Rosh Hashanah 2009 - South African Jewish Board of Deputies

JEWISH AFFAIRS ROSH HASHANAH 2009Within a fortnight the first contribution of £8 17s 6dwas received. 1 Yet notwithstanding institutionalsupport and that of the wealthier patrons, it was notedat a meeting in May 1912 that the majority of thesubscribers came from the poorer section of thecommunity, proving how necessary this institutionwas to Cape Jewry at large. Anyone donating £50 ormore was eligible to endow a bed that would bear aplaque bearing the donor’s name. The beds, however,could only be endowed in the name of living people;the names of those deceased person would beinscribed on a Memorial Board at the entrance.The task of finding a suitable house was not easy.Committee President Joseph Kadish offered a housethat he owned in Mill Street, but it did not have anygrounds and with the shop attached could onlyaccommodate between 12 and 14 children. 2 A housein Hatfield Street belonging to the Cape Town HebrewCongregation that could accommodate fifty orphanswas initially favored, but it was considered to be toocentral and the congregation was not agreeable. 3 Acertain Louis Elias, a member of the Grand Order ofIsrael, offered a plot 80’ by 100’ in Upper MillStreet. 4 This offer, which was bound to the conditionthat the ground only be used for an orphanage, wasfinally abandoned. 5As no other houses were available, it was decidedto use Kadish’s Mill Street house from 11 December1911. 6 Renovations were immediately set in motionand the house was soon equipped by generousdonations of linoleum, furniture, beds linen, toys,and books. The Orphanage was opened in February1912 by Colonel David Harris. Colonel Harris, whilebeing deeply sensitive to the complement paid tohim, “regretted that such an institution was not keptby the state” and that, as it was sectarian, it wouldonly be supported by the Jewish community. Still he“hoped that they would receive outside support, asthe Jew had always proved himself to be a reliever ofhuman suffering.” 7By June 1913, the house in Mill Street wasrunning out of space. 8 It was proposed that plansshould be put forward for the erection of a buildingthat could accommodate fifty orphans. 9 Two plotswere considered: the first was in Upper Mill Streetthat could be leased from the Cape Town Municipalityat a nominal fee, and the second was in MontroseAvenue in Oranjezicht, that was far more expensivebut could be bought outright. Reservations wereexpressed about the possible penetration of Coloredsinto Upper Mill Street, as well as the possibility ofthe area becoming more industrial. It was decidedthat the Oranjezicht plot would be the better asset,and it was duly purchased. 10 South Africa GovernorGeneral Lord Buxton laid the foundation stone of thenew building. 11With the flue epidemic of 1918, an extension tothe building was envisaged. 12 The following year, itwas reported that there was space for another threemore boys and six more girls. 13 In January 1920, ascheme was outlined to build on two extra wings thatwould each be able to accommodate thirty sixchildren. 14 In February 1921, just before the arrivalof the Ukrainian orphans, it was reported that therewere 51 children from 19 different families in thehome. 15Even before advertisements were put in the paperfor applicants, the committee made sure to ascertainwhether there were any Jewish orphans who werebeing kept at any of the Christian orphan asylums inthe city, such as the St John’s Home, Nazareth Houseor the All Saints Home. One Jewish girl was locatedResidents of the Cape Jewish Orphanage, as they appeared in a Rosh Hashanah fundraising, 1920.20