Robertson

The Jewish community of Robertson

On this page we aim to show the names of everyone who played a part in Robertson's Jewish history.

Click on this hyperlink to see a list of Jewish people who have lived in Robertson at some time between 1853 and 1986.
Source: SAJM archives

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BLAIBERG, Philip (1909-1969) and Eileen: Philip started his dental practice in Robertson ca. 1933. After their marriage in 1936, they stayed at the Commercial Hotel for about 18 months before renting a newly built house. Their son Israel Harris was born in 1938, and they moved to Cape Town about a year later, where Philip started a practice in Woodstock. In 1968, Philip became South Africa's second heart transplant recipient.
Source: Looking at my Heart, by Dr. Philip Blaiberg, Stein and Day, 1968

BLUMBERG: The family is associated with hospitality and town infrastructure support. They had ownership of the Commercial Hotel.

BUIRSKI, Esther (1899-1996): Was the daughter of Jacob and Annie Buirski. She was born in Robertson and went to Robertson Girls High School. She married Dr Alfred Canard and they lived in De Doorns. During World War II she served as Adjutant of the Women’s Auxiliary Services, De Doorns.
Source: Museum of the Jewish Soldier in World War II

BUIRSKI, Jacob (1864-1942) and Annie (1869-1903): Parents of Esther.
Source: Museum of the Jewish Soldier in World War II

BUIRSKI, Philip: Was a respected civic leader who served on the Robertson Municipal Council in the 1920s and represented the successful integration of Jewish residents into local government.

EPSTEIN, Reuben: Bought the Commercial Hotel from Meyer Blumberg and Kalie Zurnamer in the mid-1940s and co-owned it with his brother-in-law Abe Josefowitz into the 1960s and 1970s.

FLEISHMAN, David: Was the son of Morris and Mina Fleishman. He was born in Robertson and at an early age he went to Bulawayo where his brother Harry lived. During World War II he enlisted in the Rhodesia Regiment.
Source: Museum of the Jewish Soldier in World War II

FLEISHMAN, Morris (1874-1938) and Mina (1874-1913): Parents of David and Harry.

GROLL, Edie: Treasurer of the Robertson Young Israel Society ca. 1924. Sister of Isaac.

GROLL, Isaac: Committee member of the Robertson Young Israel Society ca. 1924. Brother of Edie. Drowned in 1947 while swimming in the Breede River.

HOFFMANN, A: Committee member of the Robertson Young Israel Society ca. 1924.

HOFFMANN, K: Vice-President of the Robertson Young Israel Society ca. 1924.

HOROWITZ, M: President of the Robertson Young Israel Society ca. 1924.

HOROWITZ, S: Committee member of the Robertson Young Israel Society ca. 1924.

HOTS, M: Committee member of the Robertson Young Israel Society ca. 1924.

JOSEFOWITZ, Abraham: Was the son of the community's rabbi and later Deputy Mayor of Robertson in 1972. His public service reflected the continuing contribution of Jewish residents long after the community's peak years. In the 1960s and 1970s he co-owned the Commercial Hotel with his brother-in-law Reuben Epstein.

JOSEFOWITZ, Reverend Shmuel: Was the rabbi of the community for over 50 years, from 1922 to 1972. He and his wife Rosie lived in a house adjacent to the town's synagogue and played a central role in the local Jewish community. Before his time in Robertson, while living in Zastron, he notably taught and mentored the blind Cantor Abraham Immerman.

KLEIN, Reverend B: First rabbinic leader of the Robertson Hebrew Congregation.

LAZARUS, Lewis and Ethel: Parents of Sydney. They had a farming presence in the Robertson district.

LAZARUS, Sydney (1901-1940): Was the son of Lewis and Ethel Lazarus of the Robertson district. During World War II he became the first South African Jew and the first South African serviceman to be killed in action. He was shot down near El Wak in East Africa and is buried in Nairobi.
Source: Museum of the Jewish Soldier in World War II

LEVINE, Reverend Jacob (1884-1963): Was the Minister of the Robertson Hebrew Congregation from 1911 to 1922. A keen Zionist, he helped form the first Zionist Youth Society in Robertson and he published the first Zionist Youth periodical in the Cape Province. He served as a part-time chaplain during World War II. He was married to Lena (1886-1920). They had two daughters.
Source: Museum of the Jewish Soldier in World War II

PINTO, Norbert: Was an agricultural innovator who introduced large-scale coriander cultivation to the Robertson area during the 1950s, helping establish the crop within the local farming economy. He distributed seeds freely to encourage other farmers to participate and helped establish coriander as a viable local crop.

ROSENZWEIG, Lewis: Was one of the earliest and most prominent members of the Robertson Jewish community. He played an important role in local communal affairs and served on the Robertson Municipal Council during the 1920s. His is one of the earliest recorded families in Robertson, with burial records dating back to the 1880s. His infant sons Leon and David are among the earliest recorded burials in Robertson (1885). His family had a strong linkage to agricultural trade and local commerce, and were likely involved in the formation of the minyan prior to the establishment of the synagogue. They represent the pioneer phase of Robertson Jewry, when the community was still fluid, informal, and heavily rural.

SAACKS, Becky: Was a historian, preservationist and one of the key figures responsible for safeguarding Robertson's Jewish heritage. She played a leading role in maintaining the synagogue and cemetery and was instrumental in restoration efforts following the 2005 floods.

As one of the leading local historians, she founded and developed the Robertson Museum, building it into an important repository of local heritage. When the synagogue was sold, she advocated that a portion of the proceeds be donated to the museum in recognition of the Jewish community's contribution to the town's history.

SAACKS, Leslie: Worked alongside Becky Saacks in preserving the community's remaining heritage assets during the final decades of organised Jewish life in Robertson.

SANDLER, David (1910-1977): Was the son of Guttel and Deborah. He was born in McGregor and schooled at Boys' High School, Robertson. He was an attorney. During World War Two he was a member of the Montagu National Reserve Volunteers (N.R.V.).
Source: Museum of the Jewish Soldier in World War II

SANDLER, Eli: Was the son of Guttel and Deborah.

SANDLER, Guttel (1880-1944) and (1861-1932) Deborah: Parents of Eli and David.

SANDLER, Kalie (1909-1988): Was the son of Morris and Stella. He was born in Robertson and educated at Robertson Boys' School. He was an accountant. During World War Two he served in a part-time unit.
Source: Museum of the Jewish Soldier in World War II

SANDLER, Morris (1876-1933) and Stella (1872-1930): Parents of Kalie.
Source: Museum of the Jewish Soldier in World War II

SANDLER, L.R.K.: Committee member of the Robertson Young Israel Society ca. 1924.

SANDLER, R: Secretary of the Robertson Young Israel Society ca. 1924.

SCHACHAT, Louis (1926-2013): Was the son of a Lithuanian father and an English mother. He was born in Robertson and went to an Afrikaans school and grew up speaking Afrikaans and Yiddish. He studied law, started a law firm, and later became an art collector.
Source: Sunday Times

SCHACHAT, M: Committee member of the Robertson Young Israel Society ca. 1924.

SKLAAR, Barnett and Mary: Had a hotel in Robertson for a few years between 1921 and 1939.
Source: Museum of the Jewish Soldier in World War II

WOOLF, Simon (1866-1930) and Deborah (1879-1961)