IT is only of recent years that the great importance of
local history has been fully recognised. Each Jewish community represents a
fresh attempt at self-expression and self-justification, and the more isolated
the community, the more dependent on its own resources, the more clearly its
essential character is revealed. Colonel Kisch has recently paid a remarkable tribute
to the Jews of South Africa. Now South African Jewry is essentially the product
of the last half century. The majority of its members came here from the East
of Europe. They were poor and without means for the most part; they came as
strangers in a strange land, with no help from without, and at most they got
here a fair field and no favour. We hear a good deal about the immigration of
Lithuanian Jews. It was essentially that type that built the Jewish community
in South Africa, and, so far as we have made good, our story is a vindication
of the “Russian Jew." The Jews of Rhodesia form part of South African
Jewry, but they grew up in isolation to a large extent, and so their story may
be considered apart. Their stay goes back just one generation. The pioneers are
fast disappearing, and we have a new home-bred generation, and it is well to
sketch the origin and growth of this young community. Jewish traders came into
this territory even before the signing of the Charter—as, for example, Paddy
Cohen, who witnessed one of the letters sent by Lobengula to Queen Victoria. As
early as 1869 there was a D. M. Kisch at the Tati Concessions. Rhodes's
right-hand man in much of his work was Alfred Beit, of whose activities we may read
in such books as J. G. McDonald's "Life of Rhodes." Not only did he
help to an enormous extent in the actual creation of Rhodesia, but he left a
vast fortune which has been used unceasingly in the opening up and further
development of the country. This money has built railways and telegraph lines
and schools and hostels; has been utilised in the creation of a wonderful
system of scholarships, and is so invested and used as to be a perennial source
of fresh creation, so that it is impossible to estimate all that Alfred Beit
will ultimately mean to Rhodesia. Without doubt, next to Cecil Rhodes, we must
consider Beit as the second greatest influence in the creation and development
of Rhodesia.
Among the earliest companies in this territory was a
well-known Rothschild Syndicate. Before the railway reached Bulawayo, in 1898,
the country was developed to a large extent by means of ox and donkey
transport. In this transport Messrs. Weil Bros., of Mafeking, played a large
part. Thus at the beginning of the Matabele War they supplied the Chartered
Company with 360,000 rations. Messrs. Mosenthal Bros. also played a useful part
in the early days. In the original Occupation Column of 1890, there were a few
Jews, but it is now difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain exactly how
many. Any information on this subject would be most welcome. Some think that
Dr. Goodye, of the Police, was of Jewish origin. Immediately in the wake of the
Occupation Column, Jews began to enter the country, both from the South via
Tuli and from the East via Beira. They were mostly young men without means,
ready to rough it, and they did their share in the opening up of the country.
Many stuck to the country through all its vicissitudes and have made good. Joe
van Praagh and Julius Altson walked to Salisbury from Beira. Van Praagh became
Mayor of the Capital and Altson manager of a very important firm, both playing
an important part in the early days of Salisbury. Nat. Arnold and the
Bernsteins were among the pioneers of Umtali. Godfrey Jacobs and L. Susman
opened the Masonic Hotel in Salisbury in 1891, and Moss Harris the Albion
Hotel. Susman was also the first man to work a Rhodesian mine, and the battery
at this mine, the “Salisbury Reef," was officially started by Cecil Rhodes
in March, 1893. Susman was also the first man to start an up-to-date brewery in
Rhodesia. Amende and Mack were financiers who represented the French South
Africa Co. as early as 1892.
Salisbury.
The Salisbury Hebrew Congregation was formed in 1895, when
there were about sixteen Jews in Salisbury. At the initial meetings, something
like 400 guineas was subscribed in a few minutes. The first President was Sam
Hyman, and he was followed in turn by Messrs. H. Morris, J. van Praagh, and
Harris. Monty Jacobs and Morris Freeman were Hon. Secretaries in turn. The
first Minyan during the High Holydays of 1895 was held at Julius Altman's
store, when there was an attendance of about 20, and a storekeeper named Kaplan
read Musaph. In 1896 services were read by Messrs. Mack, Rosenthal and Freeman.
During the war of that year there were some dozen Jews in the Salisbury laager.
As early as August, 1895, the "Nugget," a
cyclostyle paper, brightly and spicily written, and with smart cartoons, was
founded and edited by Alf. Lyons. F. Mack was President of the Chamber of
Mines, and Henry Morris the first Jewish J.P. Mr. Mack accompanied the 1893
column to Bulawayo, and was wounded at the battle of Bembesi. The Jewish
population of Salisbury steadily increased, and there were some 70 in 1900, a
vigorous and hopeful young community. Later, owing to various causes, the Jewish
population of Salisbury largely decreased, and many of its ablest members left
the country. During this period of depression, Messrs. Harris and Friedman, and
later Louis Landau, took a leading part in communal life. The latter was
instrumental in founding the Chevra Kadisha, and also served on the Town
Council. During this period also, the Rev. M. I. Cohen addressed several
meetings in Salisbury and was instrumental in starting the first Zionist
Society there. From 1908 the Jewish population of Salisbury began again to
increase, and it has done so continuously to this day, when the congregation is
assuming ever-growing importance. The original Shool was built in 1901, but
later proved too small, and was sold in 1912, preparatory to building a larger
and more centrally situated building. Services were held at the Masonic Hall,
the Drill Hall, and the A.B.C. Bank. Rev. Rubin acted as Minister from 1909-1912,
Rev. Mark Harris 1913-1915, Rev. Levy 1915-1918, and Rev. J. J. Rosin, J.P.,
from 1918 to the present day. Among those who served on the Town Council at
various times were H. Harris, I. Kirschbaum and H. L. Lezard, who was Mayor of
Salisbury for two years during the war and was awarded the Empire Service Order
for his services; also Messrs. B. I. Hoffman and L. Braude. Messrs. Nat Arnold,
Sam Robinson, R. Bernstein, Jack Goldberg and L. Braude have served as
Presidents of the Congregation and have done splendid work for the community.
Some of them have also done excellent work on the Town Council and other public
bodies. The new Shool was erected in 1916 and is already too small for its
purpose. In 1920 the Guild Hall was erected. All the usual Jewish societies
exist to-day, one of the most useful is a Young Men's Club, known as the
Salisbury Young Judean's Club, whose chairman is Mr. Gerald Rosin, B.A. The
Salisbury Community have contributed very generously of recent years to Zionist
purposes and to the War Relief Fund. They have maintained ten of the children
of K'far Yeladim in Palestine, besides contributing to the general upkeep of
that institution.
The Salisbury Congregation is active throughout Mashonaland.
In this province Jews have been pioneers since its inception, and have played
their part in all spheres of life. Their stores dot all parts of the country,
and they are among the first to serve on various Village Management Boards, and
now they are being represented increasingly in the professions. In 1926 the
Jewish population of Mashonaland amounted to some 650 souls, and has since
increased considerably. A considerable element in this population consists of
people who came from Rhodes Island, and are strongly differentiated from the
main body of the community. For convenience, I have dealt with the Salisbury
Community first, but the main centre of Jewish life in Rhodesia hitherto has
been Bulawayo, and it is now necessary to consider that centre.
Bulawayo.
The turning point in the history of Rhodesia was 1893, when
Lobengula was finally overthrown. In the force that occupied Bulawayo there
were quite a number of co-religionists. I have already mentioned that F. Mack
was wounded at Bembesi; Trooper Abe Levy, of the Victoria Rangers, was shot at
Shangani, October 25th, 1893, and died next day. Among the others was Jack
Palca, who afterwards discovered the Lonely Mine. Frank Leon Vogel was among
those killed during Wilson's last stand. Leon Gabriel acted with the forces as
Reuter's correspondent. At the initial sale of stands at Bulawayo in 1894,
there were no fewer than 20 Jewish buyers. There were also many Jewish buyers
at the initial sale of stands at Salisbury and Gwelo. H. Mortimer Zeffert
claimed to be the first Jew in Bulawayo. A general meeting of the Jewish
residents of Bulawayo took place at the tent of Messrs. Rosenblatt and Moss, on
the 12th of August, 1894, and formed the Bulawayo Hebrew Congregation. Those
present were Messrs. J. Jacobson, J. Boam, J. Cinamon, S. Goldring, D. Goldman,
E. Granger, S. Heyman, R. D. Hanson, S. Jacobs, I. Levi, J. Moss, M. S. Levin,
S. Nathan, I. Rosenblatt, S. Rabinowitz, J. Saber, E. Saber, E. Tertis, V.
Wolf, J. Wolffe, H. M. Zeffert. Mr. J. Saber was elected President, J. Boam,
Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, J. Wolffe, J. Cinamon, S. Nathan and M. S. Levin,
Committee. Two stands were obtained from the Government for the building of a
Synagogue, and also a grant of land for the purpose of a cemetery. At first
services were held only on the High Holydays, and in 1894 were held in the
unfinished dining room of the Charter Hotel, next year at Meikle's store, and
then in the Stock Exchange building.
The Congregation was at first the only institution, and
acted as Benevolent Society and Chevra Kadisha, and, above all, as the
authorised representative of the Jewish Community. Communal activity was
intensive, and meetings of all kinds were frequent and not seldom very
prolonged and heated. Mr. Saber acted as President for the first few years, and
Mr. Boam was followed as Hon. Secretary by Messrs. E. Frank, A. Davis, A.
Hirschberg, E. Granger and H. M. Zeffert, who all rendered yeoman service to
the young community. Among the early workers, Mr. S. Goldring was one of the
most active, and from 1895 Mr. Aaron Jacobs began a communal activity which has
gone on to the present day, and marks him out as one of the creators of our
community. The war of 1896 only temporarily stayed the work of the Congregation,
which was speedily renewed. There were many co-religionists in the laager, and
all the able-bodied did their duty. A good many fought in the various combatant
forces. Dr. Levy, the District Surgeon, was wounded in one of the encounters,
and a good many Jews were among those reported missing in the outside
districts. A number of Jews acted as officers, and in all the main laagers in
the country our community was represented. Among those who won the 1896 medal
was the late Isaac Epstein, of Pretoria, then a newcomer from Russia, where, he
had served in the army.
After the war many newcomers arrived, many of them almost
destitute, and this led to the formation of the Bulawayo Hebrew Aid and
Benevolent Society, in April, 1897. Mr. A. Jacobs was the President, D. S.
Cohen, Treasurer, B. V. Basch, Hon. Secretary, D. Goldman, A. Freilich, M.
Brown, J. Beemer, E. Sytner, Committee, and Messrs. Norman Moss and B. Locker,
Auditors. This Society has played a fine part in our communal life down to the
present day, when it is managed by a sub-committee of the Hebrew Congregation.
At a later date the Jewish Ladies' Benevolent Society was formed and has always
co-operated in the most harmonious fashion with the men's society. Still later
the Chevra Kadisha developed an important benevolent activity. In the matter of
Jewish charity our community has nobly maintained the highest traditions of our
people, and we pride ourselves upon the fact that we have never been a burden
upon the general community. The necessity for helping newcomers in 1897 did not
cause the Congregation to lose sight for a moment of its own purposes, and a
competition was held in order to obtain the best design for a new shool. This
competition was won by Mr. A. A. Abrahams. Negotiations were also continued
with the late Dr. H. Adler with a view to securing the services of the Rev.
Francis Cohen as minister. Eventually the foundation stone of the shool was
laid with Masonic honours on the day of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in June,
1897. The stone was laid by the Hon. Arthur Lawley, Deputy Administrator. In
the event, however, it was found that the cost of the building far exceeded the
resources of the Congregation, and the actual work of erection had to be
suspended.
A Split.
At a later date this foundation stone, with a new
inscription, was utilised for the permanent shool, and was laid afresh by Mr.
E. Basch, then President of the Congregation and Mayor of Bulawayo, on the 17th
May, 1910. The Community had now largely increased, and among its members were
E. Basch, C. Salomon, the Landau brothers, Abraham, Coleman, and Mark Joseph,
D. S. Cohen, F. N. Joseph, Norman Mandelson, and many other highly capable men.
One of these was Mr. Abner Cohen, who, no doubt, aspired to the Presidency of
the Congregation. Under his leadership a split occurred. It was stated that
there was no shool and no education, that the committee engaged a minister
without consulting the members, and that they squandered the communal funds.
Abner Cohen and his friends formed the Bulawayo Jewish Congregation, hired a
room in town, started regular services, and brought up an iron building from
the coast with a view to its erection as a shool. Many new members were
enrolled and the matter was even carried into the public Press. The Hebrew
Congregation was also active, and the officers were always ready to meet the
new body with a view to the settlement of grievances. Ultimately Deputies from
both sides met and an agreement was arrived at. A brick building was put up as
a temporary shool, which was intended later to serve as a minister's house.
Behind it the iron building of the Jewish Congregation was erected to serve as
a schoolroom and meeting place.
The first service in the new shool took place in February,
1898, and a Purim entertainment served as the consecration ceremony. The split
had resulted in a large accession of members and considerably augmented the
resources of the Congregation, which retained its original name, the Bulawayo
Hebrew Congregation. From this date the Congregation had its own religious and
social centres. Since the beginning of 1898 we have never held a single meeting
outside our own buildings. The old, simple buildings have been replaced by much
more imposing structures, and to-day our communal hall is not merely the centre
of Jewish life in Bulawayo, but it is frequently hired by other sections of the
general community for all kinds of political, social, and cultural purposes.
In February, 1898, the Bulawayo Jewish Social and Debating
Society was established. This society did not last very long, but at the same
time another society was formed which was destined to have a creative effect
upon the Community, viz., the Bulawayo Chovevi Zion Society. The first
President was Mr. Morris Landau, a man of great energy and business capacity,
but the moving spirit behind the Society was Mr. Isaac Epstein, a man of noble
character, who was one of the creative forces in South African Zionism and
whose actual influence is known to but few. At first the Society was affiliated
to the London Chovevi Zion, but later joined the S.A.Z. Federation. It held
regular social functions and the whole of the community joined it. Besides, it
conducted a wide propaganda throughout Rhodesia. It co-operated with the shool
in educational matters, and in various communal activities, established a Jewish
library, and has maintained its activity uninterruptedly down to the present
day. Its Chaplain, the Rev. M. I. Cohen, helped to organise the first Zionist
Conference in South Africa. He drew up the first report of the Federation, and
from that date our Society has played its part in the development of Zionism in
South Africa.
After the Matabele War and the plague of rinderpest that
followed, a great depression set in and large numbers of able men, who had
played a leading part in the pioneer days, left the country to the great loss
of the Congregation and the community in general. The year 1898 saw the
beginnings of Jewish educational activity. Miss Frank, Miss Cinamon, Miss
Loewenstark, Mr. A. B. Diamond, Mr. Freilich and the Zionist Society all took a
part in this work. Miss Loewenstark conducted a Sabbath service for the little
ones, while some 20 children were taught on Sundays. An Education Board was
formed, and for some time Miss Loewenstark conducted a small day school which
received Government support. The Congregation could not yet afford a minister,
but at the end of 1898 Mr. C. Friedlander was appointed Shochet, Mohel and
Reader. Various laymen conducted services on the Yomin Nouroim, and sometimes a
little choir assisted.
In 1897-8 Mr. Hirschler, a co-religionist, was the first
Mayor of Bulawayo. In 1895-6 Messrs. Alec Davis and J. Boam edited the “Bulawayo
Sketch." Alf. Lyons edited the " Nugget," the name of which was
afterwards changed to the "Owl," when it was edited by Lionel
Goldsmith.
The first marriage in the Congregation took place in 1895,
and also the first interment in the cemetery. Among those who fought in the
1896 war were several brothers Tayfield, one of whom was an experienced
fireman, and organised and trained the first local fire brigade. No fewer than
five of the Tayfield brothers fought in the Boer War. In 1894 Messrs. Cohen and
Guttman struck the Old Nick Reef on the Bulawayo Commonage. In 1896 Dr. Levy,
M.B., of London, was the District Surgeon. He returned to England shortly after
the war, and only recently have we had any other Jewish doctors in Rhodesia.
The early days of Rhodesia attracted many adventurous spirits, and among them
quite a few Jews.
Appointment of
Minister.
The school conducted by Miss Loewenstark did not satisfy
many members, and Mr. F. N. Joseph wrote to the Congregation suggesting certain
reforms with a view to unity and to the bringing out of a minister. This letter
had the desired effect. A new committee was appointed in 1899, of which Mr. M.
Immerman was President, F. N. Joseph, Vice-President, M. Landau, Treasurer, and
D. S. Cohen, Hon. Secretary, while Messrs. E. Basch, J. Bergman, S. Jacoby, I.
Epstein were among the members. Unity was produced, new members were enrolled,
all accounts cleared off, and by August a cable was received from the Rev. M.
I. Cohen, indicating his acceptance of the position of Minister. Mr. Cohen left
England in October, but owing to the outbreak of war was compelled to stay some
time in Cape Town, and only reached Bulawayo via Beira on the 25th March, 1900.
With the appointment of the new committee, Mr. J. Saber resigned his membership
of the Congregation and soon after left the country.
There were at that time about 300 Jews all told in Bulawayo,
and about another 100 in the rest of Southern Rhodesia, including some 70 in
Salisbury, and 20 in Gwelo, where a Congregation was formed in 1901. There were
also a few storekeepers in different parts of the country, especially in
Selukwe. At about this time, too, "Zambesi" Gordon and Julius Stern
began trading in Barotseland and they were soon followed by Jack Goldberg, Max
Kaminsky, Ely and Harry Susman, A. B. Diamond, and others. The Jews were the
pioneers of the Zambesi cattle business. They paid the penalties of pioneering,
and Messrs. Danziger, Gelman, Salant and Natkin lie buried along the Zambesi.
Isidore Pieters was trading at Kalomo as early as 1903, and there died of
blackwater fever. Harry Beemer was another of the pioneers of Northern
Rhodesia. A. B. Diamond reached Lealui in 1904 and made his way overland to
Lobito Bay in 1905. He was the first to accomplish this feat, travelling over
1,200 miles through Barotseland and Angola. In 1909 he found a route from
Barotseland to the Congo Free State free of the dreaded tsetse fly. His
companion on this journey was Stirling, an American Jew. By 1909 the Uhlmans
had reached the Congo and one of them died there. Among other Congo pioneers
were Esterman and Joe Dubbin, who had a most adventurous career. The Jewish
community in the Congo dates from 1911, when the Chevra Kadisha was formed and
the first Minyan held. Mr. Diamond was the first President of the Congregation.
Livingstone.
With the arrival of the railway at the Falls a Congregation
was established at Livingstone, and the Jews were prominent among the earliest
settlers. In 1910 there were 38 Jews out of a total population of 260. Of these
pioneers of Northern Rhodesia the most active were the brothers Susman. For
many years they travelled continuously throughout the length and breadth of
Barotseland, Northern Rhodesia, the Congo and Angola, meeting with all kinds of
dangers and hardships. They have established great ranches in Southern and
Northern Rhodesia, developed agriculture on a large scale, and have shown
pioneering qualities of the first order. A number of Rhodesian Jews, including
four of the Granger brothers, served in the Boer war. One of the first to be
killed was Adler, while serving under Plumer, at Tuli. The railway had reached
Bulawayo in 1898, but the war again stopped communications with the South.
Rhodesia was then practically unknown to the majority of Jews in South Africa,
and was popularly supposed to be the haunt of fever and more or less of a death
trap. In any event the community had be entirely self-supporting.
At the beginning of 1900 Bulawayo supported a Congregation,
Benevolent Society, and Zionist Society, and in April of that year the Chevra
Kadisha was founded. Mr. E. Kollenberg was the first President, and the Rev. M.
I. Cohen the first Secretary. The little school formerly run by Miss
Loewenstark was abolished, and the pupils sent to the ordinary day schools,
while afternoon and week-end Hebrew classes were established. Mr. Cohen also
visited the day schools to impart scriptural instruction. His assistants for
many years were young ladies who had themselves graduated from the Local Hebrew
Classes. From the time of the Boer War the men began freely to bring over their
families. The number of women and children largely increased, and the
population became a settled one. The presence of a minister led to systematic
work in all directions. Services were conducted regularly and the work of the
Congregation was put upon a proper basis. Most of the work of the community was
done by young men, either English or Anglicised, who were often strongly
opposed to the older generation. The youths formed themselves into the
"Idlers' Club" in 1901 under the presidency of Jack Moss. They had
regular social meetings at their own club room, had their own sporting club,
and even for a time ran their own paper, “The Idlers' Gazette." The
minister himself on arrival was only 23 years of age, and immediately threw
himself heart and soul into co-operation with the young people. The Idlers
became a tower of strength to the community. Its members joined all institutions,
and many of them later became the heads of the community. Mr. E. Basch was the
Hon. President, and Rev. Cohen Hon. Chaplain, and the members included Louis
Landau, H. B. Ellenbogen, Harry Landau and many other excellent workers.
The older section of the community had never yet met the
type of English minister. Time was wanted for the two generations to learn to
understand each other. It was Zionism that proved the ultimate meeting ground.
Members differed widely in religious views, but all agreed they were bound to
serve the interests of the community. In time they perceived that in a small
community only unity can achieve results, and learned to give and take, and to
abide loyally by the decision of the majority. The old people got their
legitimate demands, though the young people might have to do the bulk of the
paying and the work. The bonae fides and the honourable disinterestedness of
the young workers were obvious to all and, as usual, personality had its due
scope. The principle was service of the community, ”Lishmo," that
community being understood in the widest sense as representing the whole Jewish
people. Several times we were attacked in the Press, but these attacks were
dealt with promptly and successfully. The children were educated whether the
parents paid or not. Benevolent funds were administered generously. Jewish
functions were carried out with dignity and reverence. The young people grew up
in this atmosphere of enlightened public spirit, and as they taught their
parents English so they taught them to fall into line with the general spirit
prevailing.
In time most of the questions at issue were settled. The
community became established and so gradually a unity of spirit arose, and for
the last 25 years no attempt has been made to disturb that unity, which was
recognised as the source of all achievement. At a later stage the young people
grew up and intermarried, and the unity became ever more concrete. This
gratifying harmony of spirit actuated not only the community in Bulawayo but
throughout Rhodesia. It is only within the last few years that newcomers have
started entering the territory in large numbers, and these have naturally
brought new ideas and ways of thought, but fortunately the established
community has been able to absorb them with every advantage. In 1902 Mr. E.
Basch became President of the Congregation, and he filled this position with
distinction for 12 years. He was also on the Town Council for many years, and
for four consecutive years he acted as Mayor of Bulawayo. He was a splendid
Chairman, and conducted affairs with dignity and impartiality. Mr. Basch filled
many offices in the life of the town, and he was brilliantly seconded in all
his work by Mrs. Basch, who was one of the finest workers Bulawayo ever
possessed. It was said of her that her work was one per cent. personal and 99
per cent. public. She obtained the O.B.E. for her Red Cross work. Her premature
death in 1926 was a great blow to the community. The Congregation was always
remarkable for the complete harmony that prevailed between its lay and clerical
heads.
Before the Boer War the community had been comparatively
poor, but steadily. it developed itself economically, and from this time dates
the beginning of the great fortunes accumulated by Mr. C. Salomon and Messrs.
Landau Bros. Up to this time the storekeepers had imported their goods from
Port Elizabeth, but henceforth the merchants began to have their own
representatives in Europe. The Jews certainly created the Kaffir truck business
in Rhodesia. They opened their stores in every part of the country, shared in
all its pioneering hardships, and helped materially to develop its commercial
life. The early settlers for the most part knew little English, they could not
obtain jobs, and were practically forced into the one line of business. Morris
Landau was not only a great business man but proved a splendid communal worker
till his departure for England. He was succeeded as Treasurer of the
Congregation by his brother David Landau and later by Louis, who had already
done yeoman work, both in Bulawayo and Salisbury. Louis Landau was for many
years the right-hand man of Mr. Basch, and the two made a splendid combination.
Later Mr. Landau became President of the Shool and the Guild, was leader of the
local Jewish defence unit during the war, and was one of the best Town
Councillors Bulawayo ever had. Other sterling workers were S. Goldring, Aaron
Jacobs, J. Joseph, M. D. Loewenstark, Isaac Epstein and H. B. Ellenbogen.
Zionism.
The Zionist Society was largely responsible for an intensive
Jewish spirit. The Anti-Semitism prevalent tended to foster this spirit. It was
not easy in a small, isolated community to maintain a Zionist Society through
all the lean years preceding the Great War, but we managed to do so and to
raise comparatively large funds for Zionist causes. Also there was a generous
response to the Kishineff and various other similar funds. We were also, from
the first, supporters of the South African Jewish Orphanage. By 1910 we had
built a permanent Shool and the old building became the communal hall. Up to
1912 the main services of the Yomim Nouroim were conducted by laymen, but in
that year the Rev. A. Weinberg was appointed Chazan. Gradually services were
not only held on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings, but also on Saturday
evenings, and during the last few years we have had a daily evening service. A
mixed choir was established for the High Holy Days. At times we have had
children's Sabbath Services, but they have been discontinued. The "Idlers'
Society” was gradually transformed into the Guild, which is now the sole
Society providing for the social needs of the community. Mr. Jack Moss, Founder
and President of the "Idlers," was also the first President of the
Guild. He held this office for many years and is in no small degree responsible
for the wonderful success of that Society. Mr. Moss is also Choir Master of the
Shool, has been Secretary of the Congregation, and an all-round worker in many
fields. The present Chairman of the Guild is Mr. Cecil Jacobs, who has
maintained the high standard of his predecessor.
The Guild and the Zionist Society were the first to have
ladies on their committees, and these ladies have been very largely responsible
for the success of those institutions. From 1912 to 1926 Mrs. Basch was
President of the Ladies' Benevolent Society, now the Jewish Ladies' Communal
League. Mrs. H. L. Rubinstein was the founder and first President of this
Society, which specialised in benevolent work where women and children were
concerned, collected for the South African Jewish Orphanage and co-operated with
the other societies wherever the help of women was necessary. This fine Society
has done much to maintain the unity and harmony of the community.
Another Society which developed a benevolent side was the
Chevra Kadisha, which has now a very fine loan fund. Mr. Moses Rabinowitz was
president of this body for many years, and was also the head of the Bulawayo
"Chevra Shass." Previous to the establishment of the Ladies' Society,
Mrs. Aaron Jacobs for many years did splendid work of a charitable nature, and
during the War she established a Jewish Women's Working Party, which did very
good work for the Red Cross. During the last two years Mrs. H. B. Ellenbogen
has been President of the Jewish Ladies' Communal League. In April, 1904, the
Jewish population of Southern Rhodesia amounted to 585 all told. By May, 1911,
this had increased to 1,288. By this time the Salisbury Community was beginning
to develop rapidly, and smaller communities were rising in Gwelo, Gatooma and
elsewhere. In Elisabethville the first President, Mr. A. B. Diamond, was
followed by Messrs. Ruda, Robinson and Levenberg, while Rev. Ornstein acted as
the first minister.
Rev. Cohen had, from the first, taken an interest in
educational work, and he drew up the report which was responsible for the
establishment of a public undenominational system of education in Rhodesia. Of
the first committee of the schools in Bulawayo, which consisted of seven
members, Mr. Basch was Chairman and Mr. Cohen one of the most active members.
On two occasions also Mr. Cohen has given evidence before Education Commissions
in this country. The new schools enormously improved the standard of secular
education, but they began to compete heavily with our Hebrew Classes. Moreover,
Bulawayo became a large educational centre, and the number of Jewish boarders
gradually outnumbered our day scholars. As these boarders were only allowed to
attend Hebrew Class on Saturdays and Sundays, they steadily lowered the
standard of our Hebrew Classes, and made their conduct more and more difficult.
This question of Jewish education has thus become the most acute and difficult
of all our communal problems.
[Since this was written, a certain amount of reorganisation
has taken place, in which the S.A. Board of Jewish Education has assisted, and
it is understood that a number of the difficulties are being gradually overcome—Editor,
S.A. Jewish Year Book.]
Jews in Public
Offices.
In 1914 Gwelo became a Municipality, and Mr. Max Danziger
was returned at the head of the poll. While he declined the Mayorship, he was
prominently associated with every phase of life in Gwelo, and for many years
has ably represented that town in Parliament. For many years past Mr. M.
Jacobson has been the most active of Mayors in Gwelo and has rendered that
place conspicuous service. In this work he has been mostly ably supported by
Mrs. Jacobson. Other gentlemen who have done good work in Gwelo were Messrs.
Joe Granger and M. L. Price. In Bulawayo, Mr. G. Sessel was the Founder and
first Honorary Secretary of the Rhodesian Eisteddfod, which has since become an
important institution. Mr. H. Charles has done some useful work on the music
section of the Eisteddfod, and Mr. Cohen on the literary side. Mr. Charles has
also been prominently associated with the musical and dramatic life of the city
and the Guild in other ways.
In various parts of the country Jews have served on the
Sanitary Boards or Village Management Boards. Thus Messrs. Zankstein and
Baldachin have served in Que Que, Mr. H. Shapiro and others in Gatooma, Mr. N.
Wolffe in Umvuma, Messrs. Krikler, Rosenthal and Blackman in Shabani, and in
general Jews have played their due part in the public life of the country.
Jewish children took full advantage of improved educational facilities. Very
many have won Beit scholarships and two also Rhodes scholarships. They have
also done fairly well in sport and at the various Eisteddfod competitions.
During the War over 100 Rhodesian Jews served at the front,
many winning distinctions and making the supreme sacrifice. The first man to be
killed in German West was Ben Rabinson, a famous athlete. He and his two
brothers were the finest Rugby players in Rhodesia and did very much to raise
the standard of play in this game. Ben captained the Matabele team against
Mashonaland, and the three brothers participated in the Currie Cup trial games
for selecting the Springbok team for England, and all acquitted themselves
highly. Mr. Cohen, from the start, kept statistics of Jews going to the front,
and when a member of Parliament publicly attacked the Jews for not serving he
was forced to withdraw and apologise.
In February, 1915, Rev. Cohen was instrumental in calling a
general meeting which founded the Rhodesian Jewish War Victims' Fund. This
institution, from that date, continued to work uninterruptedly till the very
end of 1927. During this period the enormous sum of £16,857 12s. 7d. was
raised, at a total expenditure of £53. As £33 was obtained as premiums for
sending the money to England, the total amount of the income not actually
applied was £20, and we shall make good this amount so that every penny paid in
will have gone to its proper cause. This must surely be a record for a
community of a few hundred souls. Every part of Southern and Northern Rhodesia
was canvassed and organised for this work, various places being either written
to or directly visited. Salisbury and Mashonaland raised their funds
separately, though they were incited and helped in the organisation of the work
by the direct and indirect influence of Bulawayo. The Bulawayo totals, of
course, represent the amounts collected in Matabeleland and Northern Rhodesia,
but not those raised in Mashonaland.
Mr. Cohen had noticed the slips used by the Red Cross for
their war collections, and introduced them into our war relief work. They were
later employed for our Zionist collections, and Rhodesia was the first part of
South Africa to utilise this method which afterwards became general. Later,
this method was adopted as far as possible by all our local communal
institutions. During the last few years we used our war relief funds for K'far
Yeladim. We entered into correspondence with Palestine authorities with a view
to bringing some Ukraine orphans over to that country, but finding that Durban
was similarly at work, we were prepared to join them in common action. It was
decided, however, that South Africa as a whole should act in unity, and we
joined the general scheme which led to the foundation of K'far Yeladim. There
were never more than a hundred and twenty children at this institution, and of
these twenty-five were maintained by Bulawayo and its allied local societies,
and ten by Salisbury and other parts of Mashonaland. We also contributed in the
same totally disproportionate manner to the capital expenditure involved. One
of the cottages at K'far Yeladim is named Durban Cottage. The South African War
Fund Committee promised us repeatedly that Rhodesia should be similarly
associated with the orphanage, but this promise has never been fulfilled, and
our committee have always felt that Rhodesia has not been given due credit for
its essential work in connection with the establishment and maintenance of
K'far Yeladim.
The very important South African Conference which was held
at Johannesburg during the war, and which demanded equal rights for Jews in all
parts of the world, and the fulfilment of our aims in Palestine, was the
outcome of a discussion at Muizenberg, in which Messrs. A. M. Abrahams, Benzion
Hirsch, I. Schwartz. Rev. Cohen and one or two others participated. Mr. Cohen
moved one of the resolutions at the Conference, and later interviewed Mr. F. S.
Malan (acting on behalf of General Botha, then indisposed), and secured his
promise of Government support for the resolutions. Mr. Cohen also suggested
that General Smuts, who was then returning from German East, should be seen
prior to his departure for England. This was carried out by Mr. N. Levi, and it
was also arranged that Mr. Morris Alexander, K.С., M.L.A., and the Jewish
members of Parliament should represent the Zionist Federation and Board of Deputies
at Cape Town and should see that official Cabinet support be given to the
promise of Mr. Malan. In this way Generals Botha and Smuts promised us their
support and nobly redeemed their pledges. From this it was but one step further
to the official Union Declaration of support for Zionism which was forthcoming
during the visit of Mr. Sokolow.
The War.
The War had a great effect on the Jewish community in
Rhodesia, for not only did it remove many of the able-bodied men, but
practically stopped all immigration for ten years, for while the Jewish
population of Southern Rhodesia totalled 1,283 in 1911, it only amounted to
1,289 in 1921. In the latter year the Jewish population of Northern Rhodesia
totalled 110. Before the war, large numbers of Jews were naturalised, but this
process has been stopped till the present time, when naturalisation has been
resumed, though on a much smaller scale, and with added difficulties and
increased expense. This absence of fresh population, however, enabled the older
population to establish itself firmly from an economic standpoint. They were
now an old established body, English had replaced Yiddish as the medium of
conversation and the younger generation was fast coming to the front. They had
been educated in Rhodesian schools, and had done well in sport as well as in
their general education. They had grown into an established community, which
conducted its affairs with great smoothness and lack of friction. In matters of
charity, Mr. C. Salomon would always head the list with great generosity, and
he was followed by Messrs. Landau and others with equal heartiness. From 1921
the Jewish population began to increase once more. The old restrictions against
immigration gradually passed away, and to-day we are met in this respect with
the finest possible spirit. Thus by 1926 our population in Southern Rhodesia
had increased to 1,546, and to-day probably numbers over 1,700. During this
period the population of Northern Rhodesia has also steadily increased, and
though no official figures are available, we may estimate the number at some
200.
Meanwhile the Congo territory very rapidly developed. In
1925 the Rev. L. Wolk was appointed minister at Elisabethville, and has done
valuable pioneer work in organising the Jewish life of the Congo Belge. The
number of Jews to-day in the Congo is probably not far short of 400. There are
scarcely any Jews in Portuguese Territory, or Nyasaland or Tanganyika, the
first real Jewish community north of Elisabethville being found at Nairobi,
which was visited some years ago by Dr. Alexander Goldstein. In 1920 there was
a great railway strike in Bulawayo. Rev. Cohen intervened in this strike and
helped materially to bring it to an early conclusion. He similarly intervened
during the recent railway strike, when he helped to bring the various parties
together. In 1922 our handsome new Jewish Memorial Hall was opened by Mr. Louis
Landau, who had also laid the foundation stone.
Since the War, Rhodesia has been open to the outside world
and has been successively visited by Dr. A. Goldstein, Dr. Olsvanger, Nahum
Sokolow, Colonel Kisch, Rabbi Zlotnik, Messrs. Shein and Rybko, as well as by
Chief Rabbi Dr. J. H. Hertz. Rhodesia holds, I believe, the world record for
its pro capita contributions to the Keren Hayesod. In his contributions to
Palestine, Mr. C. Salomon has been particularly generous.
A few months ago the first Synagogue in Northern Rhodesia
was opened. The foundation stone was laid by Mr. Ely Susman, President of the
Livingstone Hebrew Congregation, and the building was consecrated by Revs.
Cohen and Weinberg, of Bulawayo. The new Synagogue is a very handsome structure
and an adornment of Livingstone. The small community at Livingstone, consisting
of some 70 souls, has always been distinguished by its wonderful generosity in
all Jewish causes. It is expected that a permanent Synagogue will be speedily
erected in Elisabethville. In 1900 there was but one Jewish centre in Rhodesia.
To-day there are large centres in Bulawayo, Salisbury and Elisabethville, with
many smaller growing centres. The totál Jewish population in Rhodesia and the
Congo is now over 2,000. The favourable immigration conditions have enabled us
to absorb many newcomers during the last few years, and this has been of great
importance to our community in the Union.
Long before General Smuts had spoken of an African
standpoint, we Jews in Rhodesia had not only recognised it, but, from the
first, acted upon it. We have freely co-operated with all Jewish communities
whether South or North of Bulawayo. We knew that Central Africa must develop
with great rapidity in the coming years, and that we must keep open the road to
the North. We have acted not from a Bulawayo standpoint, but merely as local
representatives of the Jewish people. Since the days of the pioneers we have
been intimately associated with all phases of Rhodesian life. We have furnished
no poor whites and our criminal figures are very creditable. We have taken in
our fair share in the public life of the country. During the last two years Mr.
H. B. Ellenbogen has worthily upheld that record by his fine work as Mayor of
Bulawayo, after serving on the Council for many years with distinction. It is
no coincidence that, like other Mayors before him, he has been, and now is,
also President of the Bulawayo Hebrew Congregation, and has been identified in
the closest possible way with the Jewish community of this country. Indeed, Mr.
Ellenbogen revived an old practice by appointing an official Chaplain, and by
having a Mayoral service in the Synagogue, which proved an impressive function.
In Salisbury, Mr. L. Braude has acted as President of the
Congregation and as leader of Jewish matters for a number of years, while also
serving on the Town Council. In this he has proved a worthy successor to Mr.
Jack Goldberg and other good men before him. Incidentally, Mr. Jack Goldberg is
a pioneer in the mica industry of this country.
Industry.
In mining many Jews have taken part, Mr. Palca being the
discoverer of the famous Lonely Mine, Mr. Singer being one of the first owners
of the Shamva Mine, and Mr. A. Granger a pioneer in platinum mining. In
agriculture, Mr. M. Pevsner was the greatest tobacco expert in Rhodesia, and
has done more than any man in the establishment of this great industry. Jews
have played a large part in the cattle and produce business, and were the first
to open the Rand Market for Rhodesian cattle. We have seen that they were
pioneers in the cattle market of Northern Rhodesia, and at this moment Mr. B.
Smith is the leading figure in the cattle trade of the Congo.
In Southern Rhodesia Mrs. Greta Bloomhill has played an
important part in the political life of the women of this country. She has also
written largely both in verse and prose. Mrs. Ellenbogen is proving a most
capable Mayoress. Messrs. Harris Bros, have been pioneers in the milling
industry of the country. Mr. Z. Rabinowitz has written several volumes dealing
with Rabbinic Literature, but has not yet found a publisher. He has also
established a Hebrew reference library at the Synagogue. During the last few
years we have begun to enter into the professions, and to-day there are a
number of Jewish lawyers and doctors in Southern Rhodesia.
There is no community in Rhodesia which approaches our own
in its charitable work or its efforts on behalf of the younger generation. In
the old days the Jews were disliked and despised. To-day they are not liked but
they have earned respect. They are welcomed into Council and Parliament and on
most public bodies. It is recognised that the Jew lives well, that he is a good
employer, a generous giver and often a good public worker. Culturally we have
not yet made good. Our study circle is only inadequately supported, and all our
literary activities. Some of the old hands are still working, and even doing
the lion's part of the work, but the pioneers are now fast disappearing. A
generation has passed in the work of creation, and a new generation is with us.
During that time a revolution has been wrought. The old battles of young and
old are gone, and the community is united and homogeneous. Most of the
immigrants are young men looking for jobs. They, in the nature of things, can
take but small part yet in our communal life, and most of them go out to
isolated places or to the smaller centres in the country, which will thus be
transformed in the coming years. These small country communities are not
organised and have no officials of their own. Thus a large part of our
community in the country districts of Southern and Northern Rhodesia are
spiritually unfed. In few places are there representative men who can voice our
aspirations and express our ideals. Most of our community come from Lithuania,
Roumania and Kurland, but during recent years a large number of Jews have entered
Rhodesia and the Congo who have come from. Rhodes Island. These stand on an
altogether different plane to the rest of the Jewish population, and unless
they are going to adopt our standards their influence may be unfortunate.
When Sir John Chancellor came to Rhodesia we interviewed him
and gave him a brief history of the achievements of our community in this
country. Needless to say, he always proved himself above Anti-Semitism. This is
also true of the Premiers and the Cabinet Ministers in this country. We have
always found the Government most fair and ready to meet us in a reasonable
manner. Only lately, they have agreed that children are to have an effective
choice in taking up Hebrew as one of the subjects at public examinations. We
hold, then, that the Jew has made good in Rhodesia as a whore. We came as
strangers, without resources or external help, and we have become an important
and respected community. We have been long established and have proved
ourselves in life. We have kept the country open and are more welcome to-day
than ever we have been. At this moment the greatest centre of activity in
Rhodesia consists in the Copper Fields of Northern Rhodesia. The most
influential of the men controlling this great centre are Sir Edmund Davis,
Solly Joel and Sir Ernest Oppenheimer, who are bound to play a very important
part in the further development of Rhodesia. The opening up of Northern
Rhodesia, the Congo Territory, of Angola, and of Central and East Africa will
give opportunities for further Jewish immigration. In this connection it is of
interest to know that when the Jewish Territorial Organisation was formed, the
Rev. Cohen wrote to Mr. Israel Zangwill, strongly recommending Angola as his
field of operations. Mr. Zangwill could not see his way to carry out this idea,
but the real importance of Angola will only be realised in the coming years. I
have drawn the attention of our emigration bodies to the new lands to the
North, but it is clear that their Jewish population will come from South
Africa.
The real importance of the Bulawayo Hebrew Congregation
perhaps consists just in this, that it has served and will serve as a feeder of
these growing territories. Of course, in the process of time the forces of
assimilation have grown and must grow. Yet we have created a community with a
strong Jewish spirit as the foundation of our future. All our people are
members of the community, none are isolated from their fellows. In time we hope
to effect close relations with the little communities scattered over these
immense areas. We need immigrants who will raise our cultural level and give us
new leaders and workers. Rhodesia and the Union may be politically divided, but
there are no barriers between our Jewish communities. We are a self-created and
self-supporting community, but we have played the game with our neighbours in
the Union, as they will be the first to acknowledge. In Bulawayo we have
contributed so heavily to outside causes that we have not been able to reduce
the heavy debt on our public buildings or to develop our local Jewish education
as we should have liked, and this constitutes a serious problem. We have tried
both to be good Jews and to be good Rhodesians and we have still to find
solutions to the difficult problems involved in this connection. When Rabbi
Zlotnik was here a few years ago he took part in our Yom Kippur celebrations
and saw all our activities. I asked him what he thought of such a community at
the back of beyond, and he replied, "Nezach Yisrael lo Yeshakker."
That was indeed a fine compliment, and with that tribute I will conclude this
brief history of the youngest Jewish community in South Africa. Our young
people are with us and of us. On our foundation they and newcomers will build.
We have told the story of the last generation. The next generation will reveal
an epic still more wonderful, when the South African Jewish community
stretching from the Cape to the distant interior will meet the expanding Jewish
communities of North Africa in their advance to the South, and the foundation
will be laid of the Great African Jewry of the future.
