Other holidays:

The community also came together to mark holidays like Sukkoth and Purim. Many fondly recall building a Sukkah next to the shul. As late as the early 1980s, the five Sussman and Rohloff kids read the megilah and built a Sukkah. Mike Cohen reminds us that “another highlight was the annual celebration of Yom Ha'atzmaut – the functions were held in the shul hall which was decked out in blue and white with flags – good food and several speeches. Always well attended." His son, Mike Cohen, shared a copy of the speech Max Cohen gave at the communal Yom Haatzmaut celebration in 1963. In his address, he refers to the formation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa and Israel's Africa engagement. 

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Fundraising:

Vryburg Jews were active in raising money for Jewish causes. Arnold Rauff recalls Max Cohen calling on his father in Taung for the UJIA campaign. Many of the parents supported JNF, WIZO and the UJIA. The town was also blessed with VIP visitors and schnorers. Meish Arenson shared a photo on the occasion of the Zionist leader Ya'akov (Vitkin) Zerubavel's visit to the town. The picture was taken outside the International Hotel. Given that Ben Gurion had a particular antipathy towards Poale Zion (later Mapam) and its leaders - sending Zerubavel to Vryburg may have been some pay-back from Mapai. Both Meish and Merle Katz recall speakers staying at their home.

 

The community also contributed towards wider needs. The Vryburg Jewish Ladies Society were stellar fund raisers. In 1961 the community finances were in surplus of Rand 1178.86 - largely thanks to the Ladies Society. In the 1965 AGM, the Chairman, Jack Katz noted that the efforts of Ladies Society "largely contributed to keeping us solvent." That year the Ladies contributed R 759. By 1966 the situation had deteriorated. The surplus was now R 841.32. The income came from rental of the rabbis house (R 552), the Ladies Society donation (R 617,25) and donations (R 583). Critically, subscriptions had fallen by R 171, "showing a shortfall of R 375 on our teachers remuneration." Treasurer, Harold Scheckter reported; "we are just about square, but a very serious difficulty looming on the horizon, was the trouble that the Ladies Society were experiencing  in raising money." This problem was compounded by a shrinking community. 

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Habonim:

In the 1950’s there were also Habonim activities in the town. Though from Mabalstad, my father Isaac and his brother Woolfie had boarded at Herber House and were keen Habonim members. When they moved their they set up a local branch. As the photos show, a Vryburg contingent attended camp at Lietchies Bay and local activities were led by Hazel Rohloff and the two Sussmans. Lorna Toube (Mendelow) notes: “All the kids went to Habonim, ……we spent Sunday mornings meeting at the Shul and enjoying the morning.  Sometimes we went on bike rides to your grandparents’ farm.”

 

My brother Brett and I along with Morne Rohloff were sent to Habonim growing up in order to let us meet with Jewish kids and maintain our identity. We used to get up at sparrows and drive to Kimberley station with our trommels and join the camp train. One year our Kombie (min-van) broke down near Pudimoe and we lent a car from the general store keeper and we rushed to Kimberley. I recall the brakes not working well and us making multiple loops outside the station until we could stop. Both my younger brother, Wayne, and I later became heavily involved in Habonim Dror years later and headed the movement. As Mazkir Klali (Secretary General) of the Movement I always loved doing seminars in Welkom and Zimbabwe. I felt that Habonim was very meaningful to the country communities. Through this research exercise I got a better sense of where our Habonim connection started.