The Broude family was soon economically successful and acquired a farm, McTaggart's Camp. The crops were lucerne and cotton. Tungsten was discovered on the farm during the late 1930s, thus significantly changing the fortune of the family. Solomon Michael Broude (always known as Mike), the third of Barnet and Dora's four children, was taken out of school at an early age to work on the farm and help in the running of the mine. Mike's older sisters were Rae and Lola. The youngest sibling was Louis.

Mike and Jessie Broude

By the 1920s South Africa's first-generation Jewish immigrants were by and large settled and were economically viable. Their thoughts turned to the education of their children, most of whom were born in the new country. It was common for the children to complete their schooling in their hometowns and then go on to higher education in the cities. Very few of those that left home to study or train in the cities returned to their hometown. The young Jewish men and women who remained behind often found it difficult to find Jewish partners in the areas in which they lived. It was thus common for family and friends to make discreet introductions between eligible young people of the second generation.

Sometime in August 1936, Jessie Hotz of Cape Town and Mike Broude of Upington met through such an introduction. A romance developed and was kept alive by post. They were married in the Great Synagogue in the Gardens, Cape Town, on 2 September 1937. The young couple established their family home on the farm McTaggart's Camp near Upington.

Wedding photograph on the steps of the Gardens Synagogue, Gardens, Cape Town, on September 2, 1937. From left to right: David Hotz, the bride, Jessie Hotz, with the bridegroom, Michael Solomon Broude (Mike), and Leah Hotz.

Mike on the farm, McTaggart's Camp

Jessie

Young marrieds, Jessie and Mike Broude

On 26 November 1938, Doreen Josephine, the eldest daughter of Jessie and Mike, was born in Cape Town. It was in the middle of the Second World War, on 3 July 1944, that Esther Tamara was born in the Delherbe Nursing Home in Cape Town, to be followed by Ann Rosalie on 2 August 1946.

Mike with his middle daughter, Esther, on his lap and Doreen, his eldest, looking on

The three sisters, Doreen, Esther and Ann

In South Africa children started their formal schooling at the age of six. Jewish boys and girls started to attend Hebrew and Jewish studies at cheder as soon as they commenced their schooling. Doreen Broude was one of the first group of girls to have a bat mitzvah ceremony in Upington.

Doreen Broude, Sybil Immerman, Luba Bellon and Sally Wulf being hailed outside the Upington shul after their bat mitzvah

From L to R: Sally Wulf, Doreen Broude, Sybil Immerman and Luba Bellon

Upington had a thriving Jewish community and Esther Broude soon had a circle of Jewish girlfriends of her age. Rabbi Abrahamson taught at the cheder which she attended. Rhoda Wulf and Adele Bellon, as well as Stella Benjamin, all her direct contemporaries, attended cheder with her.

Esther receives a cheder prize

Teenagers in Upington during the school holidays (L to R): Rhoda Wulf, Adele Bellon and Esther Broude

Esther Broude and Stella Benjamin back in Upington as teenagers during their school holidays

At Alan Schatz's bar mitzvah (June 1959). Back (L to R): Sheila Broude, Rhoda Wulf, Sandra Lewis, Rolene Cohen, Lynn Jacobson. Front (L to R): Adele Bellon, Esther Broude.

Jessie Broude took a keen interest in the affairs of the community and was elected to the cheder committee, where she played an important role in raising funds for the community and helping to encourage Jewish learning.

Jessie handing a gift from the community to Rev. Abrahamson, with her proud daughters looking on

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