The South African Young Israel Movement
by LEWIS PINSHAW
THE earliest available records of Young Israel in South
Africa—the first number of the “Zionist Record," issued on November 15th,
1908—finds several societies already in the field, among them the Port
Elizabeth Daughters of Israel, the Pretoria Juvenile Society (with 200
members), the Pretoria Children's Zionist Association and the Cape Town Junior
Zionist Association. That these and other Young Israel societies had been in
existence for some time is clear from a report of the Executive Council of the
Zionist Federation (December 31st, 1908), which stated that Messrs. S. Lennox
Lowe, Joseph Heymann and J. B. Shacksnovis had been acting as Commissioners for
Juvenile Societies, that meetings had been addressed in Johannesburg, Pretoria,
Durban, Krugersdorp, Standerton, Heidelberg, that new societies had been
established in Kimberley, Graaff-Reinet and Middelburg (C.C.). "In order
to assist in the proper conduct of these societies your executive are now
drafting a set of rules which we hope will lead to greater uniformity and more
businesslike methods in their working."
So here we have the beginnings of what, though at first
sporadic and incoherent, was to develop into a national movement. And that
development will prove all the more striking when we come to compare young
Jewry of twenty years ago with that of to-day. At that time the father of the
family was generally a newcomer to South Africa, and the young Jew himself had
probably been born in Eastern Europe. He was not of the emancipated University
type of to-day, and living in the very heart of Judaism could be expected to be
more receptive of Jewish ideas and more responsive to Jewish aspirations. The
youth of 1929 is of the first generation of South African. Jews proper, and
what Jewish culture of the orthodox type he has imbibed has come to him
mediately. Bearing this in mind we must find the development of the national
movement among Young Israel all the more gratifying.
But the young Jew of 1908 had few accomplished facts to
sustain him. His inspiration was the Basle Programme, not the Balfour
Declaration. When the time came he could assist in practical work: meanwhile he
would remain the idealist, aspiring to a new order which at times seemed
terribly remote. What practical work presented itself could be left to the
elders. The function of Young Israel was to learn, and his active participation
in the Zionist movement would, apart from the stereotyped propaganda work, be the
occasional delegating of a member (sometimes a senior, often a stranger) to
represent his society at a Zionist Conference.
The Early Years.
Thus at the third S.A. Zionist Conference, held in 1909, two
Junior Societies were represented. There was much discussion on Junior Zionism,
which evoked a pious resolution (the first of a series) that merely served to
indicate the existence of Junior Zionism with an academic interest in its
welfare.
During the next few years this interest did not wane. From
time to time the Zionist Executive commended the good work of the Juvenile Societies,
and referred to the formation of new societies, notably that of Johannesburg.
But it had to deplore the apathy of parents in not actively encouraging their
children to join the movement. And that the elders were indeed indifferent the
fourth S.A. Zionist Conference (1911) proved. At this conference there was
hardly any mention of Young Israel affairs, and Young Israel itself was too
apathetic to send more than one delegate to represent it.
But the Zionist Record" was not inactive. It set aside
a page for children and in other ways encouraged the movement.
Meanwhile new societies were being formed and were showing
signs of great activity. Cape Town was doing good work, and the Transvaal
societies, not to be outdone, soon reported equally good progress.
The second Transvaal Provincial Zionist Conference was held
towards the end of 1913. At the first conference, held 18 months previously,
only one juvenile society had been represented, and there had been but casual
reference to Young Israel affairs. Now, however, the Young Israel
representatives made their presence more felt. The Johannesburg Young Zionist
Society, indeed, moved: "That it be a recommendation to the Federation to
pay more attention to the formation of Juvenile and Junior Zionist Societies throughout
South Africa." Inevitably, this was agreed to. The Cape Province Zionist
Conference, held a month later, emphasised the lack of organisation. Four
junior societies were represented and reported encouraging progress. But it was
found that most of the Cape Province Junior Zionist Societies were merely
branches of senior societies; in some towns a few juniors, for want of a junior
society, were permitted to join the adult body. There was thus no conscious
organisation. Fortunately there were some earnest young men who realised the
need of it. They thought that the solution lay with the juniors themselves. One
of them, P. Machanik, wrote in the “Zionist Record" (August, 1914):
"The organisation of Young Zionist Societies must be placed in the hands
of more experienced young men and women. Propaganda must come from young
Zionists themselves." The very keynote of the present movement!
In the war years the pages of the "Zionist Record"
contained regular reports from Young Israel societies, which were becoming
increasingly active. At the sixth S.A. Zionist Conference (1916) eight of the
eleven affiliated Young Israel societies were represented. Young Israel
affairs, however, were hardly touched upon. But the Cape Town Junior Zionist
Society had the temerity to propose: "That a member of a Junior Zionist
Society be elected on the Executive for Young Israel work." A gallant
effort, but premature. As expected, the motion was lost, and the more obvious
one, betokening steadier progress, was carried: "That a Juvenile
Commissioner for Junior Zionist Societies be appointed from among the members
of the Zionist Executive." In May, 1916, Miss L. Machanik was duly elected
Juvenile Commissioner.
The Johannesburg
Y.I.S.
At this time a new force in Young Israel affairs had arisen
in the Transvaal. “The Zionist Record" review of S.A. Jewry in 5676
stated, inter alia: “The period under review has also seen the birth and
marvellous growth of the Junior Zionist Society—the Young Israel Society—which
has now 700 members." It proceeded to commend the zeal of this new
Johannesburg Society. The commendations were justified. The activities of the
society became so large and varied that in 1917 the "Zionist Record"
deemed it advisable to set aside a special corner for the society. Henceforth
there would be two columns for Young Israel—one for young Zionists generally,
one for the Johannesburg Young Israel Society.
But that, despite its vaunted progress, at least one person
thought that all was not well with this society appears from a letter of
"Ish Shode" (October, 1917). He regrets that the society is too
social, not sufficiently Zionist. There are, for example, not enough lectures.
And it must be admitted that this reproach could be levelled at certain
societies.
In 1918 ten societies were affiliated to the Federation.
This did not represent the sum total of societies in the country, as some were
not affiliated. By the following year the number of affiliated societies had
grown to seventeen. Of these, eleven were represented at the seventh S.A.
Zionist Conference, mostly, however, by seniors, some of them advisers of the
society, others total strangers. At this conference it was established as the
duty of every Zionist Society to form a Juvenile Society in its town or
district.
A few months later the "Zionist Record" commented
on “the great development of Young Israel activities in the past few months all
over South Africa. Large numbers of Young Israel Societies have been formed,
while those already existing have been steadily enlarging their
activities." An index to such activities would be those of the society of
the Federation's headquarters: and the Johannesburg Society was distinguishing
itself by raising £100 for the Max Nordau Garden City Fund and by undertaking
to hold a National Fund Stamp Day.
Six months later, in 1920, the Federation reported that 33
societies were affiliated to it.
At this time the Wynberg Y.I.S. was considering the
advisability of having a Magazine published, the management to be in the hands
of the Cape Town Society. Some five years before, the Cape Town Junior Zionist
Society had published a quarterly magazine, the "Judaea," which, if
from its nature parochial, was a creditable publication. It had apparently
expired and was now succeeded by "Young Israel," itself the
progenitor of the "Judean." Mr. B. R. Matz greatly interested himself
in both the latter publications.
The First Junior
Conference.
The Eighth S.A. Zionist Conference was held in Johannesburg
in January, 1922. It proved a landmark in the history of Young Israel. The
Zionist Record," referring to the forthcoming conference, had said:
"Specially interesting are the numerous carefully-prepared and
well-thought-out proposals from Juvenile Societies for the co-ordination and
development of Junior Zionist activities. So numerous and important, indeed,
are these proposals that it is intended to submit them in the first place to a
special conference of delegates to be held just prior to the opening of the
conference proper."
This Junior Conference was duly held on 31st December, 1921.
It was attended by 32 delegates representing 17 societies drawn from every
province, and most of the societies were represented by their own members. One
can well recall the earnest-ness and enthusiasm of that evening. If many
platitudes and pious hopes were expressed, these were begotten of immaturity,
but they at least betokened a sincere enthusiasm. The young men and women of
the conference stressed the fact that Young Israel organisation was at the
turning-point, and the resolutions of the evening bore out this conviction. To
take effect these resolutions were submitted to the conference proper, at which
19 of the 43 affiliated societies were represented. They provided, inter alia,
that such Junior Conferences be a regular feature of Zionist Conferences; that
the Federation appoint a special body, consisting of members of the Executive
Council, to look after Junior Zionism and to keep in touch with Junior Zionist
Societies throughout the country. The Conference unanimously adopted the
resolutions.
A few days later a number of Junior delegates met in an
informal discussion of Young Israel affairs. They made certain recommendations
which were to be brought to the notice of the delegates' societies. One was
that all societies should support the Cape Young Israel publication and appoint
provincial commissioners for that purpose. Most important of all, there were
tentative suggestions on the instituting of Provincial Councils.
The Provincial
Councils.
The discussions bore fruit when, a few months later,
delegates representing ten Cape societies met and formed the Cape Judean
Central Council. Every affiliated society would be entitled to a representation
of three on payment of an affiliation fee of 10s. 6d. per annum. It was to be
the duty of the Executive of the Council to organise Cape Young Israel; and the
Executive, itself firmly established in a few months, proceeded to place Cape
Young Israel on an equally sound footing. Among the first tasks was the
reorganisation of the publishing of the Young Israel Magazine. This duly
appeared as the "Judean," under the editorship of Mr. J. Herbstein,
of the Cape Town Bar, but its early issues suffered from lack of support from
the other provinces.
Not to be outdone. Transvaal Young Israel held a conference
towards the end of 1922. The delegates of the six societies that were
represented elected a Central Council with a constitution similar to that of
the Cape prototype, and under the chairmanship of Mr. N. Metz, the Executive
was soon busy reorganising Young Israel.
At the Ninth S.A. Zionist Conference, held in 1924, eighteen
of thirty-four young Israel societies affiliated to the Federation were
represented. As before, a Junior Conference was held, and it recommended that
Councils be formed in the O.F.S. and Natal on the lines of the other two
Provincial Councils. These Councils were formed in July, 1926, so that each
Province had now its own Council, and a new step in organisation had been
taken. The next step was inevitable. The “Judean" of July, 1927, referring
to an informal conference of representatives of the Provincial Councils of the
Young Israel movement which was to be held in Durban during that month, hoped
that as a result of the conference a better spirit of co-operation between the
Councils would follow, and that the question of a combined South African body
to represent the movement in all the various provinces would be mooted.
"The time seems ripe for the establishment of a federated body over and
above the existing provincial executives to control and co-ordinate the work
throughout the country."
The S.A. Young Israel
Federation.
This informal conference was duly held in Durban on Sunday,
July 10th, 1927. The official delegates were Messrs. D. N. Kahn and J.
Greenstein (Cape Judean Central Council), Messrs. H. Rajak and R. Kahn
(Transvaal Young Israel Executive), Messrs. P. N. Manham and A. Blumenfeld
(Natal Young Israel Central Executive), Messrs. A. Zaidel and N. Goldberg
(O.F.S. Young Israel Central Executive), and Mr. P. Baron (Rhodesia).
According to The Judean's report, it was gathered that the
strongest organisation was the Cape Judean Central Council. It has 26
affiliated societies, all well organised and properly catered for by the
Council. Mr. D. N. Kahn. referred to a number of interesting and most useful
pamphlets issued by his Council, the re-starting of ‘The Judean,' … the ‘Book
of Service’ to be run on the lines of the J.N.F. Golden Book, but reserved
solely for the Y.I. movement. He mentioned the Y.I. census held in the Cape and
the happy relationship established with the seniors."
In the Transvaal Mr. H. Rajak explained, "whereas last
year only a few societies functioned, there are now sixteen, all doing good
work. Much reorganisation had taken place in order to arrive at the healthy
state now prevailing. Lecturers were supplied to the societies, inter-functions
arranged, and a special committee was kept busy finding out ways and means for
the publication of a suitable national organ.”
Mr. P. Manham pointed out the difficulties confronting Natal
owing to the smallness of the Council, the Durban and Pietermaritzburg
Societies being the only Y.I.S.'s in existence in the Province. Still, much had
already been accomplished: inter-functions arranged, a directory compiled of
the Natal Jewish youth, and provision made for associate members; Natal, too,
had been negotiating, together with the Transvaal, for the publication of a
joint organ."
It appeared that the O.F.S. Executive was still suffering
from lack of sufficient support from quarters where this was necessary. It was
expected, however, that such support would be forthcoming. "They had been
considering the publication of a magazine, but had as yet arranged for nothing
definite and appealed to conference for a national journal
The discussions that followed the provincial reports showed
remarkable unanimity on one point the formation of a South African Young Israel
Federation-and a motion to this end was accordingly adopted. The motion further
provided that the S.A.Y.I.F. should consist of representatives of the four
Young Israel Provincial Executives. This Federation was to take over from the
Cape Judean Central Council the whole running of the Cape Judean" Magazine
and turn that into the South African Young Israel Magazine. Each province will
appoint its local Magazine Committee, which will be responsible for their
respective province's share for the production of the journal by means of
advertisements, contributions and subscriptions. It was agreed to have the
headquarters of the Federation at Cape Town, the seat of the soundest
Provincial Executive, and that each Provincial Council be represented on the
Federation by one delegate, whereas the financial responsibility be borne in a
ratio to the general provincial activities.
The resolutions adopted by the informal conference could
have no validity until ratified by the various Provincial Executives. Such
ratification was soon forthcoming, and on August 24th the first formal meeting
of the Federation was held in Cape Town, and the S.A.Y.I.F. commenced active
work.
The First Executive.
The first Executive of the Federation consisted of:
President, Mr. L. Matthews; Vice-President, Mr. D. N. Kahn; Hon. Secretary, Mr.
M. Donen.
The first Central Magazine Committee consisted of: Hon.
Editor, Mr. H. M. Bloch (of the Cape Town Bar); Hon. Sub-Editor, Mr. J.
Aaronowitch; Hon. Business Manager, Mr. L. Matthews.
Hon. Associate Editors for the various Provinces were:
Transvaal, Mr. L. Pinshaw (of the Johannesburg Bar); Natal, Rev. J. L. Levine;
Cape, Mr. D. N. Kahn; O.F.S., Mr. J. Rubin.
The business management in Natal and Cape Province was to be
in the hands of the Hon. Associate Editor; in the Transvaal Mr. A. Getz and in
O.F.S. Mr. R. Morris were appointed.
The S.A.Y.I.F. had thus come into being, but yet it lacked
sufficient standing within the Zionist organisation proper. Its charter,
however, was not long withheld, for at the next S.A. Zionist Conference, the
eleventh, held in April, 1928, the S.A.Y.I.F. was officially recognised as the
governing body of organised Young Jewry in South Africa under the authority of
the Zionist Federation.
[I am indebted to the S.A. Young Israel Federation for the
following account of its activities. It is in general a contemporary history of
the movement.]
The Work of the
S.A.Y.I. Federation.
Despite the short period which has elapsed since the
establishment of the S.A. Young Israel Federation, all the preliminary
foundation and consolidation work has already been completed, and the
Federation is securely established. All its work is done and its
recommendations are carried out through the Provincial organisations, who are
loyally carrying out all resolutions.
'The Judean’, the official organ for South African Young
Jewry, was, after many vicissitudes, taken over by the S.A. Young Israel
Federation on its formation. In fact, the running of "The Judean" as
a South African organ was one of the main reasons which prompted the formation
of the S.A. Young Israel Federation. The magazine is published quarterly and is
controlled by the Federation through an Editorial Board, consisting of an Hon.
Editor, an Hon. Sub-Editor, an Hon. Associate Editor for each Province, and two
Joint Business Managers. Like all the other Young Israel work, this is also
done on a voluntary basis, The circulation of the Magazine is about 2,000 per
issue. It is worthy of mention as a matter of interest that, as far as is
known. This is the only organ of Young Jewry in any Zionist country which is
not subsidised by the senior Zionist organisation.
Young Israel Camps are fast becoming one of the most
important features of Young Israel activity in South Africa. The Cape Council
have now held a Camp for four successive years at the Strand, whilst Camps were
held at East London in 1926 and 1927 and at Port Elizabeth last year. At
present the Transvaal are completing arrangements for a mid-year Camp to be
held on the Natal Coast. This Camp will cater more particularly for Transvaal,
O.F.S. and Natal Young Israelites.
The Camps are run on strictly Kosher lines, and a real
Jewish holiday is afforded at a nominal fee. The Camps are proving a very fine
medium for the cultivation of Jewishness," for living in a true Jewish
atmosphere for a period of ten to fourteen days leaves an indelible impression
on the camper's mind, which impression is considerably facilitated by a
judicious programme of cultural propaganda.
A new scheme under consideration is that of the inauguration
of Summer Schools for the intensive study of Jewish questions. It is proposed
to co-operate with the S.A. Board of Jewish Education, who have promised every
assistance in this connection. Similarly it is proposed, with the co-operation
of this Board, to introduce correspondence courses on Jewish subjects for
members of Young Israel.
South African Young Israel have also taken steps to identify
themselves in a practical way with the upbuilding of Palestine and have
accordingly undertaken responsibility for the planting of a grove of 1,000
trees in Palestine in the name of S.A. Young Israel. In addition, it has been
decided to devote £300 towards the establishment of scholarships at the Hebrew
University in Jerusalem. Both these schemes tend to keep the practical aspects
of Zionism before members of Young Israel.
A "Book of Service" has been established for Young
Israel, to be run on similar lines to that of the Golden Book" of the
Jewish National Fund. Inscriptions are, however, to be strictly for merit and
for services rendered to Young Israel in South Africa, the revenue aspect being
of no consideration whatsoever. Stringent by-laws govern inscriptions in the
"Book of Service," and in this way it is hoped to honour only those
who deserve honour.
With a view to gauging the growth of the movement and having
reliable data about it at the disposal of the Federation, a Statistical
Committee has been established to supervise the distribution and collection of
specially drawn up census forms. In this way the continued progress of
societies will be watched and, where necessary, assistance will be rendered if
possible.
A Correspondence Exchange for the purpose of placing members
of Young Israel in touch with one another has also been established and is now
in full operation. An excellent opportunity is afforded members of becoming
more intimately acquainted with their neighbours of other Provinces, and
besides the educational value of the correspondence itself, it tends to form
new friendships.
The above by no means exhausts the activities of the S. A.
Young Israel Federation and its constituent Provincial organisations. The
Federation keeps in close touch with its sister organisations in other parts of
the world; it issues half-yearly almanacs giving the dates of the more
important Jewish festivals and anniversaries of important. historical events;
it has under consideration the adoption of a badge and banner for S.A. Young
Israel and, generally, assists in all Zionist activity.
As mentioned at the outset, the Young Israel Movement, as a
movement in South Africa, is very young indeed, and although a good deal has
been achieved much remains to be done before it will be placed on a sound
cultural foundation. On effective cultural propaganda the future depends, and
it is on this aspect that those in charge of Young Israel activity will have to
concentrate. It has to be remembered that all the work is voluntary, and hence
due allowance has to be made if the progress is slow. Courage and devotion to
the cause and faith in the future should, however, reap its reward in a strong,
virile and nationally conscious generation."
