The Johannesburg Jewish Guild

 IN the year 1897 a group of young people returned to their parents’ homes in Johannesburg. They were newly out of schools and colleges at Cape Town, where they had come under the influence of the Rev. A. P. Bender, Minister of the Gardens Synagogue, and in the shadow of that old religious fane, the mother Synagogue of South Africa, they had been confirmed in the ways and observances of the Jewish life. There were several good schools in Johannesburg in those days, but they were insufficient for the population; hence the youngsters’ sojourn in Cape Town. Returning to Johannesburg, they found no organisation at which their youthful energies would be welcomed, and few opportunities of banding together to keep alive old friendships.

There had been Jewish clubs, two in succession, which had been modelled on the lines of certain Jewish Working Men’s Clubs in London and Manchester, with a membership restricted to males only; each of these, after good and wholesome beginnings, had degenerated into gaming assemblies, and disappeared, unregretted. There were three synagogues already in existence at that time; there was a Jewish school giving both religious and secular education to about three hundred children. The Chevra Kadisha (Helping Hand Society) had already been established, as well as the Jewish Ladies’ Communal League, and a host of minor formations for benevolent objects. So that it cannot be said that our people in Johannesburg then were blind to all but material pursuits. That accusation has never been true of our or any other people in Johannesburg, and it may be dismissed, together with the “mining camp” description of Johannesburg (so beloved by certain writers), as pure fiction in regard to any period subsequent to 1889, as pioneers testify.

Outside our community there was ample provision for young folks. There were literary and debating societies, social and dramatic clubs in plenty; each with more than a sprinkling of Jewish members, one in particular—the “Sociables”—having a membership almost entirely Jewish. There was a flourishing branch of the Young Men’s Christian Association, and each denomination seemed to have not alone its Church, but its Church Guild, where young and old could foregather socially and discuss matters of intellectual interest. Only the Jews, with all their fields of spiritual, educational and benevolent endeavour, had made no provision for adolescent youth.

The Inauguration.

With tolerant and somewhat amused indifference the elders of the now numerous community saw the youngsters inaugurate the Johannesburg Jewish Guild. The subscription was modest. Visits and gifts to the sick and poor, aid to all deserving causes, and social reunions as a means to those ends—these were the declared objects. To the Cape Town contingent were joined many youngsters who had remained in Johannesburg, and the first elected managing committee included Mr. Justinian M. Cohen as President, Mr. Sampson Marks as Honorary Secretary, Mr. Siegfried Raphaely (now President of the S. A. Jewish Board of Deputies), Mr. Herman Lee, Miss Irma Wilson, Miss Hannah Danziger (now Mrs. Bernard Alexander) and others whose names cannot now be recalled. The membership may have reached a total of 80, and the Guild flourished for a while.

Then came the Boer War of 1899–1902 with an immense dislocation which had its greatest effects in Johannesburg. Under martial law the greater part of the population fled or was evacuated. The restoration of peace saw their gradual return, and with them the old institutions one by one sprang into life again. The Jewish Guild was revived, but by men and women who had acquired other interests, and to whom its objects now appeared somewhat devoid of appeal. The meeting place—a room in the four-storied school attached to the Synagogue near Park Station—had become unpleasant at nights owing to an infestation of rats within the crumbling wood floors. Several attempts were made to revive interest; among them was the founding of a lending library, for which the Committee hired a town office and adopted a rota of daily honorary service. But all to no purpose other than exacting labour, time and money outlays from the few workers, of whom Messrs. Jos. Myers (President), Harry Farber (Hon. Secretary), Philip Morris and Miss Ella Cohn can now only be recollected. At a general meeting held during June, 1906, a sufficient number of members could not be induced to undertake the honorary offices, and after much discussion notice of motion was given that the Guild be liquidated. This notice and a public meeting called for July 22nd, 1906, were widely advertised.

The Need for a Guild.

At this date in Johannesburg’s history there were numerous clubs—political, sectarian, non-sectarian and others—open to membership of both sexes, and offering at very low subscription rates many attractions possible only where there is a large membership and consequent ample funds. In most of these clubs there were Jews and Jewesses in great numbers, either as members or visitors. There was a Parliamentary Debating Society which met within the precincts of a Congregational Church, and the most active literary society was attached to a Presbyterian Church. At the latter the continual presence of Jews—in response to advertised invitations to the general public—appeared to give zest to perpetual gibes at Jewish characteristics imaginary as well as real. All the familiar forces of attrition were at work, and the Jewish Guild, the one institution which might have served as a steadying and integrating influence, was itself drifting, aimless and useless.

The meeting on July 22nd, 1906, was memorable for the appearance at the Jewish Guild of a new figure, that of Mr. M. J. Harris. This gentleman, who later became Mayor of Johannesburg, spoke with some force, offering to reorganise the Guild and to obtain the help of able Jewish citizens in doing so. The offer was accepted, and shortly afterwards, on August 24th, 1906, a manifesto was issued to many of the local Jews and Jewesses. This manifesto was signed by M. J. Harris, S. Raphaely, S. Goldreich, Justin Cohen, P. Leon, H. H. Morris and Mark Feitelberg.

Very shortly afterwards the Reorganisation Committee and the newly enrolled members took charge of the Guild affairs, and it became a mutual improvement association. From that time on, the Guild’s activities not only compelled the notice of the entire Jewish community, but the Guild rapidly took its place as the foremost literary centre in the town. Debates and lectures were at first held in the Jewish school building previously referred to, but the venue was shortly afterwards changed to the Assembly Hall of the then University College, attendances frequently running into from 900 to 1,000 persons. A syllabus of lectures was designed of a kind to attract all sections of the community, Jewish as well as non-Jewish, and Press discussion on the subjects debated was quite a common occurrence.

Mr. M. J. Harris occupied the chair continuously from 1906 to 1912. Other prominent figures during this period were Mr. Leopold Greenberg, now the Hon. Mr. Justice Greenberg, Mr. Israel Heymann, Mr. Philip Rufus Davis, and Mr. Alec Goldberg, who served as Vice-President. Mr. A. M. Jackson was for many years honorary secretary, as later and successively were also Mr. L. H. Lewis and Mr. I. H. Harris, B.Sc., now the headmaster of the Jewish Government School. Among honorary officials who also served during this upward climbing process of the Guild’s history were Mr. David Heydenreich, who acted as honorary treasurer, and later Mr. Adolph Reichman and Mr. J. D. Emanuel.

Dr. J. H. Hertz.

One of the most prominent lecturers of that period was the Rev. Dr. J. H. Hertz, now Chief Rabbi of the United Synagogues of the British Empire. What he did for the Guild cannot be over-estimated. He delivered a masterly series of lectures entitled “Literary Study of the Bible,” with the striking result of attracting audiences which on each occasion never numbered less than a thousand persons. Dr. R. T. A. Innes, the Union Astronomer, was another tremendous “draw” as a lecturer, delivering scientific addresses on Halley’s Comet and other astronomical subjects to what, in those days, were enormous audiences for a literary society. The late Professor Solomon Schechter, during his visit to South Africa, also lectured on the Guild platform, his subject being “Currents in Judaism.” This was followed by a discussion of so free a character, which was so widely reported, that throughout South Africa to this day there are many who remember being shocked at the eclecticism and freedom of speech indulged in on that occasion. But it was the abundance of such continual criticism and comment, favourable and unfavourable, that gave the publicity which helped to make the Guild the great institution that it has become.

Henry Herbert and Matheson Lang, representing the theatrical world, delivered well-attended lectures at the Guild, as well as Professor Dobson and Professor Alexander.

In 1913 Mr. Leopold Greenberg became President, but the popular barrister found the claims of his profession too exacting, and retired from that office at the end of the year, again to be succeeded by Mr. M. J. Harris for a further period of one year, after which Mr. A. M. Jackson became President of the Guild.

Permanent Quarters.

In 1914 the Committee, under the presidency of Mr. Fred Cohen, took a vital step by hiring permanent quarters in the Nel’s Rust Buildings. The membership was then about 120 strong, and the Committee having acquired one large room capable of seating about 300 people, adopted progressive measures to increase the membership roll. They entered into the spirit of this campaign and succeeded in enrolling upwards of 600 members during the following six months. At the beginning of the tenancy of the Nel’s Rust Buildings, furniture had been loaned by the owners of the building. During the year a small committee was elected to canvass the community on behalf of the Furniture Fund. It is to the credit of Mrs. A. Solomon and Mrs. Joe Cohen that a really excellent response was made, and furniture and cash amounting to over £1,500 was collected.

With the acquisition of a comfortable room, the activities of the Guild entered into a new lease of life, and the programmes of events in those days reflect the enormous amount of work which was successfully undertaken by the Committee and its untiring secretary, Miss Annie Goodman. Regular lectures on matters cultural, Jewish, secular and religious were given by members of the Jewish community, by the most eminent lecturers in Johannesburg, and by many eminent overseas visitors.

The tenancy at the Nel’s Rust Buildings continued until 1922, when the Guild removed to the Berkeley Rooms, premises which were more commodious and more convenient, and remained in possession of these rooms until they removed to their permanent headquarters in the magnificent structure which was specially erected for them.

During the whole of the eight years from 1914–22 the chair of the Guild was occupied by Mr. Fred Cohen, and about 1918, as the membership of the Guild increased from strength to strength, and as the activities of the institution embraced a larger and larger sphere, it became imperative that more convenient and commodious premises be sought.

The New Building.

The credit for the conception of erecting for the Guild a building of its own must be given to Mr. Fred Cohen, who, following up his idea with energy, succeeded in gaining the support of practically all the prominent members of the Jewish community.

A number of organising meetings were held, and on the initiative of Mr. I. M. Goodman it was decided at a very early date that, besides housing the Jewish Guild, the new building should also commemorate those South African Jews who had fallen or served during the Great War and, as far as possible, should also provide accommodation for general communal purposes. A special association was formed, called the Jewish Guild War Memorial Hall Association, having as its objects the collection of the funds, the acquiring of a suitable site, and the erection of the building.

As the United Hebrew Congregation of Johannesburg had shortly before decided to found a Jewish War Memorial, it was resolved to join forces in the collection campaign. A powerful committee was formed consisting of the late Senator S. Marks as Hon. President, and a Board of Honorary Trustees comprising Sir George Albu, Bart., Mr. A. Atkins, Mr. Fred Cohen, Mr. B. Gordon, Mr. I. Heymann, Mr. G. Imroth, Mr. H. Newhouse, Mr. I. W. Schlesinger and the late Mr. David Starfield.

The General Committee consisted of Mr. Fred Cohen (Chairman), Mr. E. Solomon (Vice-Chairman), Mr. M. I. Isaacson (Hon. Treasurer), Mrs. S. B. Asher, Messrs. Alfred L. Cohn, I. M. Goodman, M. J. Harris and M. Rosenzweig, as representing the Guild, and Messrs. Harry Cohen, Peter Kaplan, V. S. Kark, S. Raphaely, A. Sprinz, and the late Mr. D. Starfield, as representing the United Hebrew Congregation. Additional members were Messrs. M. Abrahams, A. M. Abrahams, B. Alexander, J.P., S. B. Asher, Sir Harry Graumann, B. P. Marks, Emile Nathan, M.L.A., M. Reuvid and A. Susman.

Mrs. E. Solomon and Mr. S. Schragger acted as Joint Hon. Secretaries, and Messrs. I. M. Goodman (Chairman), M. I. Isaacson (Hon. Treasurer), Alfred L. Cohn, I. Heymann, B. P. Marks, E. Solomon, D. Starfield, A. Susman and Fred Cohen (ex officio) were appointed as the Executive Committee, and were entrusted with the task of organising and supervising the collection campaign.

General Smuts.

A powerful and effective impetus was given to the movement by an eloquent appeal which General the Right Hon. J. C. Smuts, then Prime Minister of the Union, made on its behalf at a crowded Jewish meeting convened in the Town Hall in order to thank him for his services in Europe on behalf of the Zionist and general Jewish cause. The appeal proved eminently successful, amongst the most generous donors being Mr. I. W. Schlesinger, Mr. S. B. Joel, Sir Ernest Oppenheimer, Sir George Albu, Bart., and Messrs. Heymann, Gordon and D. Starfield.

By a Deed of Presentation, subsequently confirmed in his will, the late Senator S. Marks donated the whole of the bricks required for the building, and it should be mentioned, as a touching tribute to his memory, that this institution occupied his thoughts and attention up to the very last day of his life.

Thanks to the liberality of Messrs. Heymann & Gordon, a site for the building had been provisionally acquired; this was later on sold at a substantial profit, and the present site purchased in its stead.

Mr. M. J. Harris was appointed Architect, and in 1922 the foundation stone of the building was formally laid by General Smuts at a largely attended ceremony presided over by the Very Reverend the Chief Rabbi, Dr. J. L. Landau.

The building cost over £35,000 to erect and equip, and the Guild, now an incorporated body, took occupancy in the year 1923, whereafter the War Memorial Hall Association, having completed its labours, formally transferred the ownership of the property to the Guild subject to certain reservatory powers. At this period the membership roll of the Guild had increased to over 1,200. Unfortunately, the ambition of the War Memorial Committee to hand the building over, free and unencumbered, was not fulfilled, and the building remained burdened with a mortgage bond of £15,000. It can readily be understood that this financial burden formed a tremendous handicap to the institution. Nevertheless, activities were not relaxed, and the Guild fulfilled its duty to the community in placing the building at the disposal of all institutions. In 1922 the Guild issued to its members a monthly journal which would, in addition to conveying the Guild news and activity, fulfil a cultural want by the disseminating of matters of Jewish world interest. Mr. I. M. Goodman acted as editor and manager of the publication, known now throughout South Africa, and indeed in most quarters of the world, as “Ivri Onouchi.” The publication grew from a four-page leaflet to its present dimensions under the auspices of the institution, and has fulfilled a long-felt want.

Another Appeal.

In 1925 the burden of debt pressed more and more heavily on the Guild, so that it was decided to make an appeal to the community. The Guild once more shared this appeal with another institution and, in conjunction with the South African Jewish Orphanage, succeeded in raising the magnificent sum of £7,000, of which the Guild’s share was one-third. This amount was totally inadequate to relieve the great stress, and in 1928 the institution once more appealed to the community. On this occasion the sympathetic interest particularly of Sir Ernest and Lady Oppenheimer was enlisted. The latter accepted the leadership of a special committee formed for the purpose, and thanks largely to her unbounded generosity and amazing energy a sufficient amount of money was raised to pay the entire debt of the Guild, including the mortgage bond, the amount actually collected in the course of a few weeks being £15,000.

During the years since the Guild Building was erected there has been one thing missing, and that is the Memorial Tablets which were to enshrine the names of those who gave their lives during the Great War. It was because the building was encumbered with debt that these tablets had not yet been erected. But they are now being cast in bronze in Johannesburg, and on completion will be erected in the vestibule of the building.

Inspiration to Other Centres.

The Jewish Guild of Johannesburg has been the inspiration which has caused the starting of a chain of Guilds, and it is hoped that closer co-operation will be possible between the various Guilds. It is unquestionable that the activities of the institution in Johannesburg are being more and more recognised as of great communal value, and the building to-day is the centre of practically all communal work. There are over 50 local institutions that make use of the building quite apart from the sectional activities of the Guild itself. The growth of the institution has been amazingly successful, and in spite of the vicissitudes which it has, in common with most other institutions, encountered it has come through the fire and its trials truer and better, and is now established on a safe, permanent footing.

It is gratifying to state that the Right Hon. Viscount Buxton, when Governor-General of the Union, honoured the institution by accepting the post of its Honorary President.

Since its inception the following gentlemen have acted as Presidents of the Guild: Mr. Justinian M. Cohen, Mr. Sampson Marks, Mr. S. Raphaely, Mr. Jos. Myers, Mr. M. J. Harris, Mr. Justice Leopold Greenberg, Mr. A. M. Jackson, Mr. Fred Cohen, Mr. Ernest Solomon, Mr. I. Heymann, Mr. M. I. Isaacson, Dr. Manfred Nathan, K.C., and Dr. Bernard Friedman. Its present President is Dr. M. J. Cohen, and its secretary Mrs. Selina Hersch, B.A.

It may safely be said that the Guild to-day occupies a unique place not only in the Jewish community of Johannesburg but in the general cultural life of the whole community. Apart from the University, the Guild is really the only institution which regularly holds functions of an intellectual nature, a great proportion of which are attended by all sections of the population. Its chief aim remains, however, to cater for our youth and to provide for it a Jewish environment amidst all the changing conditions of our social and religious life.