Central African Zionist Digest
P. O. Box A364, Avondale, Harare Zimbabwe email vleon@mango.zw
Number 4 October - February 2005/6
End of an era with Hymie’s passing
Israeli Tennis Team Visits Zimbabwe
By Ivor Davis in Johannesburg
By Peter Sternberg
HARARE - Tall, Slim and gentlemanly Hymie
Cohen - he and his late wife, Hilda (Lezard) from Oudtshoorn,
were tango ballroom champions in their time - died last week
at Bulawayo’s Savyon Lodge at the age of 96.
Cohen was a past president of the Harare Hebrew
Congregation.
Hymie and Hilda, who for many years lived in Duthie
Avenue in Harare - it was the city’s “Jewish Quarter” in the
nineties. Their neigh-bours were Barney and Anita Price, Issie
and Freda Bernstein, Aron and Hetty King and down the road,
Al Nairn, a leading Sephardi and his wife, Babs Nairn, who at
92 is the community’s present matriarch.
For Zimbabwe’s sadly dwindling Jewish community from its peak of 7 000 in the sixties to its present 270 souls the death of Hymie, who was buried next to Hilda in Harare’s
Warren Hills cemetery on Monday, would seem to be the end
of an era.
Hymie’s father, David, in 1897 came from what was
then Palestine, with his wife. Jenny, and worked at the
Penhalonga gold mine in the east-ern region. Travelling to
(then) Salisbury, the Rhodesian capital, took a week by oxwagon. Jenny would journey to nearby Umtali (now Mutare)
carried on a machila, a hammock suspended on the shoulders
of two bearers who walked along paths. It was 26 kilo-metres
and took may hours.
In 1921, the Cohens moved to Salisbury and Hymie
had lessons from Rabbi Joseph Rosin, and his was one of the
first barmitzvahs in the “new” shul which served the
community from 1918 to 1973.
Hymie joined the ministry of posts and was there for
33 years, becoming superintendent of telegraphs. Hilda
captained Wingate club’s ladies tennis team.
Bulawayo’s Rabbi Nathan Asmoucha conducted
Monday’s levoya and among the mourners was Hymie’s son,
Dr Brian Cohen, a New York gynaecolo-gist. He leaves
another son, Alan,’ who lives in Israel.
The small Harare community suffered another death
last week - Mrs Nairn’s brother, Mannie Sklar died in
Jerusalem, aged 86, leaving his wife, Rhoda, two sons and a
daughter and several grandchildren.
December 2005
September 22 to 24th, 2005 saw the Israeli Davis
Cup tennis team visit Harare to compete against the
Zimbabwe davis Cup team.
At the end of the first day the score stood at one
match each but thereafter the Isralis proved to be too
experienced for the local players and pulled off a 4 – 1
win in the end. The Zimbabwe team was under strength
as only one of their regular players was available for the
tie, which proved unfortunate as with full strength team
the results may well have been reversed or at least been
more competitive than it turned out.
A fair number of locally domiciled Israelis cheered
on the visitors who no doubt felt more relax with some
“home support” to compete against the Zimbabwe drum
beats!!
Interviewed before and after the match, the Israelis
confirmed that they were well treated and felt it was an
interesting experience to be playing in Zimbabwe.
Tribute to Bernie
And Rhebe Tatz
(Contributed)
Bernie and Rhebe Tatz of Bulawayo recently received
recognition from the organizations to which they have given many
years of outstanding service.
In a very pleasant ceremony the Bulawayo Art Gallery
named on of the galleries “The Rhebe Tatz Gallery”, Mr. Eric Bloch
paying tribute to her for all her work as Chairman of the Friends of
the gallery. Rhebe is also president of the Zimbabwe Women’s
Zionist Council.
The Zimbabwe Medical Association has given Dr. Bernie
Tatz a special award “for outstanding service and lifetime
contribution to the Health delivery system, Medical Fraternity
and Community of Matebeleland and Zimbabwe in general”.
The award was presented at an annual dinner/dance of the
Medical association. Bernie has been a leading light with the Central
African Jewish Board of Deputies for over forty years.
Haham Solomon Gaon’s Legacy Lives
On At Yeshiva University
Rabbi Dr. Solomon Gaon was present in the
then Rhodesia, in 1958, at the consecration
of
the
Sephardi
Sha’are
Shalom
Synagogue, Salisbury. He was again guest
of
honour
when
the
congregation
celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 1981.
Haham Solomon Gaon, former Chief Sephardic
Rabbi of the British Commonwealth and cofounder of the
Sephardic Studies Program at Yeshiva University, was
truly an inspirational leader to all Sephardim the world
Zimbabwe Jewish Website
David Bloom in Israel is continually up dating this
site on the Internet. Pay him a visit at
http://www.zjc.org.il
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Reproduced from the “Sephardi News” newsletter of
Jacob E Safra Institute of Sephardic Studies, New York.
over. Indeed, his unique place in history as a leader of
World Jewry will be perpetuated at Yeshiva.
During the summer of 2004, the late Haham Gaons
wife, Regina Gaon, and her children Isaac and Tova
Gaon and Raquel and Martin Goldstcin, decided to
dedicate Haham Gaons entire collection of his life's work
to the Mendel Gottesman Library atYU. The Gottesman
Library will now be home to a massive collection of the
Haham s working files, which includes much of his
halakhic responsa and correspondence with leading
rabbinic authorities and political leaders of his day.
These personal archives also include a record of many
of the Haham’s extensive compilation of lectures,
sermons, and personal research files.
Editorial
There has been a lapse of five months since our
last edition was published. Regrettably there has not
been much activity in Jewish communal affairs taking
place. We are however, delighted to have made contact
with the Zambian Jewish Community through Michael
Galaun. In the days of the Federation of Rhodesia and
Nyasaland, activities of the large Jewish population in the then
Northern Rhodesia, were included in the Central African
Zionist Digest. Due to political changes this area is now
included in a new cluster of states SADC.
We have received 42 email addresses in Zambia.
Together with our readers overseas we have a
worldwide readership. Some readers have spotted this
newsletter on the Internet and write in asking to be
included on the mailing list. For those who do not have
electronic mail David Bloom in Israel, sends out by
regular post copies of this newsletter. In writing, many
express the desire to keep in touch with the country of
their birth. With both electronic and regular mail David
claims to have as many as 750 addresses.
Saga of Sephardic Jewry
This comprehensive collection of Haham Gaons
work tells a profound historical saga of Sephardic Jewry
both internationally and in the United States. The Haham
was interviewed in 1964 by The New York Times in an
article entitled "Sephardic Jewry in America on the Brink
of Extinction." It is an ama/ing irony that the reality of
Sephardic Jewry in America and abroad today is quite
the opposite. In fact, it was in that same year (1964)
that—thanks to Haham Gaons brilliant leadership,
coupled with the vision of Drs. Samuel Belkin, Herbert G.
Dobrinsky and Ivan Salomon—the Sephardic Studies
Program and the Sephardic Community Program were
established at YU more than 40 years ago to preserve
Sephardic culture and Halakhah and to serve the greater
Sephardic community in North America and abroad.
Today, YUs Sephardic Community Program, led by
Hazan Tessonc and in cooperation with the Max Stern
Division of Communal Services, serves many of the
individual Sephardic and Oriental Jewish communities
across the country. On the academic side, the Jacob E.
Safra Institute of Sephardic Studies, led by Rabbi Yamin
Levy, serves some 400 Sephardic students, both
graduate and undergraduate.
The success of Haham Gaon's and Dr. Dobrinsky's
efforts and dedication are apparent today more than ever
as seen through the many Sephardic initiatives being
undertaken today at Yeshiva both academically and in
the communities. They enjoy the full support and leadership of Chancellor Norman Lamm and President Richard
M. Joel.
Yeshiva has also faithfully fulfilled its mission to be
an incubator for Jewish leaders for the Sephardic
community by producing some of the leading
Sephardic rabbis of our day. They serve
communities throughout the world with distinction.
Dr. Dobrinsky was fondly referred to by Haham
Gaon as "Haham Bueno," and was his closest colleague
and best friend for several decades. Dr. Dobrinsky was
ecstatic to receive the collection on ire behalf ofYLJ and
the Gottesman Library. "The Haham’s home was here at
Yeshiva, and now we are proud to be the home of his
personal working files and collections," said Dr.
Dobrinsky. "Certainly, his work here at Yeshiva on behalf
of all Sephardim and on behalf of our students was one
of the most fulfilling times of his s
professional life,
which added a new dimension of scholarship about
Sephardic Jewry for our entire institution." •
News in Brief
Tilly Katz
The Central African Zionist Society learned with
much regret of the death of Tilly Katz, widow of the
Zionist Organisation’s Director General, much beloved
Barney Katz.
In her quiet modest way, Tilly gave Barney
encouragement and support to enable to carry on the
work so dear to his heart.
We extend heartfelt sympathy to all her family.
Haig and Eva Kaplan
Congratulations to Haig and Eva Kaplan on the occasion
of their diamond wedding anniversary. This rare and
happy event was celebrated on 12th December with an
afternoon tea in the friendly surroundings of Savyon
Lodge with the couples’ friends and residents of the
Lodge.
Congratulations
Congratulations to the following who celebrated
their birthdays.
Babs Naim 92yrs, Boy Kaplan 90yrs Greta
Weinberg 84yrs and to Benny Leon 70 yrs.
Mazaltov
Cohen Congratulations to Stella Cohen on the birth
of a grandson.
Cohen Congratulations to Victor Cohen on the birth
of a granddaughter.
Zlatner Congratulations to Jonathan and Tammy
Zlatner on the arrival of a baby girl.
Levy Congratulations to Sonia and Joe Levy on the
arrival of a grandson, to Lisa and Rob in Auckland, New
Zealand.
Marriage
Silverton Daughter Hayley of Bella and Leon, and
granddaughter of Hettie King.
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can only be attained through Truth and Compassion – Hesed
Ve’emet - two ethical qualities emphasized throughout
Scripture.
If these virtues are constantly before the eyes of every
judge and indeed, in their hearts, ultimately the consequence
will be Shalom – True Peace – not just an absence of strife, or
Condolences
Blacher To Audrey and family on the passing of
Wolfie (77), on 28th February after a medical operation,
in Cape Town.
Bondi To Eli ,Joe and Evie on the passing of
their brother and husband ”Zack” .
Sklar Mannie passed away in Israel. To Rhoda
in Jerusalem and to Babs Naim her brother.
oppression or conflict, but rather a wholeness of the individual
and society, a harmony bringing about unity and loving
kindness amongst fellow human beings.
It has been just over 25 years since this great country
attained independence.
One of the objectives of this
independence was to put an end to one of the worst travesties
and injustices in humanity – that is, racism - a way of thinking
that is one of the most heinous indignities to the human spirit.
The book of Exodus is a paradigm for deliverance
from human oppression, a paradigm not just for the Israelites
but for all humanity. The Exodus was occasioned by very
momentous events, however, ultimately it a was a process.
Living here in Zimbabwe for more than 2 years, I am
privileged to witness the continuation of that type of process in
this glorious land.
Goldenberg
To Henry on the loss of his mother.
Franco To Joe Betty and Sally on the passing of
their mother Rene Franco in Cape Town
Achievements
Mande Dorice, daughter of Sylvia, nominated
“Business Woman of the Month” in Cape Town.
Rabbi Leads in Prayer in
Bulawayo High Court
Priestly blessing
The strength of the people of Zimbabwe is a G-d
given blessing and example for all humanity. And it is my
prayer and hope that this judiciary help this nation of
Zimbabwe become a light unto all the nations of the world.
Allow me to conclude with a prayer for the judges of
Zimbabwe and for the people they are divinely obliged to
protect. The prayer will be followed by the priestly blessing
for peace.
May the supreme King of kings in his mercy put a
spirit of wisdom and understanding into the hearts of all the
counsellors of Zimbabwe that they may uphold the peace of
the country, advance the welfare of the nation, and deal kindly
and truly with all its people. In their days and in ours, may our
Heavenly Father spread the tabernacle of peace over all the
dwellers on earth; and let us say, Amen.
The Bulawayo Chronicle reports that this was
the first time that a rabbi officiated at this type
of event in Zimbabwe. Rabbi Asmoucha of the
Bulawayo Hebrew Congregation gave the
following address and prayers.
Honourable Judges, honourable dignitaries and other
invited guests. I would like to express my gratitude for being
given the honour and privilege to lead in prayer and blessing in
this opening session of the judiciary.
If there is one verse in the entirety of Scripture that
encapsulates the obligation and I dare say, privilege of serving
as judge – it is the famous words of Moses the lawgiver –
“Tzedek tzedek tirdof” – Justice, Justice shalt thou follow, –
“Lema’an Tihiyeh” – that thou mayest live, and inherit the land
which the L-rd thy G-d giveth thee.
I emphasized fulfilling the obligation of a judge not only
as a duty, but also as privilege, for in our Holy Scriptures and
Jewish Tradition we see that the shofet, the judge, has the
potential and opportunity to truly be a partner with the
Almighty. He or she is bidden to be G-d’s agent in helping to
perfect an imperfect world. This is evident in the numerous
references to society’s and particularly judges’ and kings’
obligation to the oppressed and down trodden – the widow and
fatherless is an expression of this vulnerability which the
magistrate is bidden by the omnipotent to protect.
REPORT OF THE UNION OF
JEWISH WOMEN FOR 2005
There is no need to enumerate the many
difficulties and problems that have escalated over
the past year, and it has been against this
background that we have managed to keep up with
our
monthly
meetings,
albeit
with
reduced
numbers, and managed to continue with our
traditional activities.
Magnanimous Task
To fulfil this magnanimous task one must have an
appreciation of the sanctity of the G-d given soul in every
person’s possession. We are all created in the image of G-d –
Tzelem Elokim. And this dictates that the dignity and
individuality of each human being be respected and
guarded regardless of race, creed or sex.
This supreme duty of even handed justice is the
basis for a G-d fearing and righteous society. One in
which the prophet Amos commanded saying “Veyagel
Kemaiyim Mishpat” - Justice must roll down as waters,
and righteousness as a mighty stream. And this justice
NATIONAL
The Zimbabwe Union of Jewish Women is
affiliated to the International Council of
Jewish Women. Mrs Hermoine Sternberg our President keeps in
touch with the Council receives Minutes Brochures Newsletters etc.
from them and sends back reports and letters from our branch. We are
invited to attend all their Congress and seminars but sadly this is not
possible.
FINANCE Our financial matters are in the capable hands of our
treasurer Mrs Beryl Thal We have only had one fund-raising event
this year which was our Charity Bridge Morning . This was held in
June which is not particularly good time of year. Together with a
raffle we raised $2,500.000.
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We hope to have another bridge morning during 2006
We made various donations to Savyon Lodge, Island Hospice,
Childrens Home, S.P.C.A and a prize for Sharon School Totalling
10,000.000. As well as other small donations in kind
SALE OF BOOKS BRIC-A BRAC CLOTHES ETC. This
is really our main source of income . The wonderful amazing Mrs Lil
Kaplan raised $7,000 000 during the year from her sales to vendors
of goods donated by members of community and others especially
people who are leaving the country
Sadly Mrs Kaplan now feels that after 10 years she wants to
retire she has not been well and finds that it is all too much for her.
The committee would like to continue her work and are looking for a
suitable venue.
WINTER WARMTH We held our annual clothing drive this
year. We only appealed to 16 schools as we had less members to
collect clothes. We were amazed at the amount of clothing blankets
etc that we collected. Surprisingly this was one of the best appeals we
have had in recent years.
The bulk of the clothing received was given to the Salvation
Army for distribution in the rural areas. The balance was given to Mrs
Trudi Stevenson (Member of Parliment) for her clothing drive for
homeless and needy in Harare after the demolition of houses. The
clothing from Sharon School which was collected later was given to
the Girl Guides Association they distributed the childrens clothing to
their project in Zvishavane and the adult clothing to Flame Lily
Lodge. We felt that this year we managed to help more peolple than
in the past..
B.S.LEON HOME
As far as possible we have
continued with our monthly tea and entertainment mornings.
We are having a problem getting people to entertain as many
people have retired left the country or wish to be paid. When
we are unable to get an enteratiner we still have the tea and
just play tapes, this is not as popular with the residents
HOSPITAL VISITS
We try and visit all members of the
community who are ill in hospital.
Unfortunately we very often miss people because we do not hear
about them in time. I should be grateful if members of the
community would notify me or any member of the committee of
anybody who is ill.
FRIENDSHIP CLUB Once again we were affected by the
petrol shortage so were unable to hold meetings. Also we were
affected by unavailability of speakers and unless we can have a fair
sized audience we cannot ask to people to come and speak to us.
We held a meeting in March which was a floral demonstration
given by Mrs. Carol Weltman followed by a Purim tea. This was a
very successful and enjoyable morning.
Irving pleaded guilty, hoping for a suspended sentence, but the
Vienna criminal court concluded he was only making a pretence of
acknowledging Nazi Germany’s genocide against Jews in order to
escape a jail term. “The court did not consider the defendant to have
genuinely changed his mind,” presiding judge Peter Liebetreu told the
court after pronouncing the sentence. “The regret he showed was
considered to be mere lip service to the law.” Irving, 67, said he was
shocked by the sentence handed down by three judges and eight lay
jurors and lodged an immediate appeal. His lawyer Elmar Kresbach
said that even if Irving lost the appeal, he was likely to serve a
maximum 1-1/2 to two years because of his age and status as a firsttime offender. Irving was arrested on a return visit to Austria last
November, based on a warrant over lectures and a press interview he
made in 1989 in the Alpine republic, where denying the Nazi
genocide is a crime punishable by one to 10 years in prison.
Hitler’s War
“I’m not a Holocaust denier. Obviously, I’ve changed my views,”
Irving told reporters on his way into the court carrying a copy of
“Hitler’s War,” among dozens of books on Nazi Germany and World
War Two the self-taught historian has written.
Irving acknowledged denying in 1989 that Nazi Germany had
killed millions of Jews but said he changed in his mind in 1991 after
coming across personal files of Adolf Eichmann, the chief organizer
of the Holocaust, during a speaking tour in Argentina.
The Eichman Papers
“I said that then, based on my knowledge at the time, but by 1991
when I came across the Eichmann papers, I wasn’t saying that
anymore and I wouldn’t say that now,” he said.
“The Nazis did murder millions of Jews,” added Irving, who
addressed the court in fluent German.
IRVING SAYS FREE SPEECH DENIED
He argued the case against him was a denial of his right to free
speech and that historians in Austria and Germany, which has similar
laws against Holocaust denial, were being told by lawmakers how to
write history. “Of course this trial is a question of freedom of
speech,” Irving told reporters. “The law is an ass here.”
Austria is keen to show it is tough on Holocaust denial since a
significant number of Nazi leaders including Adolf Hitler came from
Austria, and Jews and other critics accused the country of glossing
over its past for decades after the war.
Austria’s 1986-92 president, Kurt Waldheim, admitted to hiding
his service in Nazi Germany’s army in the Balkans during World War
Two and became unwelcome in many countries.
Falsifier of History
State prosecutor Michael Klackl contended that Irving was a
serial “falsifier of history,” dressed up as a martyr by right-wing
extremists, and that his courtroom admissions only paid lip service to
Austrian law. “He’s continued to deny the fact that the Holocaust
was genocide orchestrated from the highest ranks of the Nazi state,”
Klackl said, citing examples of statements Irving made in interviews
during the 1990s after his supposed turnabout.
Kresbach had asked the court for leniency because he said Irving
had moderated his views and posed no threat to a stable Austrian
democracy six decades after World War Two.
“Irving had expected certain strictness by the court because he
was a very well known case. But the sentence was too harsh. It
became a bit of a (political) message trial and the message was too
strong,” Kresbach told reporters after sentencing.
But Klackl said Irving remained an icon for neo-Nazis and
revisionist historians worldwide.
Irving was arrested while on his way to address Austrian radical
rightist student fraternity Olympia.
The prosecution said he attended meetings of “revisionist”
historians, those dismissing the Holocaust, even after the time of his
professed insight into the truth of the genocide, in which 6 million
European Jews were killed by Nazi Germany.
A British High Court ruling in 2000 rejected Irving’s libel suit
against an American professor and her publishers, declaring Irving
“an active Holocaust denier ... anti-Semitic and racist.”
MEALS ON WHEELS
Four of our committee
continue helping with the distribution and deliveries of meals
COMMITTEE
I want to thank my whole committee for all
their hard work and dedication during the past year. The committee
was Mesdames C Abrahamson; I Fox; L. Kantor; L.Kaplan;
C.Kopman; H Noar; L.Plein; H Sternberg (National President);
B.Thal (Treasurer).
I am delighted that they will all be serving on the committee for
the forthcoming year and we will be joined by Mrs L. Merdjan and
Mrs D Gordon. I should now like to thank all the members of the
community for all their support during the past year and hope that we
will be able to continue for many more years.
Thank You
SHEILA PITLUK
Austria sentences Irving to jail for
Holocaust denial
By Mark Heinrich
Mon Feb 20, 2006
VIENNA (Reuters) - An Austrian court sentenced British
historian David Irving to three years in prison on Monday for denying
the Holocaust during a 1989 stopover in Austria, dismissing his
argument that he had changed his views.
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