Jewry in South-West Africa by Ralph Goldman

SOUTH-WEST AFRICA does not boast of a very large Jewish community, and though statistics are not available a fair estimate would be to place the figure at 300, most of these residing in the larger towns of Windhoek, Keetmanshoop and Luderitz. When it is considered, however, that before 1915 there were only about 100 Jews in the country, the improvement in so undeveloped a region within a few years is remarkable.

With such a small number, it is no wonder, perhaps, that there is such a fine display of esprit de corps in the various communities, and visitors are impressed by the way in which Jews in the territory manage to support the different Jewish societies so well.

Up till 1914—i.e., before the South-West Campaign-the largest number of Jewish families were to be found at Swakopmund. During the campaign, the Jewish men were all interned in prisoners' camps whilst their families gathered at Windhoek, where they remained even after the occupation by Union forces. Today there are no Jews at Swakopmund at all.

Luderitz has the least number of Jews and is similar to the usual run of small towns in the Union where there are enough to get together a minyan. Zionism, however, has a strong foothold, and donations from the town have been on a generous scale.

Keetmanshoop has a fairly thriving Jewish community, and, apart from giving generously to the Zionist cause, has now thought of its own communal affairs and has commenced the building of a synagogue, which is nearing completion.

Naturally, Windhoek, the capital of the Territory, has the largest number of Jews, and societies are well supported. There is a synagogue, the foundation stone of which was laid in August, 1924, by Chief Rabbi Dr. J. L. Landau, of the Witwatersrand, and which was completed in 1925. Services are held every Shabbos and on Yom Tovim. The present office-bearers of the congregation are: Chairman, Mr. Ch. Shar; vice-chairman, Mr. D. Lentin; treasurer, Mr. W. Hirschowitz; secretary, Mr. J. N. Bernhardt; committee, Messrs. C. Berman, I. Binnes, H. Gluck, F. Kornblum, P. Sternberg, S. Swatt and S. L. Tobias. The minister is Rev. Horwitz.

The ladies are well to the fore, the Jewish Ladies' Benevolent Society being an asset to the town which has proved very helpful in many cases.

The strongest body is the Jewish Guild, which was instituted in 1924. The idea occurred to three gentlemen, Messrs. L. Bermann, I. Shar and Cr. Isaacson, that there was far too little opportunity for the Jewish people to meet en masse, and they decided to make an attempt to form a Guild. When the idea was broached at a general meeting, it was enthusiastically taken up, and a committee was at once elected to draw up a constitution.

Starting with a membership of 40, the Guild has progressed by leaps and bounds. Today there are 90 members, and there exist literary and dramatic, entertainment and tennis sections. The usual round of dances and social entertainments are provided by members of the Guild, and generally speaking this body has done much to bring about a closer union of Jews in Windhoek.

The present office-bearers are: President, Attorney M. Isaacson; treasurer, N. J. Bernhardt; secretary, Miss G. Lentin; committee, Misses G. Isaacson and M. Sacks, Mesdames D. Lentin, H. Brenner and T. Bernhardt, Messrs. W. Yellin and M. Hirshowitz.

The Zionist Society, after a few lean years, has again become an active body. During the visit of Mr. Padowitz, the Zionist propagandist, over a thousand pounds were collected in Windhoek. The present office-bearers are: President, Attorney R. Goldman; vice-president, Mr. I. Binnes; treasurer, Mr. Ch. Shar; secretary, Mr. I. Cohen; committee, Mesdames Kaplan and I. Cohen, Messrs. I. Feinstein and J. Levinson.