Jacob (Jack) Cohen and His Family

Jacob (Jack) Cohen, whose Hebrew name was Jaacov ben Moshe, was the youngest of four sons born to Moses Michael Cohen (son of Chaim Shalom) and Sarah Rebecca Cohen (née Kaplan). Moses Michael Cohen was born in Courland, in the town of Schonberg (now Skaistkalne, Latvia), near the present-day Lithuanian border. He later emigrated to South Africa and died in Kimberley in 1933, aged 69, where he had been hospitalized. His death certificate lists him as a retired merchant.

​

His wife, Sarah Rebecca (also known as Sarie), was born in Pokroi (Pakruojis), Lithuania, where the couple married. She was the daughter of Abe Kaplan and died in 1934 at the age of 71. She is buried in Bloemhof.

​

During their years in South Africa, Moses Michael and Sarah Rebecca lived in Bloemhof and Vryburg. 

The Cohen family had multiple connections to Vryburg, particularly through business and residence.

​

The Cohen Siblings

Moses Michael and Sarah Rebecca had four sons:

1. Maximillian Isaac Cohen (Max)

2. Harris Bernard Cohen

3. Solomon Joseph Cohen

4. Jacob (Jack) Cohen

 

The Cohens in the Hotel and Liquor Business

According to Graham Brodovcky’s notes on Vryburg’s Jewish hoteliers, the International Hotel was owned by Moses Cohen, although evidence suggests that Moses and his two sons jointly owned it at different times, with registered ownership changing between 1919 and 1924.

​

Archival records show that in 1919, Maximillian Isaac Cohen took over the Savoy Hotel and its liquor license from Harry Radomsky (son of Bernard and Edith). In 1913 Harry Radomsky was married in Adelaide in the Eastern Cape - a place that the Lieberthal and Fredman clan resided in. In 1920, Harris Bernard Cohen assumed the liquor license from his brother Max and retained it until 1924, when it was transferred to David Samuel Cohen.

​

It is important to note that David Samuel Cohen was not related to the Vryburg Cohens. He was born in Warsaw, the son of Nissel and Rose Cohen, and appears to have partnered with Morris Friedman before later operating a bioscope. His connection to Vryburg may have been through Solomon’s Stores, as his sister Millie married into the Schneier family, which was associated with the family-owned Solomon’s Stores at the time.

​

Marriage records indicate that in 1933 Maximillian Isaac Cohen was still managing a local bottle store. He married Ida Goldinger from Hazenpoth (Aizpute), also in Courland, in 1933. She was the daughter of Isaac Goldinger. Maximillian Isaac (Max), appears to have farmed in the district until 1955, though he had only limited involvement with the Jewish community. Ida passed away in Bloemfontein in 1950. Max Isaac died in 1975 and was also buried in Bloemfontein. 

​

Jacob (Jack) Cohen and Fanny Manoim

Jacob (Jack) Cohen married Fanny Manoim in 1929. At the time of their marriage, Jack was living in Zeerust, while Fanny was residing in Johannesburg. Fanny Manoim was the daughter of Philip and Rachel Manoim, who had ten children. Her sister, Esther Manoim, married Jacob (Jack) Perel, linking the Manoim and Perel families both through marriage and business.

​

From 1927 to 1929, Jack and Fanny co-owned the Grand Hotel together with Jack’s brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jacob (Jack) Perel and Esther Manoim. After selling his share in the hotel, Jack worked as a bookkeeper for several local businesses owned by Jewish families.

​

The couple later moved to Wepener, where Jack owned a local hotel.

Both Jack and Fanny Cohen died in 1976 and are buried in the local cemetery.

Children and Community Life

Jacob and Fanny had two sons:

• Philip Cohen (Shraga ben Jaacov)

• Gerald Cohen (Zelig ben Jacob)

Both sons were active members of the Jewish community. Gerald was particularly well known for having his own boereorkes.​​