J EEWISW I S H A F FA I R S Chanukah 2016 75 Years Price R50,00 incl. VAT Registered at the GPO as a Newspaper ISSN 0021 • 6313 COVER - Jewish Affais - Chanukah 2016.indd 1 2016/11/28 03:42:47 PM Audit / Tax / Advisory/ Forensics / Wealth Management COVER - Jewish Affais - Chanukah 2016.indd 2 2016/11/28 03:42:48 PM TM COVER - Jewish Affais - Chanukah 2016.indd 3 2016/11/28 03:42:49 PM 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 Suzanne Belling Author and Journalist contemporary Jewish issues, and will aim to Dr Louise Bethlehem Hebrew University of Jerusalem encourage constructive debate, in the form of Marlene Bethlehem SA Jewish Board of Deputies reasoned and researched essays, on all matters Cedric Ginsberg University of South Africa of Jewish and general interest. Dr Elaine Katz University of the Witwatersrand JEWISH AFFAIRS aims also to publish essays Professor Marcia Leveson of scholarly research on all subjects of Jewish Naomi Musiker Archivist and Bibliographer interest, with special emphasis on aspects Isaac Reznik of South African Jewish life and thought. Gwynne Schrire SA Jewish Board of Deputies Scholarly research papers that make an original Dr Gabriel A Sivan World Jewish Bible Centre contribution to their chosen field of enquiry Professor Gideon Shimoni Hebrew University of Jerusalem will be submitted to the normal processes of academic refereeing before being accepted Professor Milton Shain University of Cape Town for publication. The Hon. Mr Justice Ralph Zulman JEWISH AFFAIRS will promote Jewish ADVERTISING AND SUBSCRIPTIONS – Shirley Beagle cultural and creative achievement in South ENQUIRIES [email protected] Africa, and consider Jewish traditions and 011 645 2583 heritage within the modern context. It aims TYPESETTING/PRINTING – Bookpress, Johannesburg to provide future researchers with a window on the community’s reaction to societal challenges. In this way the journal hopes © South African Jewish Board of Deputies 2015 critically to explore, and honestly to confront, Permission to reprint material from JEWISH AFFAIRS should be problems facing the Jewish community both applied for from in South Africa and abroad, by examining The South African Jewish Board of Deputies national and international affairs and their impact on South Africa. JEWISH AFFAIRS is published 3 times annually Annual subscription R150 including VAT and postage The SA Jewish Board of Deputies is committed Overseas Subscriptions R300 to dialogue and free enquiry. It aims to protect Postal Address: PO Box 87557, Houghton 2041 human rights and to strive for better relations [email protected] among peoples of diverse cultural backgrounds in South Africa. The columns of JEWISH AFFAIRS will therefore be open to all shades of opinion. Front cover image: The views expressed by the contributors will A Jewish Wedding in Morocco by Eugene Delacroix 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 speech exercised in this journal will exclude The Editor, JEWISH AFFAIRS, PO Box 87557, Houghton 2041, the dissemination of hate propaganda, personal [email protected] attacks or invective, or any material which may be regarded as defamatory or malicious. In all such matters, the Editor’s decision is final. Pg2 - 5 = Contents - Chanukah 2016.indd 2 2016/11/28 03:49:43 PM WE WISH OUR JEWISH CUSTOMERS A CHANUKKAH HOLIDAY FILLED WITH LIGHT www.picknpay.co.za. Customer Care 0800 11 22 88. Toll free landline only. Cellphone rates apply. Pg2 - 5 = Contents - Chanukah 2016.indd 3 2016/11/28 03:49:43 PM VOL. 71 NO. 3 CHANUKAH 2016 Editor: David Saks ISRAEL AND DIASPORA A brief journey through French Jewish history Bernard Katz ................................................................................................................................................6 The Farhud vis-a-vis the Nakbah Zvi Gabay ..................................................................................................................................................14 Benjamin Pogrund’s Drawing Fire: Investigating the Accusations of Apartheid in Israel – A Summary Rodney Mazinter ........................................................................................................................................17 Rabbi B M Casper and the formation of the Jewish Infantry Brigade in World War II Barbara Rigden..........................................................................................................................................22 ESSAYS AND REFLECTIONS “A Light unto Nations” - the role of Jewish business in South Africa Philip Krawitz ............................................................................................................................................29 My Uncle, The Doctor: The life and times of Hartwig Buxbaum Stuart Buxbaum..........................................................................................................................................36 Searching for Oom Sal and Tante Regina Sybrandus Adema .......................................................................................................................................42 Naomi Deborah Jacobson: Her Life and Creations Karen Marshall ..........................................................................................................................................46 Scientific Proof for a Creator Honey Gluckman ........................................................................................................................................48 FICTION Holocaust Shadows Zita Nurok ..................................................................................................................................................53 BOOK REVIEWS What a Boykie: The John Berks Story Ralph Zulman .............................................................................................................................................54 Anti-Judaism: The Western Tradition Kenneth Hughes .........................................................................................................................................55 Married to Medicine Rebecca Hodes ...........................................................................................................................................56 The Reb and the Rebel Kathy Munroe ............................................................................................................................................58 NEW POETRY Charlotte Cohen, Pamela Heller-Stern, Rodney Mazinter ..........................................................................61 LETTER TO THE EDITOR Ralph Zulman .............................................................................................................................................63 Pg2 - 5 = Contents - Chanukah 2016.indd 4 2016/11/28 03:49:44 PM Pg2 - 5 = Contents - Chanukah 2016.indd 5 2016/11/28 03:49:44 PM JEWISH AFFAIRS CHANUKAH 2016 A BRIEF JOURNEY THROUGH FRENCH JEWISH HISTORY * Bernard Katz From the time of Julius Caesar’s conquest probably enterprising individuals engaged in in 58-51 B.C.E. until the invasion of the international commerce, who had migrated to Barbarians in the 5th Century, Gaul – as France Italy prior to the two great revolts against was originally known - was a province of Rome.8 The second were captives from the the Roman Empire. The earliest evidence of revolts and in the main zealous rebels against a Jewish presence there concerns an isolated the Romans.9 They included scholars of the individual, Archelaus, the ethnarch of Judea, Oral Law.10 According to Agus, it was this who was banished by Augustus in 6 C.E. to combination of high intelligence and wealth Vienne.1 His brother Herod Antipas, tetrarch which enabled these people to survive centuries of Galilee and Perea, was exiled to Lyon of hardships.11 by Caligula in 39 C.E.2 A story which had Charlemagne (768–814) was favourably been thought to be a legend claimed that disposed to Jews, inviting them to settle in after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 C.E. his territories and freely practice their religion. the Romans filled three ships with Jewish Under the Carolingians (his descendants), Jews captives, which arrived in Bordeaux, Arles enjoyed complete judicial equality.12 Agus and Lyon. Recent archaeological findings, describes the 9th through the 11th Centuries however, suggest that there might be a basis as the heroic age of Franco-German Jewry, for this legend. Objects identified as Jewish during which Jews could practice their religion because of the menorah portrayed on them freely and openly, and organise their lives have been discovered around Arles (1st. 4th as an autonomous self-governing group.13 The and early 5th Centuries) and in Bordeaux (3rd most important reasons for the great success and early 4th Centuries).3 Written sources achieved by Jewish merchants and exporters affirm that during the Roman period Jews and importers of goods in this period was had been present in Metz