Continental Friends

There follow reports from recent get-togethers.

For information about meetings email Susan Harrod - susan@ajr.org.uk

Southern Groups

Birmingham (West Midlands)

for further information, contact esther@ajr.org.uk

Afternoon tea in West Midlands (Birmingham)
At our meeting back in March, Ilse Schlesinger, one of our members, most generously entertained us to afternoon tea in her home. Thank you, Inge!

Brighton and Hove (Sarid)

for further information, contact esther@ajr.org.uk

Cradle of Ashkenazi Jewry’
Ivor Richards talked about his visit to the ‘cradle of Ashkenazi Jewry’: Mainz, Worms and Speyer, towns which gave us community sages such as Rabainu Gershon, the author of the law against bigamy, and the famous Rashi

Bristol and Bath

for further information, contact myrna@ajr.org.uk

Childhood in Vienna
Following a delicious lunch, thanks to Mr and Mrs Balint-Kurti’s warm hospitality, we heard Otto Deutsch’s moving recollections of his childhood in Vienna and his report on a recent visit to the city. This led to a stimulating discussion of our experiences with the present-day generation of Germans and Austrians.

Bromley Continental Friends

for further information, contact hazel@ajr.org.uk

Cambridge

for further information, contact hazel@ajr.org.uk

Diversity of faiths
The Diversity of Faiths’ was the subject of a superb talk by Rabbi Daniela Thau. We were captivated by her explanation of the major religions of the last 7,000 years.

Cardiff

for further information, contact myrna@ajr.org.uk

Bertha Leverton of Kindertransport
Our special guest, Bertha Leverton, explained how and why she had become so interested in the Kindertransport. She left home in Munich at the age of 16 and had the joy of seeing her parents again later, in contrast with so many others whose parents never made it.

Cleve Road

for further information, contact myrna@ajr.org.uk

Cleve Road talk by Helen Fry
Our speaker, Helen Fry, and I first met during the production of the book The Lost Jews of Cornwall, of which she was an editor and to which I contributed. This led to her next book, The King's Most Loyal Enemy Aliens – on Austrians and Germans who fought for Britain in WW2. A highly recommended read.

Edgware

for further information, contact hazel@ajr.org.uk

Kitchener camp
Prof Clare Ungerson gave some of the audience a chance to relive their time after coming to this country as refugees. The first residents in Kitchener camp, in Sandwich, Kent, were young men who kept it going; no family members could join them. Each man had to contribute to the wellbeing of the camp, whether by physical work or cultural activities.

Essex

for further information, contact esther@ajr.org.uk

An accordionist in Essex
We were entertained magnificently by Tony Compton on the accordion. Some of the girls even danced to the enthralling tunes! It was a morning none of us is likely to forget.

Hampstead Garden Suburb

for further information, contact hazel@ajr.org.uk

HGS Middle East briefing
The Israeli Embassy’s Robin Hamilton-Taylor gave a most informative update on Israel and the Palestinians and Iran’s nuclear ambitions. It is increasingly absurd to deny that Iran is working on the development of nuclear weapons and that, if it were to succeed, it would use these against Israel

Hendon

for further information, contact hazel@ajr.org.uk

A ‘hidden disability’
Audiologist Robert Beiny told us loss of hearing affects people of all ages. Though 50 per cent of the over-60s need hearing aids, there is much resistance to the idea of wearing them. Unlike blindness, deafness is a ‘hidden disability’.

Ilford

for further information, contact myrna@ajr.org.uk

Early life of youth leader
Redbridge Community Youth Leader Revital Shloman told us about her early life in Tel Aviv, where she was born. Her family have roots in both Greece and Turkey. We found her talk inspiring.

Kent

for further information, contact myrna@ajr.org.uk

Weald of Kent talk on English-Jewish history
We enjoyed a fascinating talk on ‘Jews in England from the time of Disraeli’ by Susannah Alexander, former Education Officer of the Jewish Museum. The session covered immigration, Zionism and Judaism today.

Kingston Continental Friends

for further information, contact hazel@ajr.org.uk

Kingston CF enjoyable afternoon meeting
We had another enjoyable afternoon meeting at the home of Joe and Margot Allan. Twelve of us, including new members Eve and Susan, exchanged news and experiences and discussed plans for future meetings.

North London

for further information, contact hazel@ajr.org.uk

Coram's Children
Thousands of babies were abandoned until Thomas Coram established the Foundling Hospital in 1739. Jane King gave an often heart-rending account of the work of this institution. It was especially interesting to learn of the involvement of Hogarth and Handel, among others, in raising funds.

Norwich (Norfolk)

for further information, contact myrna@ajr.org.uk

Norfolk happy breed
This happy breed of AJR members discussed a visit to Berlin - hitherto the very sound of German gave one the shivers. Frank spoke of a moving performance by Felixstowe sixth-formers of the journey by cattle truck to Auschwitz. Myrna and helpers ensured the inner man and woman were well served.

Nottingham (East Midlands)

for further information, contact esther@ajr.org.uk

Enjoyable East Midlands lunch meeting
Another enjoyable lunch meeting was held in a member’s home. We discussed the recent AJR trip to London as well as a proposed Holocaust Memorial Book dedicated to the memory of victims of Sheffield and East Midlands members’ relatives.

Oxford

for further information, contact myrna@ajr.org.uk

The Jews of Oxford
Victoria Bentata, a member of the Oxford synagogue and an official guide for the Oxford area, gave a highly interesting presentation on the history of the city’s Jewry

Pinner

for further information, contact hazel@ajr.org.uk

Put pen to paper
BoD speaker Jerry Lewis quoted a list of statistics on the 300,000 Jews living in the UK. To counteract the frequently one-sided reporting of affairs relating to Jews and Israel, he urged us to write to the authorities whenever and wherever such injustice came to our notice.

Radlett

for further information, contact esther@ajr.org.uk

Berlin Today’
Second-generation Berlin resident Ronnie Goldz gave us an illustrated talk on life as a Jew in Berlin today, including an overview of synagogues, Jewish schools and the city’s numerous Holocaust memorials.

South London

for further information, contact hazel@ajr.org.uk

South London overview of South African history
Dr Sheila Marshall gave us an overview of South Africa’s development since the 1600s. Nelson Mandela’s role and the Jewish involvement were also explained.

South West Midlands

for further information, contact myrna@ajr.org.uk

Sunday lunch with the Neubauers
Nineteen of us enjoyed a delightful Sunday lunch at the home of Richard and Wendy Neubauer in the Royal Forest of Dean. Another new member, Renate Beigel, from Vienna, had no idea that any other survivors were in the area and hadn't met any for 67 years. By chance, she met a friend of Ruth Jackson, who brought the two together, and they found much in common.

Surrey

for further information, contact myrna@ajr.org.uk

Hospitality much enjoyed
Twenty-plus of us enjoyed once again the hospitality of Jutta and Vernon Saunders. The bonus of holding the coffee morning indoors was that one could admire Jutta’s lovely paintings in detail.

Temple Fortune

for further information, contact esther@ajr.org.uk

The Wiener Library
Howard Falksohn gave an informative talk on the Wiener Library’s development up to the current day. Some of the key figures involved in its evolution were mentioned and unusual pictures and documentation from the archives shown.

Welwyn Garden City

for further information, contact hazel@ajr.org.uk

Welwyn afternoon of chat and refreshments
We enjoyed an afternoon of chat and refreshments at the home of Monica Rosenbaum. We were very pleased to welcome Myrna Glass making a rare visit.

Wembley

for further information, contact myrna@ajr.org.uk

Food for thought
When is it not in the news? When it’s good news for us! The media were never even-handed. In Vienna we used to say: ‘Who is at fault? The Jew and the cyclist.’ The discussion was lively. An idea was mooted: offer your grandchild the gap year in Israel. Food for thought!

Wessex (Bournemouth)

for further information, contact myrna@ajr.org.uk

Wessex at HMD conference
Twenty of us attended the third annual HMD conference at the Pavilion. Mark Goldfinger gave a memorable keynote speech on his early life. Rev Vernon Oder, the son of an SS man, spoke too.