The Jews of Griqualand West

THE history of the Jews of Griqualand West goes back to the very beginnings of the Vaal River Alluvial Diggings, and the discovery of the "Dry Diggings" at Colesberg Kopje, which is now Kimberley. In the early seventies Divine services and communal meetings were held at some convenient hall or large store, but in 1876 the first synagogue was completed at a cost of £3,000 on the site on which the statue of Rhodes now stands. The Griqualand West Hebrew Congregation was founded on the 27th July, 1878, and ever since religious and communal activity has centred in that body. Amongst its Presidents may be mentioned the late Mr. Flavien E. Lezard, J.P., a member of the well-known Jewish South African family, Mr. Gus. H. Bonas, J.P., whose long and eminent services were repeatedly recognised by the congregation, and who, since his retirement to London, is its Hon. Life President, the late Mr. S. Stone, Mr. W. Sagar, J.P. (thrice Mayor of Kimberley), and Mr. A. Greenberg. Its first Minister was the Rev. M. Mendelssohn, one of whose sons was Mr. Sydney Mendelssohn, the author of the "Bibliography of South African Literature," and who gave his name to Sydney-on-Vaal. The Rev. Mendelssohn was succeeded in 1884 by the Rev. Abraham Ornstein, a young and gifted Minister, whose indefatigable zeal unfortunately led to an early death. Brief as was his tenure of office, a magnificent tombstone, erected by public subscription, marks his resting-place. In 1890 the Rev. Harris Isaacs first assumed office, and with a short interval spent in the like capacity at Johannesburg, retained the Ministry until the year 1928, when, after a lifetime of unstinting service, which had earned him the affection and respect of the whole community, the exigencies of ill-health compelled his retirement to Muizenberg.

Other communal bodies, such as the Helping Hand Jewish Philanthropic. Society, the Sick Benefit Society and the Burial Society, also date almost from the earliest days, and owe much of their splendid usefulness to the leadership of men like the late Mr. H. Melcher, Mr. A. Hern, the late Mr. H. Rigal and Mr. I. Lewis.

Public Men.

The Jewish element of Griqualand West quickly grew in number and importance, and gave of its best to the public welfare. Besides Mr. W. Sagar, who has already been mentioned, a number of Jews have served on the Town Council of Kimberley and Beaconsfield, Mr. Barnard Cohen having been a member for 17 years; Dr. S. Zweiback, who has also served on the Town Council for many years, for some time represented Beaconsfield in the Provincial Council; Col. (now Sir) D. Harris, C.M.G., V.D., M.L.A., was a member of the Cape and subsequently of the Union Parliament until this year, when, to the general regret of his fellow members, he retired owing to old age; Mr. (now Sir) Ernest Oppenheimer was three times Mayor of Kimberley, and now represents Kimberley in the Union Parliament.

The late Bernard Klisser, a pioneer of the Diamond Fields, will never be forgotten. Always of a charitable disposition, on his death he left the whole of his fortune, some £45,000, to be held in trust for the poor and needy of Kimberley, irrespective of creed and colour. Mr. F. Hirschhorn, a director of De Beers, has always taken a keen interest in the Jewish community, and is known far and wide for his wonderful philanthropy.

The discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand drew away a large number of pioneers to the new Eldorado; the spirit of enterprise and undaunted courage, but also of social effort and co-operation, for which Johannesburg became noted, can largely be traced to the influence of the early pioneers from Kimberley. Amongst the firms who in those days transferred their activities to the goldfields were Barnato Bros., Albu Bros., and many others.

The Boer War opened with the siege of Kimberley, but although Jews co-operated in full strength with their fellow citizens in the defence of their town, and endured in common the hardships and privations of this trying time, casualties amongst them were, fortunately, nil, the only actual damage sustained being to the hearse of the Burial Society, which was hit by an enemy shell. Col. D. Harris commanded the Town Guard, and received for his services the thanks of the Government and a C.M.G.

In 1902 the beautiful new Synagogue and other communal buildings were completed on a site presented by the De Beers Company, a magnificent enterprise due largely to the labours and munificence of Sir David Harris and Mr. G. H. Bonas.

Other Activities.

After the Boer War the Diamond Fields Jewish Guild and the Ezrath Zionist Association came into being and co-operated with the elder associations in useful communal activity. The School and Zionist Library Hall was built in 1907. In 1915 the Jewish School Board was formed, its first chairman being Mr. L. Isaacson, who in 1917 was succeeded by Dr. S. Zweiback. During the Great War the Jews of Kimberley contributed their full quota to the fighting forces, and its sons fought with both valour and distinction. A beautiful memorial, in the shape of a candelabra, was subscribed by the members, and stands in the Synagogue. Each candle bears the name of the fallen hero, and is lit on the Yahrzeit. A mural tablet to the Jews who fell during the Boer War was also presented by the late Sydney Mendelssohn, and stands in the vestibule of the Synagogue. Kimberley also upheld its old reputation for charity and benevolence, and shared in the many efforts to alleviate the sufferings of the war victims.

No history, however cursory, of the Jews of Griqualand West can be complete without assigning a special place of honour to that veritable landmark of the Diamond Fields, Sir David Harris, and his lamented late wife. Outstanding as a gallant warrior, whose military career, commencing with the Gaika and Galeka wars of the early seventies, has achieved him fame and distinction, as a leading financier, he has in his own person done much to give to the Jewish community of Kimberley the proud place it holds in the annals of South African Jewry.

Amongst the younger men, with great achievements already to his credit and with a greater future still to come, ranks Sir Ernest Oppenheimer. Though of late a wider sphere has claimed his attention, Kimberley has been the cradle and stepping stone of his career. His recent success in securing for Kimberley the establishment of the biggest of the diamond cutting works may well tend to create a new source of prosperity for that community, and powerfully assist in preserving and strengthening the Jewish community of Griqualand West, which has done so much not only for its own members but also for Jewry at large.