Mosenthals and the German Jews:

The story of South Africa's German Jews is inextricably linked to that of the Mosenthal family. The Sonnenberg's would emulate the Mosenthal story in Vryburg. The erudite and more liberal Yekke (German) Jews built the local Vryburg economy. But like so many other communities, the Jewish soul of the community was shaped by the Griner (East European) Jews. Common to both would be the intricate familial old-country links and networks that shaped their lives in Africa. 

 

The Mosenthal's were well-known traders who came from Germany and played a major role in the economic development of the Cape Colony. The first to arrive was Joseph, in 1839. In 1848 he left Cape Town for Graaf Reinet and then Aliwal North. Brothers Adolph and Julius followed. They operated out of Port Elizabeth, East London and Kimberley and owned stores in Rouxville, Boshoff, Brandfort, Jacobsdal, Ficksburg, Tabanchu and Thuenissen in the Free State. Harry, son of Adolph, was active in Kimberley.  To each location they brought landsmane. Louis Herrman's (pp. 208-212) study on the Jewish community gives an important context to the impact of this family.

 

"But it was in the realm of commerce that the Mosenthal brothers did most signal service for South Africa in the course of erecting their own fortunes. They were the principal instruments in establishing and developing a branch of commerce which was most particularly Jewish and of which the Cape, in the economic stage at which it was, stood in particular need. In many parts of Europe there had grown up during the eighteenth century a system amongst Jewish traders of establishing business houses in towns conveniently situated for the commercial exploitation of the rural resources of the surrounding district. From these centers they sent out agents, who were normally members of their own family connection, to buy collect and buy produce, for which they exchanged general merchandise." 

 

The Mosenthal brothers established a "nexus of trading houses that extended over all the eastern [Cape] and midland farming districts well into the Orange Free State." No less important, Herrman (p. 209) explains how they "were the cause, direct or indirect, of a regular migration" to South Africa of "scores of German Jewish families, mostly consisting of several brothers with their wives, and nearly all related by blood or marriage and coming from the same district, the Duchy of Hesse-Cassel, as the Mosenthal family." Herrman (p. 216) submits that the Mosenthal brothers were responsible for nearly half the Jewish migration to South Africa between 1845 and 1870. The Cassel district was divided into the four district rabbinates - Cassel, Fulda, Hanau and Marburg. 

 

Curiously, we find reference to a few so-called "natives" with the Mosenthal surname in the Vryburg district: Ben, James and George. One hypothesis is that they could be descended from families who worked for the Mosenthal family and adopted the surname. ​

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Vryburg is Sonnenberg:

The Vryburg story and the Jewish angle is synonymous with the Sonnenberg clan. The early German families to arrive were all linked and they orbited around the Sonnenberg's' and Solomons Stores. 

 

The Sonnenberg’s were German Jews, from Kaiserslautern. The first Sonnenberg to arrive in South Africa was Isaac (Ikey). He began his Cape sojourn in Aliwal North as a trader and farmer and was by then in partnership with his brother Charles (Addelson, pp. 316-317). He was then drawn to Tati Concession Lands in Northern Bechuanaland in 1869, by rumors of gold (Rosenthal, p. 105 & Rochlin 144). From there, Ikey Sonnenberg made his way to the river diggings on the Vaal River during the diamond rush of the 1870s and then onto Kimberley. Not long after, he went to the Transvaal looking for Gold in the mid-1870's.

 

His story was a common one for many European Jews who made their way to South Africa. Isaac (Ikey) Sonnenberg was truly larger than life. Louis Herrman (p. 232) recounts that Ikey was "one of the most celebrated characters at the diggings" and "noted for his gambling propensities, his quaint wit, and his kindly good nature." Ikey Sonnenberg clearly had a strong sense of Jewish identity, as evidenced by the fact that he in 1887 chaired the meeting which led to the establish the Witwatersrand Goldfields Jewish Association. Ikey Sonnenberg served on the Executive Committee that was created following this meeting (Rabinowitz, p. 167).

 

Ikey was followed to the Cape by his brother Charles and a third brother Joseph (Joe). Finally, Louis Sonnenberg would later join them. Joe however moved to Baltimore and Charles to London in 1879, after selling his interests to Cecil John Rhodes for a tidy sum. Prior to his departure for London, Charles was a stalwart of the Kimberley Jewish community, he served as the President of the Griqualand West Jewish Congregation. His wife laid the cornerstone of the Kimberley Shul in 1875 (Rosenthal, pp. 116-117). Charles would swiftly squander his gains in London and return to South Africa to rebuild his wealth. In 1884 he joined Warren's expedition to capture Stellaland, thereby reaching Vryburg. Another Jew who joined the Warren expedition was Samson Solomon, the future partner of Charles Sonnenberg in S. Solomon and Company. Later, it would come to be known as Solomon Stores.

 

Max Sonnenberg described old man Solomon as a “fine looking old gentleman with a beautiful white beard.” We have scant information on Samson Solomon. We know that Samson Solomon was married to Sophie Solomon (1853-1926). Thier daughter Annete Julia was born in Port Elizabeth in 1875 and their second daughter Luis Victoria was born in Kimberley in 1883. In 1891 the couple were covered in the England and Wales Census. They were living on Mildmay Street in Islington. His profession at the time was that of furniture dealer. The couple had 7 children: Lawrence (aged 19), Anette (aged 16), Charles (aged 15), Francis (aged 9), Rooby (aged 6), E (aged 1) and Alfred (recently born). Luis Victoria is not registered. Annie's father Isaac, a widower, was also living with them. We do not know when he left Vryburg. From what I can gather, he passed away in the England in 1921. After his death, Sophie went back to South Africa. At least three of the children, Anette, Luis and Charles, were living in South Africa. Charles Solomon died in Johannesburg in 1944 and was married to Bertha Schwartz. In his 1913 wedding certificate, he is listed as Isaac Charles. 

 

It would seem that Samson Solomon was better off financially when the two reached Vryburg. The name of the joint venture created with Charles Sonnenberg is telling. Sampson and Sophie Solomon (nee Solomon) were married in England and they had five children, Laurence Sampson, Charles, Nettie (Goldberg), Ruby (surname not clear) and Gay Luis (Weintroub). From Max Sonnenberg’s biography we know that Charles, the second eldest son, ran the business after Sampson Sampson left for the Cape. Sampson passed away in 1916 at the age of 75, implying he was born in 1841. Sophie died in 1926 at the age of 78. From Laurence’s estate we learn that he owned one third of three farms in the Vryburg district – Campden, Havant and Howden. From Laurence’s death certificate issued in 1938, we also discover that he was 66 years old and born in England in 1872. The second son Charles was born in 1876 in London. Charles married Bertha Schwartz in 1913. She was the second of five children born to Idel and Sonia Schwartz in 1892 in Minsk. Bertha Solomon was a pioneer in South African law and politics. She was one of the first practicing women advocates in the Union in 1933 she became a South African Party SAP) member of Parliament.

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By 1886 Charles Sonnenberg was elected to the local Management Council of Vryburg, which would implyh that in two years alone Charles had established himself as a popular and prominent figure. Not long after establishing this entity, Charles had moved to Klerksdorp and served as the President of the local Jewish community, established in September 1889 (Rabinowitz, p. 173). It was Max Sonnenberg who would drive this venture along with Julius Rosenblatt. 

 

Max Sonnenberg:

Max Sonnenberg and his father, Louis Sonnenberg - the brother of Charles - were the last to join the rest of the Sonnenberg family in Vryburg. Theodore Sonnenberg, Max's half-brother (born from his father Louis's first marriage) had preceded them. Theodore moved from the Cape to Kimberley to Klerksdorp and then Vryburg. In 1885 Theodore (a future Vryburg mayor) got a job with S. Solomon and Company, thanks to his uncle Charles.

 

Max Sonnenberg notes that S. Solomon and Company was the "dominant business" in the town. In 1889 Theodore returned home to Germany to marry Bertha Bing. Shortly afterwards, Max (aged 14) and his father Louis made their way to South Africa and Vryburg. Louis’s decision was based on both push and pull factors. On the one hand, his transition from school teacher to entrepreneur had floundered. Besides, Theodore, it seems, had hooked the family on South Africa and Vryburg with his tales. Max Sonnenberg notes that Theodore was an “excellent advertisement for the new country.” Furthermore, Max Sonnenberg recounts, “Theodore Sonnenberg and his sister Lina had given way to the family weakness for Africa, and during the early '80's had made their way to the Cape.” In his autobiography he also narrates that Theo and Lina sent him stamp issues from Bechuanaland. Later, Max sold his stamp collection to pay for his and his father’s way to South Africa.

 

Max also joined the staff at S. Solomon and Company. Whereas Max stayed on to work in Vryburg, his father Louis moved to “a place even more remote and lonely, to Maribogo.” Louis managed the local hotel (two rooms) and the local branch of S. Solomon & Company. Reflecting on Maribogo (or Madibogo) Max muses, “Why Maribogo ever came into existence is hard to determine, for all around the country was as flat as a pancake, the only geographical feature of any importance being a sheet of water, known as Maribogo Pan.” Later, Louis moved to Rhodesia where Solomon and Company had a branch. Theodore and Bertha moved to Madiboego at that point. Bertha's brother would also later make his was to Vryburg. 

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Both half-brothers, Max and Theo went on to play prominent roles in Vryburg's history and politics. Whereas Max rose to national eminence and left the town by 1920, Theo stayed on for many years, until his death in 1949. Theo was a long-serving local councilor and served as the mayor. 

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Bring on the Russian Jews!

Though German Yekke Jews were the pioneers, it was really the Latvian and Lithuanian Jews who made their mark on towns like Vryburg and forged a Jewish community. The English and Afrikaners made no distinction between Litvaks and Courlanders. The local Europeans viewed them as Russians.

The Russian Jews were the products of profound push and pull factors. The 1881 assassination of the Russian Czar, Alexander the Second, triggered unprecedented repression of Jews with the May Laws of 1882, by his son and successor, Alexander the Third. Expulsions and economic restrictions led to a large outflow of Jews from the Pale of Settlement, from 1882 onwards. According the Hermann (p. 250), the majority of these Jews went to the USA (85%), Britain (10%), Germany (3%) and the remaining 2% left for countries like South Africa. The pull factor was the discovery of diamonds in Kimberley 1870 and later gold in the Rand. Between 1881 to 1910, 40,000 East European Jews moved to South Africa (Gershater, p. 61).

 

Rural towns like Vryburg must have reminded many of the new arrivals of the shtetels they left behind in Europe. These included Lithuania's Plunjan or Plungian, Leliunai, Mozheik or Mažeikiai, the neighboring local of Vieksniai, Shadova, Gruzd, Shavel/Shavi, Krekenava/ Krakinovo, Židikai, Skapiskis, Rokiškis and nearby Abele / Obeliai. Latvian Jews from Talsi, Tukums, Vindava, Valdemārpils, Ilukste, Leipaja and Dvinsk / Daugvapils also came to our little "Suez Canal" of the interior.

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The bulk of the Litvak Jews who made thier way to South Africa came from six districts: Courland, Volhynia, Podolia, Kiev, Grodno, Vilna and Sulwoki (Herrman, p. 254). Remarkably, Herrman (p. 255) submits that three towns, Yanishik, Shalvi and Plunjan accounted for at least 50% of the Russian Jews. Samuel Marks was from the Sulwoki province and his success popularized South Africa for others from that area (Gershater, pp. 69-70, 73).

 

It is worth bearing in mind that many of the Jews from Riga or Kovno and other cities back in the old country, were relative newcomers to these towns and cities. They had often recently left a shtetl. Harry and Joe Joffe, for example, were born in Plunjan, but their parents moved to Paneveyzs or Ponovezh.

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The Taslen connection

Though Vryburg is identified with a German Jew, Max Sonnenberg, the story of Vryburg Jewry as a community is, in many respects, synonymous with the Lieberthal family. As we will see in the ensuing sections, Simon and Lea loomed large in this community. They were from Talsen or Talsi in Courland or Kurland. A number of Courland and Talsi families migrated to Vryburg. Dr. S. Lipschitz notes that Courland was a meeting point between the traditional Jewry of the Pale of Settlement (Lithuania was close by) and German culture. "All these developments and currents created the unique type of the Kurland Jew, often named "Kurischer" by his brethren from other parts to Latvia. It meant the Jew from the province, straightforward, not too smart, observant but not very learned, a person with a distinctly German background who at the same time was responsive to cultural and spiritual influences from the Russian provinces." Simon and his Courland compatriots were the ideal bridge between the German Jews and the Litvaks and the locals and the Jews. The were perfect for the frontier and Bechuanaland. 

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Networks:

It is worth bearing in mind that many of the north Lithuanian communities were close to those of south Latvia. So, whilst these Jews were divided by man-made national boundaries, they were really part of the same geography and wider community. More importantly, the newcomers arrived with informal networks, which allowed them to take care of their family and the landsmanne, who hailed from the same shtetl. They also followed landsmanne who had shared news of their success. As Herrman (p. 255) describes:

 

"Here [South Africa] they still pursued the occupation of peddling amongst the agricultural occupation. The long distances necessitated a wagon and oxen, and equipped as tochers [smous], they followed the course that had been successful with their brethren. They assisted their relatives and fellow townsman to leave their own unhappy land, and they gradually drained the population from the districts that had originally left in Russia." 

 

This explains why and how a place like Mažeikiai in Lithuania sent Vryburg Abraham Lubavitch (Lax), the Poliak's (Zirre was the sister of Abe) the Wald's (Pauline was another of Abe's sisters). Brothers, Michael, Samuel and Woolf Friedman and their cousin Louis Sher hailed from nearby Vieksniai (18,6 kilometers) and were related by marriage to the Lubavitch family. The Friedman's, the Lieberthal's, the Blumberg's, the Immerman's, the Lemkuses, Traub, Gluckman, the Toube's and the Kaesrtads's all came from Talsi in Latvia. Gertie's Sussman (nee Engelberg) mother was a Kallmeyer and also from Talsi. Talsen families like Sarif, Gabbe and Blumberg made their way to nearby Bloemhof. Talsen also sent the Lahn and Brenner family to the region. The region also saw other Courland families make their home in the region. They included, Rohloff, Jocum, Edelstein, Salmonson, Friedland, Weinberg, Sebba, Levius / Lewis, Jacobson, Fabian, Sure, Creek, Levitas, Scheinberg and Slebst. 

 

For many who grew up in Vryburg, life in Lithuania and Latvia and the connections that drew their families to Vryburg were seldom discussed by their elders. Issy Lieberthal succinctly captures this: "We never knew where they came from or what their lives were about and how they landed up in Vryburg. Much of the family remains a mystery. I was sure they were delivered by the 'infamous stork.' We did not even know birthdays, what the family did or what happened. It was like a closed door once they got onto a boat in Riga."

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