J EWISH A FFAIRS Pesach 2011 Price R30,00 incl. VAT Registered at the GPO as a Newspaper ISSN 0021 • 6313 IRELAND/DAVENPORT 66642 IRELAND/DAVENPORT Rejoice in freedom Chag sameach Private Banking • Investment Banking • Asset Management • Property Activities • Capital Markets • Wealth & Investment Australia Botswana Canada Hong Kong India Ireland Mauritius Namibia South Africa Switzerland Taiwan United Kingdom & Channel Islands United States Investec Bank Limited registration number 1969/004763/06. A registered credit provider. An authorised financial services provider. Cape Town 021 416 1000 Durban 031 575 4000 Johannesburg 011 286 7000 Pretoria 012 427 8300 66642 JEWISH AFFAIRS.indd 1 06/04/2011 13:40 Royal Porcelain is a leading designer and manufacturer of stylish and durable tableware, using only the finest quality raw materials and the best techniques from countries such as Germany, the UK and Japan. Royal Porcelain is proud to introduce an exclusive range - Cross Road. 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Countess Cutlery by Forum - This cutlery’s magnificent shape and style is manufactured from the highest quality of stainless Arctic White, Forum Countess & Luigi Bormioli Magnifico steel, maximising the best quality at an affordable price. For stockists’ information call MIC on 011 417 6600 or e-mail [email protected] 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 variety David Saks SA Jewish Board of Deputies of interests in the community. The journal will be a vehicle for the publication of articles of significant thought and opinion on contemporary Jewish issues, and will aim to ACADEMIC ADVISORY BOARD encourage constructive debate, in the form of Professor Marcus Arkin South African Zionist Federation reasoned and researched essays, on all matters Dr Ittamar Avin University of Natal, Durban of Jewish and general interest. Dr Louise Bethlehem Hebrew University of Jerusalem Marlene Bethlehem SA Jewish Board of Deputies JEWISH AFFAIRS aims also to publish essays Cedric Ginsberg University of South Africa of scholarly research on all subjects of Jewish interest, with special emphasis on aspects of Dr Elaine Katz University of the Witwatersrand South African Jewish life and thought. Professor Marcia Leveson University of the Witwatersrand Scholarly research papers that make an original Naomi Musiker Archivist and Bibliographer contribution to their chosen field of enquiry Professor Reuben Musiker University of the Witwatersrand will be submitted to the normal processes of Gwynne Schrire SA Jewish Board of Deputies academic refereeing before being accepted for Dr Gabriel A Sivan World Jewish Bible Centre publication. Professor Gideon Shimoni Hebrew University of Jerusalem JEWISH AFFAIRS will promote Jewish Professor Milton Shain University of Cape Town cultural and creative achievement in South John Simon University of Cape Town Africa, and consider Jewish traditions and The Hon. Mr Justice Ralph Zulman Appeal Court of South Africa heritage within the modern context. It aims to provide future researchers with a window on the community’s reaction to societal challenges. In this way the journal hopes SECRETARY – Golde Goldsmith critically to explore, and honestly to confront, TYPESETTING/PRINTING – Bookpress, Johannesburg problems facing the Jewish community both in South Africa and abroad, by examining national and international affairs and their impact on South Africa. The SA Jewish Board of Deputies is committed © South African Jewish Board of Deputies 2007 to dialogue and free enquiry. It aims to protect Permission to reprint material from JEWISH AFFAIRS should be human rights and to strive for better relations applied for from among peoples of diverse cultural backgrounds The South African Jewish Board of Deputies in South Africa. JEWISH AFFAIRS is published 3 times annually Annual subscription R180 including VAT and postage The columns of JEWISH AFFAIRS will Overseas: Surface Mail US$30 or BPS25 therefore be open to all shades of opinion. The Air Mail US$70 or BPS50 views expressed by the contributors will be Postal Address: PO Box 87557, Houghton 2041 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. The Editorial Board reserves the right to cut the length of articles In all such matters, the Editor’s decision is accepted for publication, and to make any stylistic changes which it final. may deem necessary. VOL. 66 b NO. 1 b PESACH 2011 Editor: David Saks ESSAYS AND REFLECTIONS A Brief Journey through German Jewish History Bernard Katz .............................................................................................................................................................. 4 Antisemitism and its Relationship to the Middle East Conflict Chuck Volpe ............................................................................................................................................................. 12 LITERATURE AND CULTURE Holocaust, History and Memorabilia: The SAJBD Cape Council and the Preservation of the South African Jewish Past Gwynne Schrire ........................................................................................................................................................ 15 The Bobbe Malke – A Woman’s Tale of Vanished Eastern Europe Cedric Ginsberg ....................................................................................................................................................... 22 Richard Feldman: His Yiddish and English Writings Mona Berman ........................................................................................................................................................... 30 South African Jewish Newspapers – Their History and Impact Naomi Musiker ......................................................................................................................................................... 36 MEMOIRS Life and Death in Ravensbruck Don Krausz .............................................................................................................................................................. 41 Aren’t You a Yiddisher?’ – Reflections on a Jewish Childhood. Annette Dubovsky .................................................................................................................................................... 42 HUMOUR Geriatric Conditional Stasis Described: A Humorous Delve into Imagined Old-Age Illness/es Maurice Skikne ......................................................................................................................................................... 43 Dumplings with Little Souls Annette Dubovsky .................................................................................................................................................... 44 BOOK REVIEWS Israel Goldblatt – Building Bridges David Saks ................................................................................................................................................................ 45 I’Afrique: A Tribute to Maria Stein-Lessing and Leopold Spiegel Arlene Segal ............................................................................................................................................................. 46 Nazi Palestine: The Plans for the Extermination of