The Roaring 1930s:
The 1930s saw a significant influx of Jewish families into Vryburg, marking a period of community growth and consolidation. Among those who arrived were Dr. Marcus and Tilly Getz (1930); Leo and Zelda Lieberthal (1930); Leah and Ephraim Hechter (1931); Pesha and Zalman Davidovitz (1931); Solly Alufowitz, brother of Pessie Davidovitz (c. 1932); and the Joffe brothers—Harry and Anne in 1933, followed by Joe in 1934. Phil and Billie Rauff arrived in 1932, while Max Cohen settled around 1937.

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Several of these newcomers were connected through family and work ties. Harry Joffe and Max Cohen both worked at Solomon’s Stores, as did Willie and Barney Levick. Notably, Max Cohen was one of Isaac Ochberg's. Ephraim Hechter’s wife and Max Cohen’s wife were first cousins; their mothers were sisters. Billie Rauff and Dolly Rosenberg were also sisters. Other arrivals during this decade included John and Dinah Weinberg (1936), Dorothy and Nathan Rosenblatt (1937), and Max Muskat (1939).

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John (Jeannot) Weinberg: A Colourful Figure

Jeannot (John) Weinberg, born in Mitau, Latvia, was a particularly colourful character. He saw action during the Anglo-Boer War, fighting with the Bloemfontein Commando at Modder River and Magersfontein. Captured by British forces, he was held as a prisoner of war in Ceylon. His father, Edward Weinberg—a hotelier in Kimberley and Bloemfontein—later travelled to Europe to negotiate his release.

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After receiving a pardon, John spent time in Europe, Bloemfontein, and Northern Rhodesia before settling in Kuruman. In 1912 he attended an officer’s course and joined the Kalahari Horse Regiment, ultimately serving as a Captain in the South-West Africa campaign of 1914. In 1920 he married Dina Isaacson of Kimberley at the Kimberley Shul. He relocated to Vryburg in 1936 and purchased the International Hotel, which he sold in 1944 to the Allen and Brodovcky families.

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Additional Residents and Community Life

Laurie and Hannah Jocum arrived in 1938, though they did not affiliate with the synagogue. Hannah, originally from Kimberley, retained close ties with that community. Harry Jacobson married Regina Lewis in 1937 and appears to have been based in Stella at the time. Records also mention Louis Simon Friedman, a Jewish lawyer with his own firm in 1937, unrelated to the Lieberthal–Friedman family.

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The Stellelander provides valuable glimpses into Jewish life during this period. In 1935, the Stellelander's 1935 Jewish New Years include Mr. and Mrs. Chas (Charles) Lazarus; Mr. and Mrs. P. Hoffman; Solomon and Annie Wailer of the Central Hotel; Louis Singer a bachelor employed by Harry Joffe; Morris Edelstein, who farmed at Steinsrust; and L. Nowitz—likely Louis Novitz, who Anglicised his name from Leisers Novosecs to Louis Novitz in 1935.

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The 1932 Stellelander noted that Izzy Traub, brother of Elias and son of Isaac Traub of Beaufort West, departed for Cape Town. Bernard and Eva Goodman (née Lemkus), with Bernard working as a pharmacist, lived in Vryburg from 1934 to 1938. Their daughter Jacqueline was born there in 1935.

 

Building the Community: A Snapshot from 1939

A list of donors to the synagogue building fund and service subscriptions from 1939, preserved by Graham Brodovcky, provides a snapshot of the Jewish population at the time. Those identified include H. Adler and his wife Rosalie; S. Becker; Joseph Berman and his wife Nadia (Gluckman); Sister Brodziak (née Senderovitz of Taung, married to Dr. Brodziak, who was not Jewish); Morris Edelstein (farmer); Mickey Folb and Harry Fish (both barmen); and J. Gabbe—presumably Jeannot Gabbe.

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Others on the list were Elias Helfer (in the region since 1910); P. Jacobson; Bernard Jaffit and Jack Jaffit; S. Joffee (likely from Kuruman); Morris Kaplan; Mike Klein (related to the Kimberley Klein family); B. Kruger (employed at Headerman’s); Lazar Levinsohn (a butcher from Taung who married into the Bayer family); and Hans Liebenstein, a German refugee who settled in Vryburg.

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Also mentioned were A.M. Lazarus, a teacher who later died during World War II; Abe Milstein, a friend of Rabbi Slonim; Nathan Mendelow; a Paltsky; S. Phillips; Arthur Savell (brother of Sonia Friedman), who married Anna Juanita Howitz; Jack Silbert; Solomon Sochen, who married Sylvia Sefor in 1938; J. Tillen (Joseph Gerald Tillen), a general dealer who arrived in 1933 and left for the United States in 1940; Charles Toube; David Wilks (father of Samuel Harry Wilks, who was Stella based); C. Winekow; and Arthur Lewis, who owned the Premier Bottle Store in 1938 and later served as Chairman of the Johannesburg Taxi Association.

 

We have a refence in 1933 to Hyman Hodes who was a storekeeper at Gibeon in the district and married to Sadie Wainer .The Hodes family lived in the region. Meyer Max Hodes was born in Vryburg. His parents, Aaron Louis and Hannah (nee Farfel) were married in Schweizer-Reneke in 1921 and were both from Bloemhof.  The Farfel family were from Ponidel (Pandelys) in Lithuania. The Hodes family are from Pikeliai in Lithuania. From the Government Gazette of 18 August 1922 we learn that they had a store at Fairview in the District.

 

We have Isaac Spitz. He and his wife Gerty (Marovitz) owned the Premier Bottle Store. The Spitz family were from Plungian. The earliest reference to Spitz is a Government Gazette from 28 September 1928, living in the Taungs district. All told, he lived in the region for two decades. In 1935 there is reference to Israel Davidson applies to be naturalised from Amalia. He was born in in Joniskis (Lithuania). In 1935. Cecil Chernin (1906-1964) owned Bechuanaland Chemist. He was the son of Isaac Jacob and Annie (nee Kolplowiz) from Wakkerstroom. There is also a 1936 reference to JW Rosettenstein who had a farm in the district.​

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The Synagogue is Built

As early as 1918, the Northern News observed: “The Jewish community at Mafikeng intend erecting a synagogue. Why not one in Vryburg?” This sense of local aspiration culminated in the construction of the Vryburg synagogue in 1939.

According to the Jewish Life Study, the capital-raising campaign began in 1937. By 1939, £916.50 had been raised from both current residents and former community members. Even non-Jewish supporters contributed, including Jannie Niemand, a soap-maker at the Lieberthal factory, as well as the Elliot, Harrows, and Jeppe families. The Lieberthals donated the land for both the synagogue and the rabbi’s residence.

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The cornerstone was laid on Sunday, 5 November 1939—just two months after the outbreak of World War II. The building was formally inaugurated in June 1940 by the Jewish Member of Parliament, Morris Alexander. The total cost of the project was £2,800. From the report carried by the Stellelander on the grand opening, we also learn that the "Guild Hall, which is to serve the congregation as a place of worship, until a synagogue is later erected......" That never materialized. 

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A Communal Hub

The building, named in honour of Simon Lieberthal, served as both synagogue and communal hall. There was also a room for Cheder lessons. The complex also included a home for the rabbi too. Weekly services were held in the Lieberthal family home prior to the construction of the synagogue. Avi Hechter notes: "Before the shul was built the prayers were held in Simon Lieberthal’ s house. To me it seemed to be a few families living next to one another."The Holy Ark could be closed off for social functions. An exposed mikvah was located on the grounds, partially shielded by fig trees. Myra Sutin (Joffe) recalls that Rabbi Kemelman joked that the mikvah was his swimming pool. Pearl Kaplan, daughter of Rabbi Kay, remembered: “Between our house and the shul was our ‘swimming pool’. Only later did I realise it was actually a mikvah… Maybe because of that, I have been running a mikvah in Johannesburg for over twenty years!”

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Given the community’s size—approximately 45 families—it was well proportioned. How do I deduce this number?  ​In 1939 the subscriptions and donations to the shul were made by 55 families. Not all those who paid were living there. Two known visitors were Klawansky (probably Jack Klewansky) and Sklaar, presumed to be visiting his daughters, Dollye and Billy, who lived in Vryburg. 

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Leadership and Legacy

Before the synagogue was built, services were held in the Lieberthal home. Simon and Lea Lieberthal provided steadfast leadership and hospitality, widely remembered as the “doyens” of the community. Sunday afternoon gatherings at their home were a regular feature of Jewish social life in Vryburg. In the 1950s, Mike Allen served as president of the Vryburg Hebrew Congregation, followed by Jack Katz (1961–1966) and then Harold Scheckter.

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