News 7

Kimberley Ex-pats Newsletter no 7

March 2016

As we come up to Pesach it’s time for what seems to be a twice yearly Newsletter. Comments and articles from you would be very welcome for this communication which goes to all those I know of who may have originated from Kimberley or be interested in the Kimberley Jewish Community. (If you know anyone who may like to receive it – do forward it – but also send me their email address to add to the list.)

I came across this picture the other day. I think it dates back to January 1946 or maybe 1947 – depending whether it was my sixth or seventh birthday – sitting on our side lawn. And I can remember who all these little girls are. Starting from the left it was my best friend Norma Levinsohn, then me (Geraldine Kretzmar), Rosalie Lipschitz, Hannah Lurie, Marcia Frank and Sheila Frank (who now calls herself ‘bobbasheila’ on her email address!). I wonder where they all are now and whether they will receive or comment on this Newsletter?

As you will know, if you look at the Griqualand West Jewish community face-book pages, quite a lot has happened in the now far flung community over the last several months. Barney Horwitz had sadly to report the deaths of his uncle Philip Joseph in London, his aunt Monica Horwitz in Los Angeles and Grace Klein in Australia.

Barney always finds wonderful comforting and informative words on such occasions. He said: ‘I am saddened to advise you all of the death last night (25 October 2015) of Philip Joseph who was married in our shul to my aunt Pamela Horwitz in 1947. Philip maintained a link with our community throughout his adult life and remained a Member notwithstanding that he had lived in London for the last 37 years. Philip came to Kimberley as an RAF pilot during the Second World War, met Pam and after their marriage established the first branch of Exclusive Books in 1951 in King George Street, Johannesburg.’ (See the picture that Philip’s son Jonathan sent us of their 1947 wedding as well as links to his obituaries and his message to me on the visitors’ page of our Kimberley Jewish Community website.) http://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/kimberley/Joseph.html

Barney also reported: ‘It is with deep personal sadness that I bring the news to you of the death last night (6 January 2016) in Los Angeles of Monica Horwitz, for many years a leading light in our community. She was a wonderful Mother, Grandmother, Aunt, Friend and Community Worker who leaves behind a personal universe that is very much the poorer for her passing. Her life was a journey from humble beginnings in the depression devastated farmlands of the Eastern Cape in the 1930’s to commercial and social success first in Kimberley and later in Los Angeles, a world away from her roots. In life she was a mega figure in her own family and together with her soul mate and love of her life, the late Derek Horwitz she built not one but two successful family businesses and an exceptionally close immediate family. There will be a short memorial service for Monica before Shul on Friday evening at 5:45 p.m. in the Memorial Road, Shul where she and late Derek were married in 1957. Our sincere condolences go out to Mark, Shaun, Gary, Robyn and their families. May you all be comforted in your hour of need.’

And close on that he had to write: ‘Congregants and friends - I have just learnt that Grace Klein, another one of our expatriate community passed away peacefully today in Australia. Grace was another of our super heroines of the 60's 70's and 80's in our community extremely active in all the women's organisations and beloved wife of the late Dr Simon Klein another stalwart of our community. Grace and Shim left us in 1998 but are certainly not forgotten but are remembered with fondness. Grace will be sadly missed by her family and friends and leaves a void that will be difficult to fill. Our sincere condolences to Jack, Barbara, David, Allan and Families. Since we are already having a memorial service for Monica Horwitz this evening before Shul and 5:45 p.m., we will pay tribute to and remember Grace as well.’

You can access the Griqualand West Jewish Community Facebook pages here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/284879511607854/. On these pages Linda Capon Kruger, frequently posts very relevant and interesting material. She recently wished Mazeltov to Myra Goldenbaum on being nominated as Honorary Life Vice President of UJW South Africa. Linda also posted lovely pictures of Delia and Bobby Benn’s visit to SA.

Linda has also posted a marvellous treasure trove of pictures of Kimberley theatrical productions, in which her mother Beryl Capon was heavily involved. You can see the cast and credits of Fiddler on the Roof which was presented by the Union of Jewish Women at the Kimberley Theatre in March 1983. Many members were prominent in this: Doreen Cohen was the Production Organiser and Delia Benn was Production Coordinator and Assistant Director. Sharon Geller was involved with the costumes. Bobby Benn was the innkeeper and Linda’s mother Beryl was Yente the Matchmaker. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10206862778117533&set=pcb.821789234583543&type=3&theater.

Even more exciting from the community point of view are the pictures Linda posted on the Facebook pages of ‘The wedding of Menuval Pa Skoodnik to Dr Percy Shepsel Ferd-Ganif in the Jewish Communal Hall, Voortrekker Street, on Saturday 22nd February 1975, at 8.15pm Yiddeshe time’. It was Directed by Linda’s mother, Beryl Capon. You can see them here:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10206681386742862&set=gm.812794828816317&type=3&theater . The cast was: Bride - Arnold Rauff, Bridegroom - Helen Benjamin, Best Man - Anita Matzner, Pole Holders - Delia Benn, Monica Horwitz, Daphne Greenblatt and Rhona Bayer, Cantor - Charles Cohen, Rabbi - Eric Gershowitz, Shammes - Esther Klein, Maid of Honour - Casper Klevansky, Bridesmaids - David Allen and Arnold Bayer, Flower Girls - Eli Shles and Bobby Benn, The Bride's Baby - Micky Finberg, Mother of the Groom - David Capon, Father of the Groom - Dot Finberg, Father of the Bride - Betty Klevansky, Mother of the Bride - Ivor Haberfeld, Bobba - Philip Klein

Aah such fun memories – though after I had left. I’m sure you will agree with Linda when she pleads that they should do their best to limit postings to this group only to matters that are relevant to Kimberley Jewish Community!!!

The Kimberley Website that I made with the help of Eli Rabinowitz who now lives in Perth (along with some other ex-Kimberley-ites) http://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/kimberley/Home.html is as you may know collecting pictures of weddings that took place in the Kimberley Shul. (If you can dig one out please sent it with a full listing of the participants.)

This one below, took place on 17 February 1935, when my father who had been a doctor in Kimberley for ten years married his beautiful bride Beryl Bergman, the second of four daughters of Jacob and Amalie Bergman of Kimberley (who was only 14 when she first met him soon after his arrival!).

Amalie and Jacob are seated next to Noel’s sister Freda and her husband Nappy Frank (who give him away as both his parents Touvia and Taube Kretzmar had already sadly died). Standing at the back from the left are Noel’s youngest sister Ashne, his youngest brother Julius, Beryl’s youngest sister Eileen, Noel’s brother Arnold and Beryl’s sister Hannah. The bouquets, were rather large in those days, and the ladies hats certainly worn at a very rakish angle. (No sign of any Top Hats.) A very elegant picture indeed I think.

New on the website is a copy of the 100th anniversary brochure of the community – first formed in 1873. This was kindly scanned and loaned to me by Bernard Melunsky. It contains a very interesting history of the community written by Cyril Haberfeld and can be found from the community page or here http://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/kimberley/Community_files/Haberfeld%201.pdf.

There is even a picture of Brenda Danilowitz at the White House talking to Michelle Obama on our website here: http://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/kimberley/Danilowitz.html there are some pictures and information about the Grinne shul and its origins here http://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/kimberley/Grinna.html . There is also a link to an article on the 4 barmitzvahs that took place in January 2005 http://www.africanjewishcongress.com/ncrsa2.htm if you have not already seen this.

If you have missed any of my previous ex-pats Newsletters you can find them here on the website (where this one will soon join it: http://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/kimberley/News.html. Perhaps you would like to write a snippet about yourself or about your family for the next newsletter?

We send love and good wishes to Barney and Arnie, Shirley and Dave and all those taking care of things in Kimberley.

Hope you have had a lovely Purim and will enjoy Pesach.

Best wishes

Geraldine