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1194322_E Teruah May the sound of the Shofar resonate with you this new year. Shana Tova Umetukah Shevarim Tekiah Specialist Banking Asset Management Wealth & Investment Investec Limited and subsidiaries, including Investec Bank Limited - 1969/004763/06, registered credit providers ans authorised fi nancial service providers. Cape Town 021 416 1000 Durban 031 575 4000 Johannesburg 011 286 7000 Pretoria 012 427 8300. World renowned Sabi Sabi is situated in the Sabi Sand Wildtuin, South Africa, and is blessed with a variety of habitat and wildlife. Selati Camp, the Sabi Sabi of Yesterday, has 8 beautiful suites featuring authentic antiques creating an ambience of romance and opulence. Experience Today at Bush Lodge, with a vibrant safari style. Accommodating only 25 couples, the lodge is famed for its service excellence. Little Bush Camp, with only 6 suites, epitomises African hospitality. Earth Lodge, the Sabi Sabi of Tomorrow, merges so well into the bushveld that it is virtually invisible. Each of the 13 luxurious suites has private plunge pools and uninterrupted views of the African bush. Tel: +27 (11) 447-7172 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.sabisabi.com MISSION EDITORIAL BOARD In publishing JEWISH AFFAIRS, the SA EXECUTIVE EDITOR Jewish Board of Deputies aims to produce a cultural forum which caters for a wide David Saks SA Jewish Board of Deputies variety of interests in the community. The journal will be a vehicle for the publication of ACADEMIC ADVISORY BOARD articles of significant thought and opinion on Professor Marcus Arkin contemporary Jewish issues, and will aim to Suzanne Belling Author and Journalist encourage constructive debate, in the form of Dr Louise Bethlehem Hebrew University of Jerusalem reasoned and researched essays, on all matters Marlene Bethlehem SA Jewish Board of Deputies of Jewish and general interest. Cedric Ginsberg University of South Africa JEWISH AFFAIRS aims also to publish essays Dr Elaine Katz University of the Witwatersrand of scholarly research on all subjects of Jewish Professor Marcia Leveson interest, with special emphasis on aspects Naomi Musiker Archivist and Bibliographer of South African Jewish life and thought. Professor Reuben Musiker SAJBD Library Consultant Scholarly research papers that make an original Gwynne Schrire SA Jewish Board of Deputies contribution to their chosen field of enquiry Dr Gabriel A Sivan World Jewish Bible Centre will be submitted to the normal processes of academic refereeing before being accepted Professor Gideon Shimoni Hebrew University of Jerusalem for publication. Professor Milton Shain University of Cape Town The Hon. Mr Justice Ralph Zulman JEWISH AFFAIRS will promote Jewish cultural and creative achievement in South ADVERTISING AND SUBSCRIPTIONS – Shirley Beagle Africa, and consider Jewish traditions and ENQUIRIES [email protected] heritage within the modern context. It aims 011 645 2583 to provide future researchers with a window TYPESETTING/PRINTING – Bookpress, Johannesburg on the community’s reaction to societal challenges. In this way the journal hopes critically to explore, and honestly to confront, © South African Jewish Board of Deputies 2015 problems facing the Jewish community both Permission to reprint material from JEWISH AFFAIRS should be in South Africa and abroad, by examining applied for from national and international affairs and their The South African Jewish Board of Deputies impact on South Africa. JEWISH AFFAIRS is published 3 times annually The SA Jewish Board of Deputies is committed Annual subscription R140 including VAT and postage to dialogue and free enquiry. It aims to protect Overseas Subscriptions R300 human rights and to strive for better relations Postal Address: PO Box 87557, Houghton 2041 among peoples of diverse cultural backgrounds [email protected] in South Africa. The columns of JEWISH AFFAIRS will therefore be open to all shades of opinion. Main front cover image The views expressed by the contributors will South African troops departing for North Africa, 1941. be their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor, the Editorial Board or the Publishers. Original, unpublished essays of between 1 000 and 6 000 words on However, in keeping with the provisions of all subjects are invited, and should be sent to: the National Constitution, the freedom of The Editor, JEWISH AFFAIRS, PO Box 87557, Houghton 2041, speech exercised in this journal will exclude david@ the dissemination of hate propaganda, personal sajbd.org attacks or invective, or any material which may be regarded as defamatory or malicious. In all such matters, the Editor’s decision is final. Wishing all our Jewish customers Shana Tova and well over the fast www.picknpay.co.za. Customer Care 0800 11 22 88. Toll free landline only. Cellphone rates apply. VOL. 70 NO. 2 ROSH HASHANAH 2015 Editor: David Saks OBITUARY John Simon David Saks ...................................................................................................................................................6 SA JEWRY AND WORLD WAR TWO Message from the SA Jewish Ex-Service League William Bergman .........................................................................................................................................8 Photo Gallery – South African Jewry at war ...........................................................................................9 Veterans’ Voices ......................................................................................................................................14 Up North W. Yesorsky ................................................................................................................................................18 Prisoners of the Nazis I. S. Marks, L. Sandground ........................................................................................................................21 Escape to Switzerland Hyman Jocum ............................................................................................................................................23 A Jewish Chaplain in Post-Liberation Belsen Isaac Richards ...........................................................................................................................................25 The SAJBD and the South African Jewish war effort David Saks .................................................................................................................................................28 Two Great Jewish War Workers: Cecil Lyons and Jack A. Cohen Naomi Musiker ...........................................................................................................................................33 WWII and SA Jewry as reflected by artefacts in the SAJBD Cape Council collection Gwynne Schrire..........................................................................................................................................36 ISRAEL REBORN Machalnik pilots in the Israeli War of Independence Barbara Rigden .........................................................................................................................................40 Kfar Etzion - Now this was a massacre Kenneth Penkin ..........................................................................................................................................45 The voyage of the ss Negbah, 1956 Lionel Slier ................................................................................................................................................47 FOUNDATIONS OF POST-APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA The Congress of the People Remembered Leon Levy ...................................................................................................................................................52 60 Years of the Freedom Charter Kgalema Motlanthe ....................................................................................................................................54 Revisiting the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Faith Community Hearing Chief Rabbi Dr Warren Goldstein ..............................................................................................................59 BOOK REVIEWS The Yizkor Book of Rakishok and Environs Naomi Musiker ...........................................................................................................................................64 The Canopy: Warriors for justice, facing the ticking time bomb Suzanne Belling .........................................................................................................................................66 Muizenberg - the story of the shtetl by the sea Ralph Zulman .............................................................................................................................................67 NEW POETRY Charlotte Cohen, Rodney Mazinter, Maurice Skikne. ................................................................................70 READERS’ LETTERS David360NE_RH_180X130mm_20150814.pdf Klepper, David Sandler, 1Gwynne 2015/08/14 Schrire 5:15 ........................................................................................ PM 71 Shanah Tovah May the shofar signal a new year of growth and prosperity. www.36one.co.za I [email protected] I +27 11 722 7390 36ONE Asset Management (Pty) Ltd. is an authorised financial services provider tbspFOUNTAINHEAD 34497 JEWISH AFFAIRS ROSH HASHANAH 2015 Obituary A NEW YEAR BRINGS NEW BEGINNINGS JOHN SIMON (1931-2015) On 3 August, South African Jewry was deprived of a distinguished