The South African Young Israel Movement by LEWIS PINSHAW.

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."