Number 80: Sheryl’s paternal grandmother, Sophie Nicha Edelstein ‘nee Werbeloff was born in approximately 1893 in Sasmaka, (Spelt Sasmarken sometimes), a town in northwestern Latvia, Talsi Municipality – (See Map), called Valdermarpils since 1926. Both the Werbeloff and Edelstein families lived in Sasmaka for some generations.

Sophie, together with her family, was forcibly expelled from Sasmaka into Russia and only returned in 1918. She was brought to South Africa by the man who loved her, Sascha Edelstein, who had waited five years before being able to do so. They married very soon after Sophie stepped off the ship on 31/03/1921.

Sophie’s father Benno’s sister, Rebecca, married Isaac Hirschfield. The Hirschfields who ran a General Dealer Store in Prieska, employed Sascha. For many years Sophie, Sascha and their four children: Winnie z”l, Tony z”l, Bennie and Harold (Hackey) z”l lived in Prieska, a town on the south bank of the Orange River, Northern Cape, Western South Africa.

A gynaecological problem required Sophie go to hospital in De Aar  – where she suddenly and tragically passed away on 23/06/1942 when Hackey was only 12 years old.  During September 2013 Sheryl and I  made a special visit to the Jewish Cemetery at De Aar, a now decrepit town 755  kilometres from Cape Town. Eventually finding the Cemetery, we were shocked at the extent of filth within it and scale of desecration. Sophie’s tombstone was broken into fragments and separated from the grave, as were many others. We contacted Rabbi Silberhaft who did the sacred work of arranging a team to fix the tombstones, lay them flat and comprehensively clean up the Cemetery.

“Aunty Ida” in January 1985 spoke lovingly about her older sister: “Sophie was beautiful. She did her hair in two plaits, rolled around her ears and covered by a bright coloured scarf”. “Sophie and Sascha loved each other like 1% of people today love each other. That was true love”. Uncle Solly also spoke about how beautiful Sophie, his older sister, was. “She had blond hair” “Sheryl looks like her – like a Werbeloff and Ilana looks like an Edelstein”.