Bloemhof's Jews- a glimpse
Remembering our past.
The forgotten Jews
The charming town of Bloemhof in the Northwest Province is home to a Jewish cemetery that contains 37 graves. Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft, known as the Travelling Rabbi, has committed himself to preserving this cemetery and many others in the area. This project aims to support Rabbi Silberhaft's foundational work. Although Bloemhof no longer has a Jewish population, it once had a vibrant community, and the cemetery remains its last remnant.
For insights into the history of the local Jewish community, the SA Friends of Beit Hatfutsot Study is a valuable resource, offering a glimpse into various rural communities. A forthcoming publication (Volume 7) will cover this fascinating community.
The purpose of this website is to share the stories of those interred in Bloemhof, thereby enhancing and supporting the significant contributions of the Beit Hatfutsot study and the important work of the Rabbi. You can think of this as an archaeological dig of sorts. The local cemetery also served the Jewish community living in the surrounding areas, including Wolmaransstad, Leeudoringstad, and Schweizer Reineke. Although Schweizer Reineke did not have its own Jewish cemetery, two members of the Stern family, who farmed in Palchoma, are buried there. They were German Jews.
Rudolph Stern (died in 1900) and his son Samuel (died in 1935), who married Agnes Mary Glen) are buried in Schweizer Reineke. Rudolph Stern's wife, Henny (Fels), is buried in the Cape. The most famous member of the family was artist Irma Stern. Nearby Maquassi / Makwassie had its own synagogue and Jewish cemetery.
Why focus on Bloemhof?
Proximity to my hometown of Vryburg has sparked a personal interest in exploring the lives and stories of those laid to rest in the local Jewish cemetery. This includes individuals who passed away unmarried and without descendants to remember them. Notably, some families had connections between Vryburg and Bloemhof, such as the Cohens. Additionally, my great-uncle Louis Sussman, a wanderer or hobo, considered Bloemhof his home base. For a time, Victor Ressman of Bloemhof served as our spiritual leader, conducting services during the high holidays.
It's important to note that not all Jews who passed away in Bloemhof are buried in the local cemetery. For example, in Vryburg, some individuals were laid to rest in larger cities where they received medical care or had relatives. Among these are Samuel Abrahams, who died in 1918, and Moses Cohen, who was buried in Kimberley in 1920, while his wife Sadie rests in Bloemhof. Additionally, Julius Crook, from Libau, Latvia, passed away in 1921, followed by Jane Berkowitz in 1937, Minnie Urdang (née Cohen), who died in 1949, and Julius Rosin, also in 1949.
Joseph Samons, born in Vexnai, Lithuania, passed away in Wolmaransstad in 1950; he had married outside of his faith. Other local Jews who died in Wolmaransstad include Marcus Samuel Rubenstein (1918) and Julius Eisenhammer, who farmed at Vliegkraal and died in 1942. Harry Grek passed away in 1960, and Joseph Santekovski from Klerksdorp died in Wolmaransstad in 1900. In 1918, Morris Bermann from Johannesburg died in Maquassi Hospital and was buried in the local cemetery. Additionally, three-month-old Cecil Bernard Girdy, the son of Mendel and Rose Ephel, is also buried there. Sam Levitan (from Libau) passed away in 1943 at Leeuwdoringstad.
