Number 72: Grandpa Victor was born in Kverdana, (“Chweidan”), Lithuania. His birthdate is a mystery! His ID says:  27/12/1896. We always wished him on “Boxing Day” (26/12)!  His mother told Uncle Ellie: “the 5^th Chanukah Candle”, which means either 23/12/1897 or 3/12/1896….?

Home languages were Yiddish and Lithuanian. He went to Yeshiva in Trakai.  Poverty, Pogroms, threat of army call up – were forces pushing young Jewish people out of Lithuania. So when the opportunity arose for their eldest son to go to South Africa, and be received by his mother’s sister: Rivkah Leah (by then Mary Friedman!), his parents accepted it.  

15 year old Victor said goodbye to his parents, whom he would not see again. The Rabbi told him that “You are going to a place where Judaism is weak”. “Promise me that you’ll never forget from where you come”. The Rabbi blessed Grandpa who left the next day – into Germany, to London’s Jewish Agency Boarding House and to Cape Town on the Braemar Castle.  

Victor worked extremely hard in his General Dealer’s store, with his wife Golda. He was central in Wellington’s Jewish Community, building and sustaining its Shul;  fending off “Grey Shirts” and anti-semites during the 30s and 40s.   He met Golda at Mrs. Katzef’s “house – hotel”. They were the first couple married in the Shul, before it had floorboards! on 15/09/1921. Education of their five children was first priority. For some years home life was vibrant and full of fun. Their daughter Ray killed in a car accident at 15, changed everything and Victor was not the same afterwards.  Quite soon after retiring to Sea Point, Golda became ill with dementia. Grandpa with incredible love, care and tenderness, spent each alternate day visiting her at Highlands House, bringing her tasty and healthy food to eat.

I knew my grandfather as a humble, quiet man with a loud high pitched laugh. We visited him as often as possible. He was nevertheless very lonely in his later life.

So many questions I didn’t ask him then, that I would love to have asked him now!