Continental Friends

There follow reports from recent get-togethers.

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

Northern Groups

Bradford Continental Friends

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

Bradford’s Jewish immigrants
Most of our (growing) membership was able to come for Stephen Tendkow’s riveting talk on the contribution to the wealth and culture of the evolving city of Bradford by German immigrants 1830-1890, many of whom were Jewish.

Broughton/Crumpsall Continental Friends

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Cheshire Continental Friends

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Didsbury Continental Friends

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Edinburgh

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Visit to exhibition in Germany
Vivien Anderson spoke about her recent visit to Germany to attend the opening of the touring exhibition ‘Legalisierter Raub: Der Fiskus und die Ausplünderung der Juden in Hessen 1933-1945’. The exhibition, about the involvement of the tax authorities in the dispossession of the Jews, features the story of a local family in each new venue. At its current location, in Rotenburg a.d. Fulda, it features a large display devoted to members of Vivien’s family.Vivien Anderson spoke about her recent visit to Germany to attend the opening of the touring exhibition ‘Legalisierter Raub: Der Fiskus und die Ausplünderung der Juden in Hessen 1933-1945’. The exhibition, about the involvement of the tax authorities in the dispossession of the Jews, features the story of a local family in each new venue. At its current location, in Rotenburg a.d. Fulda, it features a large display devoted to members of Vivien’s family.

Glasgow

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

Glasgow victory celebration
Members joined in celebrating the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany at the Café Cossachok, which annually hosts the Russian Day of Victory. Violinist Lev Atlas, accompanied on the accordion by George Gajjic, delighted us with his virtuoso playing of Russian melodies, followed by nostalgic songs by the magnificent young baritone Aleksey Gusev.

Harrogate

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A wonderful afternoon in each other’s company
Guided by Susanne Green, we spent a wonderful afternoon in each other’s company. Eugene told us about his visits around the country attending Holocaust Memorial Day services and acting as speaker. Rosl reported on a service at the Central Methodist Hall in York. In addition, we recalled our first meeting in Harrogate over seven years ago.

Hull

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Remembering D-Day
Meeting on 6 June, the anniversary of D-Day, we remembered the day as well as the war years. Recently it was announced that Hull had suffered over 80 raids, making it one of the most bombed cities in the country. We who lived through those dark days remember D-Day with gratitude.

Leeds

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Excellent tea and entertainment at Yorkshire Chanukah Party
The excellent entertainment provided by David Apfel was followed by a sumptuous tea. Ruth Rogoff narrated the story of Chanukah, after which we lit candles and sang Maor Tsur. Members from Bradford, Halifax, Harrogate, Leeds, Sheffield and York thoroughly enjoyed meeting each other.

Leeds (Continental Friends)

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

Differences in outlook?
A full house for a very interesting meeting on the subject ‘Is there a difference in outlook between those who came to the UK under school age and those over school age? Is there a difference in outlook and achievements between those brought up in a family and those who had no family in the UK?’ Also, Trude Silman told us about her visit to the Isle of Man to see the exhibition ‘Forced Journeys: Artists in Exile, 1933-1945&rsquo.

Liverpool

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Liverpool fellow Kindertransportees

Naomi Brown, daughter of AJR member Kay Fyne, kindly made her home available for our meeting. Lady Milena Grenfell Baines, speaking about events 70 years ago, was on the last Kindertransport out of Czechoslovakia and met up with fellow passenger, Liverpool AJR member Hannah Eardley.

Manchester (Continental Friends)

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Fight or Flight’
Prof Eve Rosenhaft of Liverpool University, speaking on the topic ‘Fight or Flight’, provided insight into the dilemmas our parents faced after Hitler came to power. Members related their own experiences as remembered from their youth.

Newcastle

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Witness in Palestine
Serving in the British army in 1946 at the age of 20, David Hughes was posted to Cyprus just as Holocaust survivors were arriving and being held captive on the island to prevent their entry to Palestine. We were privileged to hear at first hand his vivid description of the events he witnessed when the ships arrived in Famagusta harbour. One of his six books is a fictional story inspired by the little-known history he was involved in. To this day David feels personal guilt that Holocaust survivors were further incarcerated on the orders of the British government of the time.

Northern Region Groups

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Northern Groups and Leeds HSFA joint event
The annual joint event of AJR Northern Groups and Leeds HSFA, held in Salford, began with two brief introductory talks, following which participants divided into groups for discussions on 'Early Life in Britain and What People Have Done since Arriving in the UK', 'Claims', and 'Through the Eyes of the Second Generation'. There followed a break for lunch and a talk by John Minnion entitled 'Hitler's List' - brief accounts, illustrated by cartoons, of eminent people stigmatised by the Nazis as persons of inferior race and compelled to leave Germany. The afternoon was again taken up with discussion groups, on 'Revisiting One's Country of Origin', 'Jewish Influence on European Culture' and 'Heritage, Origins, Genealogy, Roots'. All participants then reassembled for brief reports by the discussion group facilitators. A tea marked the end of a successful occasion.

Sheffield

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The ill-fated St Louis
Gisela Feldman recalled her journey on the SS St Louis, a German liner bound for Cuba in May 1939 carrying over 900 Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany with a view to their entering the US. However, a new government in Cuba refused to allow the refugees to enter the country; the USA similarly refused; appeals to other countries by Jewish relief organisations failed too. For the Nazis, this was a stunning victory, proving the Allies didn’t want the Jews in their countries any more than he wanted them in his. The German captain had no choice but to return to Germany. At the eleventh hour, Britain, France, Belgium and Holland agreed to admit the refugees. Gisela was among the fortunate ones to land in Britain. Few of the original passengers survived.

Whitefield/Prestwich Continental Friends

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