard Gnmberger, Katia Gould Tue 21 Bill Moses on keyboard 22 khz*^ Ronald Channing, discussed the Wed Jack Davidoff & friend 'ire potential of the magazine. Thur 23 Roy Douglas, keyboard and voice I•^r d Moser presented Richard Sun 26 Day Centre open - no entertainment "^berger with a bound presentation Mon 27 Day Centre closed - Bank Holiday '^lume of the last two years of AJR Tue 28 Guyatherie Peires, mezzo soprano & Bill Patrick, piano ^f'>rmation in appreciation of 13 years of Wed 29 Roy Lennard, keyboard '•tstanding editorship. Thur 30 Amanda Palmer entertains
13 Announcements ACACIA LODGE Deaths Mrs Pringsheim, S.R.N. MATRON SOPHIE'S NURSES Bing. Gabrielle (Gabi), n6e Landau, was For Elderly, Retired and Convalescent (Licensed by Borough of Bamet) 4 Station Offices, Station Road bom in Berlin in 1918 and died shortly before • Single and Double Rooms. Willesden Junction, her 83rd birthday on 9 May 2001 after a short • H/C Basins and CH In all rooms. London NWIO 4XA illness. She was much loved and will be • Gardens, TV and reading rooms. Telephone 020 8961 4401 greatly missed by her daughters, Vivien, • Nurse on duty 24 hours. • Long and short term and respite, Fax 020 8961 0875 Marion and Susan, her five grandchildren, including trial period If required. email: [email protected] relations and many firiends. From £300 per week 020 8445 1244/020 8446 2820 office hours Sophies (SRS) Healthcare at home Classified 020 8455 1335 other times 37-39 Torrington Park, North Finchley, will enable people to live full and Miscellaneous Services London N12 9TB independent lives within their own Manicure & Pedicure in the comfort of homes and continue to enjoy your own home. Telephone 020 8343 0976. Leo Baeck Housing Association Ltd comfort and security Societies Clara Nehab House Kaffee Klatsch Klub, established 1986. Residential Care Home Monthly entertainment for Jewish All single rooms with en suite bath/shower. GORDON G SPENCER of SPENCER EXECUTIVE Europeans, 60 plus. For further details Short stays/Respite and 24 hour Permanent Care Large attractive gardens CHAUFFEUR-DRIVEN CAR HIRE telephone 020 8554 0443. Ground Floor Lounge and Dining rooms. is delighted to announce an increase in Lift access to all floors. the range of services offered:- AJR GROUP CONTACTS Easy access to local shops and public transport. South London MOT Testing Enquiries and further information Ken Ambrose 020 8852 0262 please contact: The Manager General servicing, repairs and bodywork- Pinner: (HA Postal District) Clara Nehab House All conducted by a team of Vera Gellman 020 8866 4833 13-19 Leeslde Crescent qualified engineers. London NW11 ODA Your car driven to the centre and returned- Surrey: Edmee Barta 01372 727 412 Phone: 020 8455 2286 Brighton & Hove (Sussex Region) FOR DETAILS TEL: 020 8445 1839 Fausta Shelton 01273 688 226 MOBILE: 07887-713422 Wessex: (Bournemouth) Mark Goldfinger 01202 552 434 SHELTERED FLAT AVAILABLE East Midlands: (Nottingham) at Cleve Road, West Hampstead Bob Norton 01159 212 494 above the Paul Balint AJR Day Centre West Midlands: (Birmingham) large bright bedsitting room, Henny Rednall 0121 373 5603 fully equipped kitchen, North: (Manchester) m bathroom/WC, lift. Werner Lachs 0161 773 4091 BELSIZE SQUARE Leeds HSFA: Trude Silman 0113 225 1628 Apply to Carol Rossen SYNAGOGUE AJR Head Office, 1 Hampstead Gate, la Frognal, NW3 SAL 51 Belsize Square, NW3 4HX ARE YOU ON A LOW INCOME & Tel: 020 7431 6161 We offer a traditional style of religious IN NEED OF HOMECARE HELP? service with Cantor Choir and organ AJR might be able to offer Further details can be obtained from financial assistance. the synagogue secretary Members wtio might not otherwise be able Rarejuffcofour art Boods Telephone 020 7794 3949 to afford homecare please contact: on the work of Terezin artist, Minister: Rabbi Rodney J Mariner Estelle Brookner, Secretary Cantor: Rev Lawrence H Fine AJR Social Services Dept 020 7431 6161 Peter Kien Regular Services: Italian text with separate Friday evenings at 6.45pm A Memorable Gift - A portrait in bronze English translation Saturday mornings at 10am Sculptor specialising in portraiture £8 including postage from Religion School: Sundays at 10am to Ipr" welcomes commissions for 24, Cheyne Walk, London NW4 3QJ Nursery School: 9.15am to 12.15pm Belsize under 3's: 9.30am to 11.30am life size heads or bas relief. Phone/Fax 020 8202 4787 Reasonable fee. Space donated by Pafra Limited Hilary Roodyn 020 8346 6566 SWITCH ON ELECTRICS Rewires and all household BELSIZE SQUARE SYNAGOGUE ADVERTISEMENT RATES 51 Belsize Square, London NW3 FAMILY EVENTS electrical work. First 15 words free of charge, PHONE PAUL: 020 8200 3518 Our communal hall is available for £2.00 per 5 words thereafter. cultural and social functions- CLASSIFIED, SEARCH NOTICES Tel: 020 7794 3949 £2.00 per Swords. ALTERATIONS OF ANY KIND TO LADIES' FASHIONS BOX NUMBERS - £3.00 extra DISPLAY ADVERTS I also design and make children's clothes The AJR does not accept per single column inch 65mm £12.00 West Hampstead area responsibility for the standard of COPY DATE - 5 weeks prior to publication 020 7328 6571 services offered by advertisers
14 Certificates of Life An untypical resting place Search Notices John Chillag ^he Metropolitan Police have Dr Samuel Mandelbaum, born 31/03/1876 in Platz/Bruckenau, physician <^onfirmed that the issuing of What happens when an SS officer is in Spitalgasse, Schweinfurt, Gernnany. Certificates of Life is still part of a prevented from obeying his Moved to Berlin (or possibly left Police officer's standing instructions instructions? And whoever heard of Germany) in 1938 with his wife Betty nee ^nd that no instructions have been individual 'war graves' for Jewish Buxbaum born 12/07/1882 in issued to the contrary. The authority for concentration camp victims in the heart Eubigheim/Tauberbischofsheim. Dr of Nazi Germany in 1944? Mandelbaum may have died in New York ftis is found in paragraphs 3.11 and 3.12 With 30 members of my family I was in 1968. Their son Kurt Mandelbaum, °^ the Instruction Manual SI Station deported in 1944 from Gyor in Hungary born 13/11/1904 in Schweinfurt, later Officers' Duties (reproduced below) to Auschwitz. Having survived the changed his name to Kurt Martin, *hich should be produced if you initial selection, my father and I were professor in Manchester, UK, has worked for UNESCO, lately lived in London, and encounter difficulties. picked, together with 270 other their daughter Ilse Mandelbaum, (later Hungarian Jews, to become slave ''•ll A Certificate of Life is a document Ilse Laredo) born 31/10/1906 in labourers of the Bochumer Verein, one of Schweinfurt, lived in London. •^^quired by a European Pension the largest steel and armament Descendants sought by Gabriele Authority to confirm that an ex-citizen complexes in the Ruhr. Working at the Fleckenstein, Kempener Strasse 48, D- °*that coimtry, now resident in the UK, large presses operated at 1000°C, 50733 Koln, Tel: 0049 221 9723189; Fax: '^ still alive and therefore entitled to without protective clothing and with 0049 221 9723891; Email: ^3w a pension from that country. the added brutality meant death for gabriele.fleckenstein(5)t-online.de. most of us; my father died there in •12 If such a pensioner attends a December 1944. Toni (Antonia) Benarlo nee Vogelsdorf, born 17/2/1886, died 1/5/1962 in Maida Mice station and asks the police officer Through the Red Cross, I found out in Vale Hospital, St. Marylebone. Last ^^ duty to sign such a certificate, the the 1950s that my father had been known residence 12 Strathray Gdns, °fiicer should: buried in a cemetery in Bochum. But London NW3. Seeking her nephew V E why and how was only resolved in the Hilton, her executor, last known * Make sure the certificate includes last couple of years through the research addresses 17 Mulberry Close, Beaufort 3n English translation or if not, efforts of Dr Hubert Schneider of St., London NW3 and Flat J, 21 Cadogan that an official translation on the Ruhruniversitat Bochum, and the Gdns., London SW3. Any information issuing authority's headed notepaper Bochum city archives. The usual please call 020 8908 0582. disposal method for dead Hdftlinge was is produced; Else Nelson nee Maass, lived at 1 cremation. But a few days before my Brampton Court, Brampton Grove, ' Examine suitable identification father's death. Allied bombing London NW4 in 1966. Sister of Ernst (which must include a photograph. demolished the local crematorium Maass, Rechtsanwalt und Notar born Such as a passport) and make siu^e 'authorised for use by the SS'. The SS 13/01/1887, died 10/11/1963 in camp officer sent a telegram to his this identification relates to the Berlin. Any information please call superiors in Buchenwald: "What am I to 020 8908 0582. Applicant and that this person is do with these Jewish corpses?" The first the person named in the Certificate name on that list of 52 victims was that Schwerzl family, formerly of of Life; of my father! The brief answer came: Czechoslovakia, Usti Na Orlici and Germany. Any information please contact "Bury them". Thus, the corpses were pmpvincentOhotmail.com. t)etermine, as far as possible, that dumped at the cemetery, where the other facts included on the certificate decent superintendent and his wife (such as marital status and home arranged their burial in individual JEWISH REFUGEES COMMIHEE sddress) are correct, by questioning graves. In 1965 the municipality erected A message to all those still the apphcant. imiform gravestones over the 52 graves, with individual names, dates of birth and wanting to trace relatives or to apply for their Documents of ^^ officer should then sign the death on the stones. The site, unique in Identity and/or their records. ^rtificate, adding the date and the annals of the Nazi era, is now a Please send all your requests to: ^tion stamp. 'hsted monimient'. Jewish Refugees Committee WoHd Jewish Relief, Congratulations to Ernst Fraenkel, Wiener Library chairman, on his 74/80 Camden Street. appointment as an OBE and to Suzanne Bardgett, Director of the Imperial London NWl OEG War Museum's Holocaust exhibition on being granted an MBE. Tel: 020 76911782 A fully qualified team is ready and Also to Walter Laqueur, awarded the Aufbau Prize 2001 for eager to deal with your enquiries. Distinguished Contribution to German-Jewish culture.
15 Tante Laura and the piglet Newsround Polly ZImran Unwanted charity A London charity has declined to be My favourite (Czech-bom) aunt survived she reached her destination, trudged further involved in distributing royalties the Gdtterddmmerung in Vienna. Though down muddy lanes and crawled under received from Mein Kampf. Sales receipts her husband, a Catholic Rhinelander, was hedges to the peasant's house. Handing repeatedly taken to Gestapo over her last possession, she got the man are said to be about £50,000 a year and headquarters and beaten, he refused to to help her tie the piglet roimd her waist. have been applied, until now, to helping divorce her. Tante Laura had to do slave She had been a comfortable lady in pre- victims of Nazism. labour in company with other Jewish /^schluss days. Now her clothes hung on French railways sued wives of Aryans. This meant she had to her, and could easily accommodate a About 100 Holocaust survivors and their get up before four o'clock in the piglet. The fronttrotter s were tied round heirs are suing SNCF in a New York court momings, walk right across Vieima, and her neck, the hind legs round her waist, alleging that the company profited from work some 14 hours without food or the little head found plenty of room in her transporting tens of thousands of JeW* water. Unlike most Viennese, Tante loose and empty bra. and others to concentration camps. SNCF Laura's friends stood by her and never argues that the New York court does no* wavered. She and my uncle lived outside Overcoming the Russians have jurisdiction. Vienna where country folk knew how to Somehow she siurived the nightmarish augment their rations. homeward journey. This, though, was the Pope's visit day the Russians entered Vienna and by The Pope visited Babi Yar during bis Heirlooms for eggs the time the train drew into the station, it Ukrainian visit and laid flowers at a As in the First World War, people began was swarming with soldiers. When Laura monument. It is estimated that the Nazis bartering family heirlooms for a few eggs. saw the Red Army uniforms she screamed massacred between 100,000 and The war dragged on and the papers wrote with joy, she wanted to kiss and hug the 200,000 Jews there. about strategic retreats, rather than great Russians. But two pairs of very strong Monet proceeds shared victories. Austrians, realising that the arms grabbed her on alighting from the The proceeds of sale by auction of a war was lost, now talked of having been train and Laura realised with horror what Monet painting, stolen by the Nazis from occupied and forced to fight. Laura now that meant. She had hoped and prayed that its Jewish owners, will be shared by the did not go to work any more, removed the the coming of the Russians would put an heirs of the family and the immediate yellow star and used trams at will. Word end to terror, but the reality was quite past owners. reached her that a peasant had a sow in different. Their minds were set on rape. litter and was more than eager to Bitterly disappointed, my aimt flew into Hitler's bunker exchange tha piglets for the most he the rage of a person who had exchanged The Jewish Claims Conference wi" could get. But silence and speed were one evil for another. Tumbling out of her assume ownership of Hitler's Berlin vitally important since withholding memories came a stream of taboo swear bunker and will sell the site to distribute livestock from the army was a words in Czech. The two Russians said the proceeds, mainly to the heirs of the ell addr capital offence. tearfully that they had not heard such Wertheim family which was forced to si Tante Laura sadly packed the last of dulcet tones since their childhood. It the land to the Nazis. H what could possibly be exchanged, rose reminded them of their mothers and Papon appeal dismissed before daylight and dressed as for a grandmothers. Laura collected her wits, The European Court of Human Rights ha* Ml mountaineering expedition. Uncle, who made the would-be rapists help her up and dismissed the appeal of Maurice Pap" quietly watched her, was asked for a rope. then, pointing to her piglet-rounded against a 10 year sentence for h' What do you want a rope for, he asked and waistline, demanded safe conduct to her involvement in the deportation of Je^ his wife said: wait and see. She got on an house. Firmly linking her arms in those of from France. His plea on grounds overcrowded train. After many hold-ups. her two cavaliers, she willy-nilly got it. health and age was rejected. que Demjanjuk on trial again 60th Anniversary Tea and Cabaret The US Government has applied to a The response has been excellent for Widow' who have appeared in the West Ohio court to deprive John Demjanjuk o the AJR's 60th Anniversary Tea and End, on television, as well as on US citizenship. It alleges that docume"** Cabaret on 9 September. national and world tours. have come to light which prove The Grosvenor House Hotel is the Booking is still open. Tickets at £18 assisted the Nazis in the persecution M venue for this special event which we European Jews during WWII. each - which includes a full tea and •^vi, will celebrate with a full sit-down tea cabaret entertainment - may be Germany's First Holocaust Chair and cabaret entertainment. There will Vs reserved with the AJR's Head Office. Frankfurt's JW Goethe University ^^^ be ample opportunity to see, and chat Booking forms are available from Head created Germany's first Chair in Holoca^ In with, friends old and new. Office, or telephone the Secretary, AJR Studies with the appointment of a Sw '^sidj The highlight of the afternoon will be 60th Anniversary Celebration Tea, historian, PhillipeBurrin. the leading cabaret duo, 'Kit and the 020 74316161 to reserve a place. %os Vlf
PUaUSHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF JEWISH REFUGEES IN GREAT BRITAIN. 1 HAMPSTEAD GATE, 1A FROGNAL. LONDON NW3 SAL TEL: 020 7431 61(1 FAX: 020 7431 84S4 16