Bloemfontein

Bloemfontein People

Families from Germany, including the Baumanns, Leviseurs, Ehrlichs, and Haarburgers, were the earliest Jewish settlers in Bloemfontein from 1848 onwards. They became deeply involved in the civic and economic development of the city. Isaac Baumann became one of its earliest traders and landowners. His son Gustav Baumann helped lay out parts of the growing town. Moritz Leviseur contributed to the establishment of the first hospital and the National Museum, while Wolf Ehrlich would later become a Senator in the South African Parliament and one of the most influential political and communal leaders in the Orange Free State.

This was followed from the 1880s by considerable immigration of Jews from Eastern Europe who greatly revitalised the community. Bloemfontein reached the peak of its Jewish life and population in the 1950s and 60s with nearly 1500 Jews in the area. Its members served as mayors, senators, councillors, business leaders, educators, and philanthropists. New organisations were formed, such as the Union of Jewish Women and Habonim. Educational facilities expanded, and communal leadership became increasingly professionalised.

These are some of the names and a few family stories we have for Bloemfontein. Please check and see if you can spot what is missing and maybe fill in the gaps.

1. Albert, Rabbi D: Minister.


2. Aronstam, Dr Sheila: Collected archive material and wrote a thesis on the community. [link to her article on ‘Archives’ - on ‘Articles’ page]


3. Arvan, George and Gertie (Klein)


4. Baumann, Isaac, became one of Bloemfontein's earliest traders and landowners. In 1849 when the town was divided into erven and at the first sale of land, Baumann bought all the ground between Church and Charles Streets, Westburger and Maitland Streets. He and wife Caroline (née Allenberg) had ten children, some of whom played a notable role in Bloemfontein’s development. Gustav Baumann became a land surveyor who laid out President Brand Street. Alfred became the first eye specialist in the Free State. Herbert and Otto Baumann fought at Magersfontein for the Boers. Sophie Baumann married Moritz Leviseur and three years later Helen Baumann married Wolff Ehrlich.


5. Bitton, Sara: Hebrew teacher.


6. Blesowsky, Yechiel: Hebrew teacher.


7. Block, Dr Maurice: The doyen of the Jewish community for three decades, 1930s to 1960s. Opened the David Davidson Nursery School in 1967.


8. Bradlow, Henry: As Chairman of the community in 1945, started plans to build a new synagogue and communal centre that materialised ten and twenty years later respectively.


9. Brown, Betty


10. Bryer, Nathan


11. Bryer, Mrs Henia: Hebrew teacher for 42 years until her retirement in 2000.


12. Cohen, Mickey, Philip, Ike


13. Cohen, Rev ML: Became minister in 1896; also shochet and teacher.


14. Cowan, Vera


15. Coleman, Phil


16. Coleman, Rabbi Shalom: Appointed minister in 1948 and served until 1960. He lived to 105 in Perth, Australia.


17. David, Mr and Mrs: Hebrew teachers.


18. Davidson, David: Honoured by funding from his family in naming of the nursery school that opened in the synagogue complex in 1967 with 32 pupils.


19. Emannuel, Stanley


20. Ehrlich, Wolff


21. Fine, Aaron, Sam


22. Fishman, Rabbi P: Minister.


23. Friedman, Joseph: Produce merchant in early days.


24. Gabi, Mr and Mrs: Hebrew teachers.


25. Galgut, Okkie


26. Gladstone, Gordon: "I was born in Bloemfontein in 1942. My father, a bookie, was born in Johannesburg. He died in 1955. Age 47 and is buried in Johannesburg. My mother who was a secretary, was born in Bloemfontein. She died in 1993, aged 85 and is buried in Cape Town. My paternal grandmother, a Homemaker, was Born in Vaklan. She died in 1961, aged 80 and is buried in Bloemfontein. Bloemfontein for me was safe, but boring. I matriculated at Grey College. I left in 1960 aged 18 and went on Nachal to the Israeli army. I now live in California where I have been an insurance broker. I married in Cape Town in 1967. I am divorced. We had three children Michael b1969, California, Financial Advisor, Justine b1971, Homemaker, Leigh b1974 Homemaker."


27. Goldberg, Rev I: Cantor of the community in 1920s.


28. Gorodetsky, Chagit: Hebrew teacher.


29. Haarburger, Ivan


30. Hadassin, Rev S: Cantor of the community in 1926.


31. Hailparn, G: Opened a jewellery business in 1890s.


32. Harris, Councillor Sol: Mayor of the city, opened the communal hall in 1918.


33. Hart, Laura (Newman)


34. Herberg (Feinberg), Lily


35. Hodes, Joseph and Fanny: The Bloemfontein archive was named in their honour by their son Harold, who lives in London.


36. Isaacson, Rabbi Ben: Appointed in 1960 and served for three years before going to Israel. During his time, he became the Principal of the Hebrew School and helped to stimulate membership of the Habonim Movement.


37. Jungerlevi, Cantor: Cantor to the community.


38. Kabalkin, Rabbi and Mrs: In the 1960s were shochet and Hebrew teacher respectively.


39. Kowarsky, Paul: Cantor to the community.


40. Kroll, Mrs Shirley: Became the first Principal of the David Davidson Nursery School and enjoyed that position for 28 years, until 1995.


41. Kuperberg, Rev: Cantor to the community.


42. Laurence, Rev Zachariah: Appointed first minister when when shul opened in 1904. Died in 1924.


43. Leviseur, Moritz, Elsa


44. Levy, Mr B: Became second president of the community.


45. Levy, Trixy, Betty, JH, Barnett: Built the Masonic Hotel and served on the City Council.


46. Lewis, Woolf: Produce merchant in early days.


47. Levitt, Ada


48. Levitt, E (Topsy): Hebrew teacher.


49. Lovius, Molly, Jose


50. Maizels, Rabbi and Mrs D: Minister and Hebrew teachers.


51. Melmid, Fanny, Bernie


52. Morris: Family, includes Gavin, curator of South African Jewish Museum.


53. Moses, Dorothy, Ernest: The first dentist and first president of the Hebrew Congregation, in 1893.


54. Moss, Alf


55. Nathan, Lionel: Was proprietor, in turn, of the Masonic, Royal, Queens and Cecil Hotels.


56. Nyman, AK and Phyllis


57. Oppenheim, Phyllis


58. Panzer, Dora and Morris


59. Paz, Mrs Rina: Hebrew teacher, 2001.


60. Pencharz, Meyer


61. Phillips, Mr J: An outstanding communal leader, became the community president in 1933.


62. Pincus, ML: First Chairman of the Bloemfontein Club.


63. Posner, Dora


64. Reichenberg, Rev: Appointed cantor and shochet, 1930.


65. Romm, Rabbi Dr M: Highly erudite and academic, appointed minister in 1930s and served until 1946.


66. Rosen, Ronnie and Goldie: Collected archive material on the community.


67. Rosendorff, Claire, Max, Rae, Karlie, Herman


68. Rosendorff, Clive


69. Rubin, Zena


70. Sacks, Ann, Louis


71. Sebba, Dolly, Sam


72. Segal, Dave, Bex (Awerbuch)


73. Shapiro, Louis: Founded Shapiro’s Tobacconist in 1900; funded new Talmud Torah, 1927.


74. Shevel, Vera, Daniel


75. Shlein, Abe


76. Shtein, Fred


77. Sifman, Mr M: Hebrew teacher.


78. Simonhof


79. Smith, Vicky


80. Solomons, Hilary, Denis: "I was born in Bloemfontein in 1954, where my childhood was very good indeed. My father, Irving Solomons, was born in London UK in 1924. He was the son of Hyman and Bessie Solomons of London UK who both remained and died in London. My father worked for the Frame Group. He sadly died aged 57 yrs in August 1981. My mother (née Kaffel) was born at Mooiplaats, East London in 1927. She died in December 2006 aged 80. Her father, my maternal grandfather, Harry Kaffel, died in East London, South Africa. my maternal grandmother Mildred Kaffel lived and died in East London, South Africa. I matriculated at CBC Bloemfontein and soon after aged 17 in December 1971. I first went into the South African Army at Bethlehem. I then went to Medical School at Wits where I graduated with an MBBCh and then an MMed (haem) Path. I practice as a Haematopathologist in Johannesburg and with Biopath laboratory in Benoni, South Africa. I have done research on a malaria vaccine. I married in Johannesburg in June 1985. My wife ran Sollies cleaning services. Our children are Ilan Nathan Solomons b1987; news editor Craemer media and Hillel Michael Solomons."


81. Steinhaus, Rabbi S: Minister.


82. Stusser, Lorrie and Dora


83. Thalrose, Francis, Sonia


84. Trakman, Yehuda and Adele: Hebrew teachers.


85. Urdang, Rev: First minister in 1893 (before synagogue).


86. Wasserman


87. Wolozinsky, Morris: Hebrew teacher.


88. Wynberg, Willy