Parktown

Chapter 94 –THE PARKTOWN JEWISH COMMUNITY ARCADIA - THE SOUTH AFRICAN JEWISH ORPHANAGE

The nineteenth century emergence of Johannesburg as a City of Gold also produced some incredibly wealthy family dynasties, affluent mining magnates, many of whom exercised world influence well into the twenty first century. Among these were names of magnates like Oppenheimer, Laub and Phillips, all originally Jewish. Besides their industrial, mining and entrepreneurial interests, they acquired vast tracts of land for their personal domestic living purposes on the northern Parktown Ridge of Johannesburg.

Between Oxford Road in the east, Jan Smuts Avenue in the west, The Parktown Ridge up on the south border was Lord Albu's Estate overlooking the suburb below, and Saxonwold on the North Border, was the northern residential suburb of Forrest Town. In the late eighteen hundreds, before the whole area was carved up into residential lots, this stretch of land (Forrest Town) was indeed a forest of trees. These were mainly blue gums, oak and pine. Those trees were felled and used in the gold mines situated south of the City.

The Laub Estate stretched through the forest into the area north called Sachsenwald. The Laub Estate had a huge menagerie on the border of Sachsenwald. After the First World War (WWI), the name was changed to Saxonwold, the Lord Albu name was derived from the Laub family, and The Johannesburg Zoological Gardens situated in Forrest Town, was developed from the Laub Estate's Menagerie.

Sir Lionel Phillips and Sir Earnest Oppenheimer established their Estates east of the Laub Estate along the Parktown Ridge. The Oppenheimer Estate was called Brenthurst, and The Philips Estate was called Villa Arcadia.

‘Villa Arcadia’ became the South African Jewish Orphanage in the twenties, when Sir Lionel Philips sold Lady Philips beloved Arcadia to the Jewish Community.

That's how the Zoo came to be close to Villa Arcadia and the South African Jewish Orphanage adopted the name of Arcadia Dr Louis Touyz

THE ARCADIA SYNAGOGUE (ARCSHUL)

by Jenny Levin (Fliess)

I wonder if the synagogue existed when Lord Phillips owned Villa Arcadia or if this building beyond the library, the fishpond and the open courtyard was a later addition. The smooth pillars on all four sides of the courtyard looked quite the same so I suspect the building was part of the original design but probably had a different purpose. For us, it was Shul.

We spent so much time in the Shul's rich brown pews that we were absolutely familiar with every grain of wood. Here, as elsewhere, and perhaps a symptom of the times, separation of the sexes, and a most distinct hierarchy were the order of the day. Girls sat to one side of the central aisle with Ma occupying the first seat in the back row. The rest of the back row belonged to the most senior of the girls with ever younger and thus less important girls filling up each of the other rows

towards the aisle, with the youngest filling the first row, immediately opposite the boys. In total, the girls only filled one section of seats. Two further sections stood empty most of the year but were used by visitors on the festivals and the old-Arcs who sometimes attended our Saturday morning services.

Opposite us girls, although I think they filled more than one section, were the boys. Again, ranging through the ages, youngest to the front rising in height and seniority to the back row. The boys of course had Fickey, who had a long, long time previously been an Arc boy himself. Fickey, unusually, had chosen to return to the Arc as a resident housemaster and part-time Latin tutor and so became a permanent fixture of the boys’ existence. He took his supervisory role most seriously.

So Fickey, in a way was Ma’s counterpart over on the boys’side. Fickey, however, did not stay put in a back seat as Ma did. He wandered about to check that all the

Villa Arcadia

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Howard Ginsberg and Harry Kuperberg carrying the Torah

boys were behaving themselves. But it was Doc who was star performer in our Shul. With a black flowing cassock over his suit, he restlessly strode about like a majestic lion, king of his domain. There was no doubt that he presided over the whole house. The Siddur seemed so small in his large hands, and though I seem to recall that he often had a finger holding the book open, he had no need to read its contents. I have no doubt that he knew every prayer and hymn by heart. Occasionally, to set us straight, he might open the Siddur to point out which page and verse we should have been attentive to, and the humorous look on his face and the twinkle in his eyes as he did so matched the performance of greater names than his from London’s stage, or Hollywood’s silver screen.

Doc was a character. A charismatic, intelligent and revered figurehead who could have presided in absolute fairness over any court in the land. A somewhat straggly moustache and a jauntily set beret, replaced by a black yarmulka in Shul and at meals, completed the picture.

Ma, in contrast, was of medium-height, with dark hair and eyes, well-tailored suits and a good collection of hats, invariably small, almost bonnet-sized. Most of all it was her hair that lent severity to her looks. For her hairstyle never changed. Parted in the middle and tightly pulled back into a thin plait that was twisted into a bun and the whole pinned low at the base of her head side. Fickey, however, did not stay put in a back seat as Ma did. He wandered about to check that all the boys were behaving themselves. But it was Doc who was star performer in our Shul. With a black flowing cassock over his suit, he restlessly strode about like a majestic lion, king of his domain. There was no doubt that he presided over the whole house.

Doc was a character. A charismatic, intelligent and revered figurehead who could have presided in absolute fairness over any court in the land. A somewhat straggly moustache and a jauntily set beret,

replaced by a black yarmulka in Shul and at meals, completed the picture.

Ma, in contrast, was of medium-height, with dark hair and eyes, well-tailored suits and a good collection of hats, invariably small, almost bonnet-sized. Most of all it was her hair that lent severity to her looks. For her hairstyle never changed. Parted in the middle and tightly pulled back into a thin plait that was twisted into a bun and the whole pinned low at the base of her head.

Ma's eyes were almost black. Doc’s eyes seemed to twinkle and crinkle in endless humour, whereas hers seemed to almost disappear into their sockets.

Doc’s great height and the sense of barely bridled power he imparted were softened by his humour and warmth. It would have been difficult to match his warmth, intellectual curiosity and affability. Ma's personality was probably over-shadowed by his larger than life one. With hindsight, I suspect that Doc was so wrapped up in philosophy and theology that he blissfully lived on high with G-d and our biblical forefathers, leaving Ma with the practicalities and disciplinary aspects of all our lives.

As to our attendance at Shul, we girls got off relatively lightly - not out of any favouritism, merely in accordance with Jewish Orthodox practices. We certainly had to attend Shul every Friday evening and every Saturday morning and evening too. And then there were the High Holy Days as well as every major and minor festival and fast day in the Jewish calendar.

Once the boys had been Barmitzvah, they had to attend Shul on a daily basis. They enveloped themselves in the mystery of Tallit and Tefillin, learned how to open and read the Torah, and carefully roll it up again. They were allowed to open the Ark, remove the velvet and gold-bedecked scrolls and slowly carry them down the aisle towards the Bimah with Doc proudly bringing up the rear, beaming like a patriarch seeing a favourite son bearing his newborn son in his arms. In religious ceremony we girls, in the traditional orthodox way, played a smaller part

Hebrew Classes with G’veret Sher left and Gerber right Front row: Les Durbach, Keith Lang, Jennifer and Henry Shippel. Back Row: Unknown, Hymie Aronoff, Unknown, Jenny Sandler and Brenda Stein.

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Despite all its solemnity, the Shul offered opportunity for fun and even matchmaking. As the Torah scrolls were borne along the aisle to and from the Ark, we were allowed, indeed expected, to stretch out our fingertips to touch and kiss the sacred objects. If you happened to sit in the front row, you could just about reach the passing parade, although you often had to call out to attract the Torah bearers back from the boys' side. For the rest of us, seated out of reach of the aisle, we had the opportunity to spill out and mill about, ostensibly to touch the Torah scrolls, and I’m sure we did that too, for we held them in awe. But it was also the perfect opportunity to mingle with the boys and try to get closer to our current favourite. Sometimes it took quite an effort on Ma’s part to restore order and get us all back to our seats and allow the service to continue.

Havdalah Service with Gary Creighton, Minnie Baitz, David Sandler and Michael Goldstein with his back to us

Most fun of all, aside from Purim, was probably the Saturday night Havdalah service. It was undoubtedly one of the high romantic spots of the week when a boy and a girl would be called upon to come up to the Bimah and hold a lighted candle during the reading of the evening’s prayers.

Here there was plenty of opportunity for matchmaking and Doc played along gamely. At times, he would have been primed in advance so that when he called up a couple, they would be greeted with hoots of laughter from the young congregation. At other times, Doc would pretend that he had no idea who to call upon and there would be lots of whispered suggestions as he bent his head behind the wide sleeve of his cassock, avidly listening to suggestions.

It wasn’t all fun and games though. At times, it could be very embarrassing as for example when a ‘friend’ had divulged someone’s secret longing and suddenly this passion became public knowledge. Worse was to come when everyone would laugh at the absurdity of such an unlikely match. But once up on that Bimah, enjoying the pleasurable warmth of fresh wax in the palm of one's hand, all embarrassment would be washed away. All our attention was taken up as we tilted the candle over as far as it would go to get as much wax in as little time as possible, without the flame dying. For here was real achievement: taking copious amounts of wax back to your seat! Sometimes we might share the wax with a friend, or repay a 'debt. Either way, it was a prize to show off. I wonder how many ‘couples’ came about by virtue of this Saturday evening ceremony.

The Arc Shul (formerly the Phillips ballroom)

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Chapter 95 – THE JAN SMUTS CONNECTIONS TO ARCADIA

1921 - PERMISSION FROM GENERAL JAN SMUTS TO BRING 200 JEWISH ORPHANS TO SOUTH AFRICA FROM EASTERN EUROPE. Half these children landed up in the care of Oranjia (The Cape Jewish Orphanage) and half in Arcadia (The South African Jewish Orphanage)

“In 1921 Isaac Ochberg went to see Gen Smuts who had become Prime Minister in 1919, to ask permission to bring Jewish orphans to South Africa. Smuts discussed it with his deputy, Patrick Duncan and the Minister of the Interior, Sir Thomas Watt.

They came back to Ochberg and said that he could bring 200 children to this country, subject to certain

conditions. These conditions were: The children had to be proper orphans. Those with even one parent still living could not be taken. Siblings were not to be separated. If for some reason one did not qualify then the others had to be left behind. No children with physical disabilities were to come, nor any sick or retarded children. Finally 16 was the age limit for any child. The Jewish community had to bear the cost of bringing the children out to South Africa and they were also to be responsible for their upkeep here. The government was not to be involved in any expense whatsoever.”

(Extract from an article written in September 2004 by Lionel Slier who was the editor of ‘Community Buzz’ a column in the South African ‘Jewish Report’)

1923 - THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF ARCADIA BY JAN SMUTS 18 JULY 1923

Mr Schlesinger is presenting the key to General Smuts.
On the right are Rabbi Dr. J L Landau and Mr. I Heymann. On the left is Mr. M I Isaacson.

1923 A PLOT TO ASSASSINATE GENERAL JAN SMUTS AT THE OPENING OF ARCADIA

While I’m sure many of you would have seen the photo above in the Arcadia Centenary book I’m not too sure many of you would have read the chapter on Morris Isaac Isaacson, chairman and his wife Mavis Myer, matron - serving Arcadia - 1921-1926.

Jeffrey Isaacson (their son) writes, “One story my father told me of was concerning a plot to assassinate General Jan Smuts at the opening of Arcadia. I'm sure it is not generally known, and if the plot had been carried out, it would have caused a pogrom

“My father, who was an active member of the Labour Party, was involved in the 1922 general strike, and when Smuts, good democrat that he was, had some of the strikers shot, he went and hid on a health farm in Natal for some time.

“When Smuts was invited to open the orphanage, the remaining ex-strikers thought it was a good place to assassinate him, but when my father heard about it, he had enough influence to talk them out of it.

“In the photo of General Smuts opening the orphanage my father is on the left hand side behind General Jan Smuts.”

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Chapter 96 –MORRIS ISAAC ISAACSON MORRIS ISAAC ISAACSON

Morris Isaacson was not only involved in the Jewish War Relief Fund, the South African Jewish Orphanage and the acquisition of ‘Villa Arcadia’ but he was very active in the Labour Party and he and his wife left a legacy for Africans; a nursery school, a bursary fund, and high school named after him.

RAND PIONEER WHO ESTABLISHED “ARCADIA”

By Richard Feldman

Some there are who have served the community for the lifetime but have not left their mark or in any way influenced the development of the organisations or institutions which they have served. Others there are, though few, who may have devoted only a limited period of their lives to the welfare and improvement of the community, yet have been creative and much achievement to their credit. Morris Isaac Isaacson, MII to his friends, belongs to the latter category.

His is the story of those who at the turn of the century sought to find a new home in South Africa. It is a little different from the average story, because “M.I.I.” came with a social consciousness which he did not suppress in his pursuit to establish himself economically. Rather did he develop it in the new home he found.

A distinguished looking gentleman with the white trimmed moustache, who can be taken for a retired English colonel, Morris Isaac Isaacson was born in Varsan, Lithuania. His father was an innkeeper and when the old Russian Government introduced a monopoly in the sale of alcohol products, one more avenue was closed to the Jew, and it was decided to send young Morris to South Africa.

Jewish War Relief Fund

Simultaneously with his activities in the Labour Party, we find “M.I.I.” at the beginning of World War I, together with the respected representative of the orthodox Jews, Reb. Chaim Yankel Kark, as chief protagonists for the formation of a Jewish War Relief fund, which was at first strongly opposed by Mr Harry Graumann, at that time the leading spokesman of Johannesburg Jewry.

At the end of the First World War, Mr Isaacson was amongst the most prominent and active leaders of Johannesburg Jewry. He was President of the Jewish Guild, Treasurer of the Jewish War Memorial fund, Treasurer of the Jewish Relief and Reconstruction Fund, and chairman of the S.A. Jewish Orphanage.

Morris Isaac Isaacson

Orphanage “Revolution”

Mavis Myer

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His connection with the Orphanage needs to be written up at greater length, as it is the story of a bloodless “revolution” to establish democratic rule in one of the community’s institutions. Briefly the facts are these. The Orphanage was not an independent body, and had no separate constitution, but was an activity of the Jewish Ladies’ Communal League. Males could not have a say in the way the Orphanage was run. The League leadership was unsympathetic to the recent immigrants from Eastern Europe. Orphanage contributions had no legal rights, membership fees were regarded as donations. Attendance at an annual meeting was a courtesy, not a right.

Mr Isaacson, in collaboration with Mr David Getz (now of Cape Town), the late Mr W Jacobson, and other supporters, attended an annual meeting - by courtesy of the Committee – and demanded the independence and democratisation of the Orphanage. Seeing that the rebels had strong support, the Chairman adjourned the meeting for ten minutes, and on its resumption announced that the League was prepared to “abdicate”, and an Interim Committee to draft a constitution was adopted. The old leadership refused to participate in the new Committee. “M.I.I.” found himself with an Orphanage on his hands. Here he met Mavis Myers, the daughter of the Matron, and he married her in 1924.

The Relief fund was negotiating to bring to South Africa 200 orphans from Poland and Ukraine, and Mr Isaacson played a prominent part as Treasurer of the Fund in the bringing together of the local and the overseas orphans.

Mavis Myers took charge of the 88 overseas orphans, who were temporarily housed at the Jewish Aged Home, and soon became “Mummy Myers” to them,

as indeed “M.I.I.” became “Pappa Isaacson”. Their devotion to the young strangers was without bounds.

How “Arcadia” was acquired

Plans were ready for the building of a new Orphanage at Kensington at the cost of £35,000 but the late Bernard Alexander, leader of South African Jewry at the time, and Chairman of the Relief fund, sent for Mr Isaacson and the late Peter Kaplan, and told them that Sir Lionel Phillips’ palatial residence, “Arcadia”, was for sale and it was bought for £30 000.

There was considerable opposition to this purchase on the ground that poor orphans should not be housed in a palace amidst beautiful surroundings. This opposition persisted until the official opening by General Smuts, who pointed out that the beauty of the surroundings was some compensation for these children who had no parents and no home of their own.

Mavis Myers was appointed matron and until her marriage she and Mr Isaacson devoted their spare time, their energy and love, to making “Arcadia” a home for its young residents.

In passing, it may be mentioned that Mr Isaacson wanted the Orphanage to be known as “Arcadia”, and not the “Orphanage”. He had witnessed some of the overseas children, when brought to the Cape Orphanage, reading the word “BET YESOIMIM” (House of Orphans) and crying: “So we have come from one Orphanage to another”. This impressed him so much that his main endeavour was to free “Arcadia” from any institutional atmosphere.

Memorial to his wife

In 1926 the Isaacsons left for Warmbaths, and their active association with communal institutions stopped for some years, but many there are who have cause to remember them with affection and gratitude for the paternal care and assistance they rendered.

During the last war, Mrs Isaacson gave voluntary but full-time service to the Johannesburg Hospital, and at her death in 1949, sincere tributes were paid to her by the Hospital authorities for her devoted services.

As a memorial to his wife, Mr Isaacson, under the auspices of the City Council, built a Nursery School at Moroka Township – truly a fitting reminder of a partnership of service to different sections of the community.

Illuminated Address Given To Morris Isaacs And Mavis Myers On The Occasion Of Their Wedding In Thanks For Their Service Given To The Ukraine Orphans.

United South African Jewish Relief Reconstruction and Orphans Fund

To M I Isaacson Esq

Dear Mr Isaacson

On the occasion of your marriage we wish to place on record our deep appreciation of your great services to the cause of our people in Eastern Europe in your capacity as Hon Treasurer and Vice President of the Fund, particularly in the cause of our destitute orphans.

££π£After the pogrom period in the Ukraine when the news of the terrible plight of hundreds of thousands of pogrom orphans reached us and South African Jewry deeply felt the great national tragedy, you placed yourself at the head of the Save the Orphans Campaign and since then you have worked wholeheartedly on behalf of these destitute orphans of ours. When the eighty eight orphans brought out by our Fund arrived in Johannesburg you entirely devoted yourself to caring for their well being and happiness. Indeed you have been like a father to them.

It is not for us to thank you for your great and noble work, but we feel sure that on this your wedding day as well as all your life time you will feel happy and compensated in the knowledge of having to such an extent been instrumental in saving so many young lives, ensuring them of a happier future than that which faced them.

We also feel happy in the thought that your life’s partner has also been associated with us in the caring of our orphans. Indeed Miss Mavis Meyers has as Matron been a true friend to them giving them a mother’s care and love.

We wish you both a very happy life – a life full of joy and sunshine.

With kindest regards – On behalf of the Central Executive Committee.

The document is signed by the President, whose name is not clear (it may be Hollander), the Vice President, Natie Kirschner, the treasurer, I. M. Gordon, the Secretary, Ray Cowen, and Richard Feldman, the chairman of the Propaganda committee.

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COMPILED BY DAVID SANDLER
EMAIL sedsand@ca.com.au