Activities: Bellville-Parow Bnoth Zion
The Jewish women of the Northern Suburbs – Bellville, Parow, Goodwood and Durbanville – were staunch supporters of the Zionist cause long before the coming of the state and long afterwards.
The strong ideological connection to the State of Israel served as a powerful driving force to the activities of these dedicated women.
There were very active WIZO groups in the 1940's until the '70's. They organized cultural events, concerts, parties on the Yomtovim, Israeli dancing, fetes, quizzes, card evenings, did charity work and visited patients at Stikland Mental Hospital.
Bellville Bnoth Zion members in about 1959
Back row (L-R): Luba Friedberg, Bella Perch, Jessie Ruskin, Rita Loon, Mrs Marcus
Second row: Anita Sacks, Fay Schneider, Hilda Fridsol, Leah Salkinder, Shula Katzenellenbogen, Lily Sive, Marcia Weiner, Doreen Salkinder
Front row: Mable Smith, Rebecca Ruskin, Avis Barron, Martha Leven, Queenie Zucker.
This picture, from a Telfed magazine of 1997 commemorating the centenary of Zionism, the movement which is generally considered to have started in 1897, shows a gathering of the Bellville, Parow and Goodwood branches of WIZO from 1947 – celebrating the half-century of Zionism.
The South African Jewish Chronicle wrote about their activities on 15/11/1946 under the heading:
Bellville-Parow Bnoth Zion
A most successful and pleasant social, which took the form of a Living Newspaper, was held at the residence of Mrs S Srubis, Parow, on Tuesday afternoon, October 29th.
Mrs R Goodman, responsible for this entertainment, read the editorial and also an original and amusing cookery page. An interesting and topical news flash was presented by Mrs J Karpas, and other items included the reading by Mrs M Reznik of extracts from the poem "Behold, the Jew," a humorous sketch, which brought much laughter from the audience, by Mrs I Kaplan, and "Garden Hints" by Mrs S Srubis. Mrs A Barron read an article on "Parachutists in Palestine" and a sports article was presented by Mrs Minde. The programme concluded with replies to medical questions by Mrs H Anziska.
A card evening, a success both financially and socially, was held for JNF funds at the residence of Dr E Sacks, Parow, the hostesses being Mesdames J Karpas and A Sacks.
