Jewish Businesses in Vryburg

A significant number of Jewish residents played an important role in Vryburg’s economic life through commerce and small industry, starting in the early twentieth century.

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Hides and skins:

Many Jewish individuals were involved in the trade of skins. Early traders included W. and M. Friedman (active as early as 1916), Abe Lax, Chanan Poliak, and Morris Wald. By the 1930s, A.M. Wald was operating as a produce merchant, located between Solomon’s Stores and the Lounge Café.

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Wholesale and Retail.

Harry Joffe left Solomon’s Stores in 1938 to establish a series of successful enterprises. His first venture was Die Boerehelpmekaar, founded in partnership with Percy Gollop and later managed by Sam Horwitz. Harry also co-founded Vryburg Wholesalers with Max Cohen. Like Headermans and Solomon’s, these businesses employed many Jewish residents. Myra Sutin recalls traveling with her mother to Johannesburg to purchase dresses for the store.

Harry Joffe’s third and most successful venture was Bechuanaland Malt and Milling, which was later listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and, at one point, was managed by Norman Lazarus. For Harry, this company represented a return to his roots, as his late father, Meyer, had owned a supply shop for animal feed in Panevežys.​

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Joe Joffe founded Central Furniture, while Sydney Immerman owned a bicycle store. Silbert’s Bazaar, run by Jack Silbert, functioned as a gift store. During his time in Vryburg, Jack Silbert owned a gift shop. Mike Klein ran Bargain Bazaar on Market Street. In the 1920s, the local cinema was owned by the D.S. Cohen family, who also operated a café. There were several Jewish jewellers in Vryburg. The Blumberg brothers, David and Joseph, each operated their own stores. Vryburg Tailors of Distinction was owned by the Levine family. We also had the Goldburg brothers raining tailor stores. 

 

Garages:

The motor trade was also represented. Phil Rauff owned Bechuanaland Motors, while Harold Scheckter owned Kalahari Motors and later acquired Bechuanaland Motors, which was located near the Grand Hotel. Kalahari Motors and the Mazda dealership were situated close to Solomon’s Stores; loyalty to the Mazda brand was fierce.

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Bottle Stores:

The Rauff family owned Noordkaap Wynkelders (wine cellars), while Abbie Lewis owned the Premier Bottle Store. Another owner of this establishment was Isaac Spitz and Arthur Lewis. Luidwig Solomon also owned a bottle store as did Julius Rosenblatt (1910). In 1918, Elias Helfer obtained the Gleluk license, which Morris Bayer took over a year later. In 1919, David Smollan took over the license. He held that license until at least 1926. Max Sonnenberg also had a license as late as 1919. Before becoming a hotelier, Harry Jacobson owned a bottle store in Stella. Jack Silbert also operated bottle stores in the 1920s.​

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Jewish Professionals in Vryburg

Jewish residents were also well represented among Vryburg’s professionals, particularly in healthcare and law.

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Healthcare professionals included dentists such as Max Muscat; doctors including Stolly Hoffman, David Rom, and Marcus Getz; and pharmacists Goodman, Eppelstein, Rosenblatt, Karstead, and Smollan. Casewell’s Pharmacy, owned by Nathan (“Rosie”) Rosenberg, occupied a prominent position on Market Street. Nathan Rosenberg was also an optometrist. There was at least one Jewish veterinarian, Charlie Osrin.

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A document written by the renowned pilot Scully Levin—of the Flying Lions Aerobatic Team—recounts the remarkable story of Dr Max Muscat, who pioneered flying dentistry. Scully Levin’s uncle was himself a Vryburg hotelier.

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The legal profession was similarly represented. Herman Rosenblatt was a prominent lawyer in the early 1900s, while L.S. Friedman practised law in the late 1930s. Anney Garnett discovered a notice in The Stellelander relating to legal work performed by L.S. Friedman on behalf of Morris Grace. As previously noted, Messrs Kahn and Hammerschlag operated a legal practice in Kuruman.

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