Posts

Posted on

Doornfontein Walking Tour – Part 1

IMG_2147

I have divided this outstanding 4 ½ hours walking tour of Doorfontein into separate posts.

Here is the first: Introduction and the Lions Shul.

http://elirab.me/jewish/a-journey-through-the-jewish-shtetl-of-doornfontein/

I only found out about this tour a couple of weeks before leaving for South Africa from Lewis Chiat, who also lives in Perth.
I was lucky as the tour operator and guide, Ishvara Dhyan, only runs this tour three times a year and my dates in Jo’burg matched his next tour.
I was given a lift to Doornfontein by Marc Latilla, who writes a fabulous blog: Johannesburg 1912 Suburb by suburb research- see below.
We met the rest of the group in the parking lot of  Ellis Park rugby ground. It is quite safe to park there. Some of us left our cars in China City nearby.
There were 53 on this tour that day and Ish told me that he had to turn away a further 60.

DSC_1014 DSC_1016 DSC_1021 DSC_1028 DSC_1029 DSC_1031 DSC_1034 DSC_1039 DSC_1041 DSC_1042 DSC_1046 DSC_1054 DSC_1055 DSC_1060 DSC_1063 DSC_1065 DSC_1066 DSC_1070 DSC_1073
<
►
>

 

A few words from Ish

The Lions Shul

DSC_1072 DSC_1233 DSC_1231 DSC_1218 DSC_1215 DSC_1214 DSC_1211 DSC_1209 DSC_1208 DSC_1207 DSC_1204 DSC_1202 DSC_1199 DSC_1198 DSC_1197 DSC_1187 DSC_1181 DSC_1180 DSC_1177 DSC_1171 DSC_1165 DSC_1162 DSC_1160 DSC_1156 DSC_1150 DSC_1149 DSC_1146 DSC_1145 DSC_1144 DSC_1143 DSC_1142 DSC_1141 DSC_1139 DSC_1134 DSC_1132 DSC_1130 DSC_1128 DSC_1127 DSC_1126 DSC_1125 DSC_1123 DSC_1115 DSC_1114 DSC_1112 DSC_1111 DSC_1110 DSC_1108 DSC_1107 DSC_1104 DSC_1088 DSC_1085 DSC_1075 DSC_1074 DSC_1073
<
►
>

 

 

The Lions Shul

The Johannesburg KehilaLink:

Screen Shot 2016-03-03 at 10.40.18 AM

BS,D

Shalom

My father z”l was Hachazan Yizchak Rafael Lerman and was born in the old city of Jerusalem into a family of chazonim and baalei tefilot  and very musical. He was in the famous Rivlin choir and often sang solo and gave concerts as well. My Abba z”l learned chazanut under chazan Mann of operatic fame. My Abba was Chief chazan of Herzliah and davened in the shul where chazan Leibel Glans was. In 1964, a few weeks before Rosh Hashana, my Abba came to South Africa and davened in the Germiston shul on Rosh Hashana and Yom kippur. My Abba got married in the Doornfontein Lions Shul, at which chazan Shlomo Mandel and Greenblatt afficated  My Abba was at the Lions Shul for 3 years, then moved to Glenhazel Shul in 1969 and was there for a long time. In between he davened at various shuls in South Africa 

My Abba z”l was a baker as well – the Lerman Bakery in the old city. He also taught Bar Mitzvah lessons in cheder and taught over 1000 bochrim their bar mitzvah. My Abba didn’t make any tapes,  but all the recordings were left in Eretz Yisrael. He taught people Nusach 

My Abba z”l was an excellent chazan and had a good voice and everyone enjoyed my Abba’s chazanut. 

My Abba z”l passed away 9 years ago and is buried on Har Hamenuchot in Givat Shaul in Eretz Yisrael.

My father comes from a chassidic and rabbinical family and was a 5th generation sabra Jerusalemite 

Chaim Lerman

March 2015

Published on Sep 7, 2014

The Lions shul is Johannesburg longest standing congregation.

It is a vibrant, active and dynamic congregation.

The 108 year old synagogue is in pristine condition and the chavershaft is warm and family oriented.

The house next door

DSC_1227 DSC_1235 DSC_1241 DSC_1243 DSC_1244 DSC_1245
<
►
>

 

Marc Latilla’s blog: Johannesburg 1912 Suburb by suburb research

 

Next: The Beth Hamedrash Hagadol

 

Posted on

Protecting Our Litvak Heritage

Two weeks ago I spoke on Litvaks on the Move at the Claremont Wynberg Shul in Cape Town:

IMG_5992

This week I presented the Perth version of this Litvaks on the Move slideshow at the WA Jewish Historical & Genealogical Society at Noranda Shul.

Publication2

Perth:

IMG_4029

DSCN0983 DSCN0985 DSCN0986 DSCN0995
<
►
>

Some slides from the show:

WA-Gen-Soc-Litvak-Final-.001s WA-Gen-Soc-Litvak-Final-.016s WA-Gen-Soc-Litvak-Final-.026s WA-Gen-Soc-Litvak-Final-.055s WA-Gen-Soc-Litvak-Final-.065s WA-Gen-Soc-Litvak-Final-.082s WA-Gen-Soc-Litvak-Final-.098s WA-Gen-Soc-Litvak-Final-.100s
<
►
>

I included slides from my recent trip to South Africa where I visited the Kaplan Centre and Gitlin Library in Cape Town and the Archives and Friends of the Beth Hatsutsoth in Johannesburg.

I also visited the Liliesleaf Museum in Rivonia.

One of highlights was the 4½ walking tour of Doornfontein run by Ishvara Dhyan.

Posts to follow.

At the end of my presentation, Sue Levy presented me with a certificate and the customary book was donated to our local genealogical society library on my behalf.

DSCN0991

I was blown away by what book Sue chose!

The title is “Preserving Our Litvak Heritage”, something I have been passionately working on for a while now. The name of the author – Josef Rosin z”l.

Rosin-Book-Cover Rosin-Book-Cover-2

In June last year, I noticed that the Birzh KehilaLink had not been updated for long time. I made some enquiries and found out that this website had been compiled by Josef Rosin, who had passed away in Israel in the previous November. When I showed interest in adopting the Birzh site, I was asked by Joel Alpert if I would be happy to adopt 25 others, all the work of late Josef Rosin.

http://elirab.me/litvak-portal/kehilalinks/

I have spent the last eight months updating these Lithuania kehilalinks, the work that Josef Rosin had done so brilliantly over so many years!

A tribute by Joel Alpert to Josef Rosin:

Screen Shot 2016-03-01 at 3.48.24 PM

http://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/birzai/Joseph_Rosin.html

I have previously corresponded with Joel in early 2014. He wanted to use my image of broken matsevot at the Brest Fort for the cover of the new Brest Yizkor book. That photo was one of the slides I used in my Litvaks on the Move presentation – eerie or what!

Slide-54.001s

Posted on

Muizenberg – A Surfers Paradise

Here are a few of the photos I took at Muizenberg last week.

DSC_2067
The people and cultures on this popular South African beach present quite a contrast to the heydays of the Litvaks, who were here in the 40s, 50s and 60s and then left!

DSC_1786 DSC_1788 DSC_1793 DSC_1796 DSC_1811 DSC_1817 DSC_1818 DSC_1819 DSC_1823 DSC_1824 DSC_1826 DSC_1827 DSC_1831 DSC_1834 DSC_1840 DSC_1842 DSC_1843 DSC_1845 DSC_1847 DSC_1849 DSC_1850 DSC_1851 DSC_1860 DSC_1862 DSC_1865 DSC_1866 DSC_1873 DSC_1876 DSC_1893 DSC_1898 DSC_1902 DSC_1912 DSC_1921 IMG_3269 DSC_1926 DSC_1928 DSC_1931 DSC_1941 DSC_1942 DSC_1948 DSC_1958 DSC_1969 DSC_2000 DSC_2001 IMG_5938 DSC_2005 DSC_2016 DSC_2067 DSC_2029 DSC_2034 DSC_2045 DSC_2049 DSC_2075 DSC_2078 DSC_2051 DSC_2081
<
►
>

Here is a short video clip:

 

On my last day in Cape Town, I arrived in time to see the sunrise. I enjoyed the walk to St James and back. These photos will appear in a later post.

Posted on

Muizenberg Comes To San Diego

Save the date for South Africa’s most popular and travelled exhibition:

DSC_2936

Memories of Muizenberg  is coming to San Diego!

After successful runs in South Africa, Israel, the UK, Australia and Canada, the exhibition is about to hit the USA.

Muizenberg-Exhibit_print-s

Visit the KehilaLink for more on Muizenberg:

kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/muizenberg

Litvaks On The Move

Lithtours

Visit: litvak-portal

Posted on

Jeppestown Walking Tour

Ishvara Dhyan’s walking tour of Doornfontein two weeks ago was fabulous – a highlight of my visit to South Africa.

I will be posting my photographic memories of it shortly

Ish is leading another tour this weekend. I am not sure if there are places available, but email him at:

ancientsecrets@absamail.co.za

This is what he says:

Screen Shot 2016-02-25 at 12.13.30 AM

    The Jeppestown Walk  ~ on Saturday 27th Feb 2016

     ..will begin at 10 am  

     we are meeting at the HOUSE of BAOBAB No 20 Kruger St 

      at the Maboneng Precinct near Arts on Main – 

       there is secure parking in the surrounding streets.. the walk ends at the same place at approx 13h30 

 

   Jeppestown is Johannesburgs oldest residential suburb. (1889)

  We will visit many places of historical & cultural interest on the walk, including :

* the mosaics at Maboneng Precinct by artist Hannelie Coetzee
* the Jooste & Bryants Building ( Victorian Beauty)

* the Mentis Building ( Art Nouveau ) 
* the Jozi Mall ( Somali shops – designed as a result of xenophobia )
* old Jewish shops & homes of Jeppestown
* the scenes of the 2008 xenophobic attacks
* the Anglican Church – Joburgs oldest (still functioning) church
* the restaurant used in the movie “ Long Walk to Freedom “  
* traditional herbalist shops of Zulu Inyangas 
* scene of the Jeppestown massacre 2006

* the first Lithuanian Shul 1903 – 1926
* the Main Jeppestown Synagogue 1926 -2002
* Salisbury House – Philosophy school 1903
* St James Preparatory School 1905 

We return to the Maboneng Precinct for an optional lunch  at your own expense

( Senegalese buffet ) at ” The House of Boabab ”  restaurant.
 
Cost : R150-00 per person

Posted on

Claremont Shul, Cape Town

My Litvaks on the Move talk took place at Claremont Shul last Sunday night.

An audience of about 80, mostly of Litvak heritage, attended the presentation.

Question time was held afterwards. Discussion centred around finding ones shtetl.

Thanks go to Rabbi Matthew Liebenberg and Steven Sherman for organising this most successful event.

[huge_it_slider id=”48″]

Images of the evening’s talk

[huge_it_slider id=”49″]

The main synagogue

[huge_it_slider id=”50″]

[huge_it_slider id=”53″]

The small shul

[huge_it_slider id=”51″]

Walls covered with the history of both Claremont and Wynberg Shuls

[huge_it_slider id=”52″]

[huge_it_slider id=”54″]

Images from the archives at the Kaplan Centre, UCT.

My thanks to the librarian, Juan-Paul Burke, for his assistance and allowing me to use this amazing material housed at the Kaplan Centre.

 

Jerry Z Bar

Jerry Zinn’s barmitzvah photo in 1953. Jerry is not in the photo!

Posted on

Litvak Hangout with Cape Town & Kedainiai: A Unique Event!

On 11 February 2016, a unique event will take place!

Screen Shot 2016-02-10 at 10.30.00 PM

Two quite different schools on opposite sides of the world, will link up in a Litvak Hangout.

A joint session between students of Herzlia, the Jewish Day School in Cape Town, South Africa and those of Atzalyno Gimnazija, a high school in Kedainiai, Lithuania will be held at 11am South African and Lithuanian time.

Eli Rabinowitz will make some introductory comments about Jews of Lithuania and South Africa and how the Litvaks got to SA.

Three of the Lithuanian students will talk about the Jewish history, the importance of Kedainiai and the Jewish sites in the town.

Three Herzlia students will talk about their Lithuanian heritage, their family shtetl, and when and how their family came to SA.

And then we will talk about the future!

Click here for the link to watch this event live on YouTube:

http://youtu.be/dvnv7q6arAY

Several people around the world have been working hard to make this event happen:

Laima Ardaviciene, the English teacher at Atzalyno in Kedainiai

Mark Helfrich, Curriculum Head at United Herzlia Schools, Cape Town

Steve Sherman, Chief Imagination Officer at Living Maths, Cape Town

Eli Rabinowitz, Perth Australia.

Read more about Eli’s bond with Atzalyno:

http://elirab.me/australia/my-bond-with-atzalyno-gimnazija-a-school-in-kedainiai-2/

Posted on

My bond with Atzalyno Gimnazija, a school in Kedainiai

pizap.com14326572232231

The students take me on a multicultural tour of Kedainai, the last stop being the two former synagogue complex, one of only a handful in Lithuania. The centre is run by Rimantas Zirgulis, director of the Museum and includes a permanent Jewish display, one of the first towns in Lithuania to do so.

The video report on a Lithuanian TV channel with a synopsis in English by two of the students: Juste & Julija

Kedainiu Zinios 7:21 – 9:55 – meeting at our school
The English teacher Laima Ardavičienė surprises her students every single lesson. She is diversifying her lessons with various tasks and even guests.
Laima says, „ Last year I was working on a project and the main idea was to introduce different cultures to students. I found a video of Jewish weddings which reflected Jewish traditions. After watching this video, I asked the author if I was able to use it and I got shocked when he replied „ Laima, you can use it. By the way, you can be really surprised, but I‘m rooted in Kėdainiai“. The author of the video was our guest Eli Rabinowitz. It‘s the second time Eli Rabinowitz is visiting our school. Last year he was a participant in our project too, while students were learning about different communities in Kėdainiai. Meetings like this never end. We keep in touch via skype and have skype meetings with students.

An article in the Lithuanian press:

Anglų kalbos pamokos kitaip
Iš arčiau 2015/05/29 by Vilija Mockuvienė
Vieni „Atžalyno“ gimnazijos mokiniai mokytojos Laimos Ardavičienės anglų kalbos pamokų laukia su baime, kiti – su džiaugsmu. Gimnazistai žino, kad šios patyrusios pedagogės pamokose nebus nei nuobodulio, nei tuščio laiko leidimo.
Paįvairindama pamokas „Atžalyno“ gimnazijos mokytoja Laima Ardavičienė į Kėdainius pakvietė Australijoje gyvenantį žydą E. Rabinovičių, kuris turi sąsajų su šiuo miestu ir mielai bendrauja su jaunimu.

For further see:
http://muge.eu/anglu-kalbos-pamokos-kitaip/

My images are supplemented with some provided by Vilius, a delightfully engaging student, who would like one day, to have sports photography business, possibly in South Africa!

[huge_it_slider id=”19″]

 

Back