THE SWARTZBERG FAMILY IN SOUTH AFRICA- THE BEGINNING As remembered by Isaac Swartzberg

 Once upon a time in the years gone by, there was a young Jewish boy who lived in Roskis Lithuania and  had to do undergo military service. He soon became an expert horseman, trained by the Russian Cossacks, his name was Gerson Silberman.

During this time, he met and cast his eye on a fair damsel named Gazera “Rose” Fleishman.

Gerson, as I will refer to him from now on, “escaped” Lithuania and went over to England. On his arrival there, the “Brits” wanted to send him back to Lithuania,but on finding out that he was an expert horseman, he, Gerson, was given the choice,to go back or join the British Expeditionary Forces and go to South Africa to fight the “Boers” and there be a courier on horseback carrying military communiqué between the troops.

Of course he chose to came to South Africa. During his service he met another “Rapport Rider” an Englishman named “Tarlton”. They became good friends and were issued two horses each.

 Their service was extraordinary and when the war ended there was a choice, go back or stay. Gerson decided to stay so did his friend “Tarlton”. As a reward each was given his two horses to keep.

To make ends meet, the two friends hired a buggy and became two of the first “cab drivers” (taxis) in Johannesburg .

 In the course his work Gerson came across his friend from Roskis (Rakesik as it was then called) one Nathan Fleisman who had come to South Africa at the time of Sammy Marks (the mining magnet  who had a great deal to do with the history of South Africa)

Nathan, who was now a trader, had opened a business in Johannesburg.

Gerson was excited, as his friend was the brother of “Rose” his love from Roskis. Soon Rose was brought out to South Africa where she and Gerson were married. With the passage time children were born. Gerson  had shortened his surname from Silberman  to Silber.

The children born to the Silber union were : Maurice (who became a famous lawyer also nicknamed Pompy) Hilda, who married Zelieg Josman ,the parents of Gerald Josman a well known Judge of the South African Cape High Court. Sarah Judith Silber (keep your eye on her)). Max who became a great Latin scholar and Abe, a well-known freelance journalist and photographer.

Both Max and Abe had distinguished careers in the South African Air Force during the 1945 2^nd World War.

Back row left to right: Alfred Reuben, Sarah Judith Swartzberg, Rosaline, Isaac Swartzberg, Max, Hilda Silber, Maurice (Pompy) Silber. Fron t row left to right: Gerson , Bella Swartzberg, Rea Singer(Swartzberg), Monty Swartzberg and Rhoda Silber

Gerson and Rose purchased a small farm in the district of Potchefstroom known as Katdoorenbosch 127. Due to the fact that the farm had the “Mooi River” passing through it, Gerson started a “water mill” which served all the farmers in the district. Grinding corn to maize meal and also a “malt yard” which produced “Sorghum” for beer used by the local black community mostly as a staple drink.

 Sarah Judith, when aged 2, was visiting Johannesburg with her mother “Rose Silber” when she unfortunately contracted polio. There was no cure at that time and as a result many operations had to be performed on her. Her left leg became paralyzed and for the rest of her life she had to wear a metal support “brace” and have special shoes made.

Sarah – J was a beautiful girl even with this handicap. She attended school at a convent and soon showed a flair for figures and had great style despite her handicapped leg.

She was now 17 years old on 'the farm' and helping out by doing the books and correspondence. Hand writing letters and using an old  fashioned 'sling' farm telephone. (It took two hours to place a call to Johannesburg through the Post Office in Potchefstroom)

Rose now had the question ‘who would marry my beautiful but handicapped child’??? She had a sister in Lithuania. Chana – Leah who was married to one of the Schwartzenberg brothers, some of whom had left for Boston in the USA. Her husband Hessel Schwartzenberg, a woodsman, who later became a baker and living in No.3 Kamaier Street “Roskis had remained behind as he had an eye problem and was unable to immigrate to the USA and follow his 10 brothers to Boston.

Chana Leah and Hessel had 4 children. Alfred- Reuben, Ethel (who later became Aarons,(Arsh) Ralph was her husband) Judith (who became Kark, husband Joe) and Chaita, who was killed in the war.She was unfortunately left  in Roskies as she could not immigrate.

Decline and Destructon

My Evidence

by Bryna Rotholz-Kur

Translated by Rae Meltzer

"Fifty-eight hundred (5,800) Jews, in 5-7 "brother" graves (mass graves) are buried there in the above-mentioned PLACE. Those buried there include Jews from Rakishok and nearby shtetlach: Abel, Kamai, Ponidel, Suvianishok, and Raduteh.
Before the execution, the following committed suicide by taking poison: the apothecary, Mishl Sher, together with his family; the doctor/dentist Henuch Gandelman and his wife; Dr. Miriam Farberyteh-Gandelman, and their two children. Dr. Farberyteh-Gandelman, an aunt of Yrachmiel Arons (Arsh), administered injections of morphine to her husband, the dentist/doctor Henuch Gandelman, her two children, and also Chyeh-Eyten Shwartzberg, a sister of Etl Arons (Arsh)."        from page 398    http://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/rokiskis/rokiskis.html
 

 Rose sent letters, by ship, written in Yiddish saying “Send Alfred Reuben as I have a beautiful daughter for him”.

                                                Alfred Swartzberg

Young Alfred Reuben was a fine athlete, a non-commissioned officer during his stint in the army, a gymnast, fit as a fiddle and strong as a horse and also much sought after by all of his sister’s girlfriends.

An old black and white Kodak photo was enclosed in Rose’s letter and with that Cupid’s Arrow struck home. Alfred Ruben boarded a boat and headed for Cape Town, South Africa.

I mention here that first cousins are allowed to marry in South Africa as there was opposition to their union due to the fact that Sarah was handicapped and Alfred’s cousin.

“Love had its way!” Gerson and Rose started the “Buick motor car,” with Alfred Reuben and Sarah Judith sitting starry eyed in the back, and off they drove to Potchefstroom. At the Magistrate’s office, a special license was obtained and on the 6^th of April 1930 after the usual “I DO” was said, the Swartzberg clan in South Africa had begun.

Because of the spelling in Afrikaans, the name of Schartzenberg became and remains to this day as “Swartzberg”.

Alfred and Sarah

Alfred Reuben, having been born 20 days in the month of Tavis, registered the corresponding date in the calendar  being the 1^st of January 1906 as his birthday. Sarah Judith was born on the 27^th of December 1911.

Sarah Judith and Alfred Reuben had 5 children, Isaac , Gerson, Monty, Rea and Simpson. (This despite the fact that to give birth was no easy feat as Sarah Judith’s hip was 4 inches different in shape than the other and she a torrid time giving birth.

Simpson sadly died at 17 days old and is buried on the farm Katdorenbosh, 127.

The  Swartzberg children had a wonderful time growing up on the farm enjoying lots of escapades.

Through the efforts of Sarah – Judith, Hessel and Chana Leah were also brought out to South Africa before the German occupation of Lithuania.

              Hessel and Chana Leah

 

                                                    Sarah Judith (Silber) Swartzberg

From their humble beginnings Alfred and Sarah came to have 4 children. They in turn 10 grandchildren. We are now into the generation of great grandchildren. Some of these still live in South Africa, others now in Australia, Canada and the USA.

 So it is the 'Swartzberg' name and rich history and heritage is being carried to the world.