Roodepoort

People who lived or worked in Roodepoort

Jews settled in the town of Roodepoort from the turn of the last century. The first generation worked mainly in commerce and played a major role in the development of the town. Later generations also included several professionals.

A number of large extended families settled in Roodepoort, including:

• The Josman family of 4 brothers, John, Alec, Zelig and Harry, and one sister, Bertha Traub.
• The Boner-Tannenbaum family. Mina Boner, daughter of Shaul Boner, who also settled in Roodepoort, and her husband, Avraham Boner, son of Chaim Boner, brother of Shaul. Two daughters of another Boner brother, David, Tilly and Shaina (Rose) Boner, married two brothers of the Tannenbaum family, Charles and Samuel Tannenbaum. Harry Benjas was the son of another daughter of David Boner, Riva.
• The Herson family, three brothers, Abe, Daniel and Meyer, connected to the Nafte family with Bertha Herson being a sister of Ida Nafte.
• The Berkowitz family, Barney, father of Anthony, Sheba and Avrom and Abraham, a cycle dealer, father of Gerald and Zita Nurok.

Physicians: A relatively large number (eight) of the second and third generations in Roodepoort became physicians: Herman Klein became a noted orthopedic surgeon; Hymie Josman settled in Israel; Solly Josman settled in Israel; David Blumsohn was a reputable specialist physician and teacher working for many years at Baragwanath hospital, and was also a researcher in ancient languages and history; Joshua Nafte became a general practitioner and settled in Israel; Geoffrey Boner became a specialist in nephrology and settled in Israel; Farrell Spiro became a specialist in radiology; Aubrey Milunsky, from nearby Florida, settled in the USA and became a leading specialist in genetics and author of leading textbooks on the subject; Bernard Kaplan, also from Florida, settled in Canada and then in the USA and became a leading specialist in paediatric nephrology.

There were also several pharmacists: The Tannenbaum brothers, Hymie, Jack, Leonard and Archie, all became pharmacists, moved to Krugersdorp and eventually became the owners of one of the largest pharmaceutical conglomerates in South Africa with production, wholesale and retail pharmacies; Maurice Blumsohn studied pharmacy and spent his career in the Tannenbaum conglomerate; Louis Boner had a retail pharmacy in Roodepoort; Mark Herson took over the pharmacy from Louis Boner; Benny Osrin had a pharmacy in Florida.

Gerald Josman became a Judge in the Supreme Court of the Cape.

The following is a list of Jews who lived or worked in Roodepoort at some time from 1900 till the closing of the community. Some of the Jews resident in Florida are also included. Where we have a family story, the name will become a link to that story. We would appreciate more information about these and other residents of Roodepoort.

• Abramson, three children, Denis, David, Joan.
• Ackerman, Gus, served in WW II and was a prisoner of war. Attorney, married to Bella (Arenstam) and had one daughter, Leslie Merle. After returning from war divorced and married Phyllis and had three sons, Roland, Darryl and Jonathan, and one daughter.
• Akres, three children, Morris, Rachel and Bertie.
• Arenstam, Roodepoort Brickworks, two daughters, Bella and Doris. Bella was married to Gus Ackerman and Doris to Mark Schwartz, a lawyer.
• Benjas, Harry, grandson of David Boner, owner of Harry’s Auction Mart, furniture, and Rae (Fischer), who passed away at the age of 30. One daughter, Rolene Noik. Harry married Mary Pike late in life.
• Berkowitz, Abraham, cycle dealer, father of Gerald (quantity surveyor) and Zita (Nurok).
• Berkowitz, Barney, father of Anthony and Sheba.
• Behrman, Adolph, Berman Motors.
• Berelowitz, plumber, two children, Jannie and Pauline.
• Bernstein
• Beron, Abe (Jock), served in WW II. Obtained a PhD. Became the principal of the Roodepoort Town School and then Headmaster of the King David School in Johannesburg.
• Beron, grocery store, father of Abe and Isaac. Settled in Roodepoort when the sons were still in primary school.
• Beron, Isaac, bookkeeper and insurance agent.
• Blumberg, shoemaker and cobbler.
• Blumsohn, Aaron, married to Leiba (Tannenbaum) and had two sons, David (doctor) and Maurice (pharmacist), and daughter, Cecilia (settled in Israel). Aaron worked at Tannenbaum hardware business and performed many services in the Synagogue, such as the Baal Shacharit, blowing the Shofar and conducting Yizkor services.
• Boner, Aaron, brother to Mina Boner and manager of the Roodepoort Club.
• Boner, Avraham, married to Mina Boner and father of: Beattie (Ingel), teacher of the piano (eventually lived in Klerksdorp); Louis; Gerty, a school teacher (taught in Roodepoort and then in Johanneisburg); and Sarah (married to Sonny Breger, lived in Pretoria, Grobersdal and then Bloemfontein).
• Boner, Louis, pharmacist and owner of Boner Chemist, one son, Geoffrey (professor of nephrology) and two daughters, Zelia Abramson, in Israel, and Beulah Israel.
• Bricker, North Rand Butchery. Know of son Marc in Melbourne, Australia.
• Friedman, Rev.
• Greenberg, Barney, served in WW II, owner of Greenberg and Budd, outfitters, and Lilly and children Pamela Hayon and Joel.
• Geffen, Barry and Sandra (Queit), optician. Sandra originally from Florida. Barry was Treasurer and then Chairman of the Roodepoort-Florida Hebrew Congregation and Sandra was active in shul activities. Two children, Renee Gluckman and Lisa.
• Hammerschlag, Bert and Clara, lived in Florida, daughter Barbara Potter and son.
• Herson, Abe and Eva, concession store at Durban Deep Mine, 3 children, Monte, Sylvia and a son.
• Herson, Daniel and Lena, two children, Mark and Jack.
• Herson, Mark, pharmacist, took over Louis Boner's Pharmacy.
• Herson, Meyer, concession store, and Bertha, who was an outfitter for school uniforms, two daughters, Hanna, settled in Israel and Lea. Bertha was sister of Ida Nafte.
• Hockman, Morris and Dolly, owner of jewellery store, was the chairman and leader of the Community over many years. The community hall was named after him.
• Jacobson, Zena (an optometrist in Johannesburg).
• Jacobson, Boya (née Levine).
• Josman, Alec, owner of Century Cinema, two sons, Hymie and Solly (doctors, settled in Israel).
• Josman, Harry and Tillie, parents of Lionel (settled in Israel) and Eli and together with brothers and brother-in-law, owned concession stores at Durban Deep Mine.
• Josman, John, father of Cecil from first marriage and Geoffrey (an attorney) and Sheba from second marriage.
• Josman, Zelig, father of Lennie, Gerald (became a respected Judge in the Supreme Court of the Cape Province) and Julian.
• Josselowitz (Joss), Issy and Rica. Two children, Brian and Jennifer. Issy served in WW II, was captured and escaped from prison.
• Kab, Dave and Eunice, owned a bicycle store.
• Kady, Alf, Universal Radio.
• Kaplan, George, GK Bazaar haberdashers
• Kaplan, Julius Meyer and Edith Bertha, Florida shopkeepers. Son, Bernard (a pediatric nephrologist), and daughter, Lynnette Rubin.
• Karpas, Louis and Gerty, gifts and novelties store.
• Kavonic, kiosk on Roodepoort railway station.
• Kaye (Kwaitovsky), Rabbi.
• Kitay, Isaack and Lily, manager of Hillman Bros. Hardware. Two children, Julian and Sandra, who never had children. Lily Kitay was a cousin of Gladys Spiro. Her brother, Dr. Sack, was married to sister of Gus Ackerman.
• Klein, Herman, renowned orthopedic surgeon, son of Morris Klein.
• Klein, Morris and Becky, general store.
• Kraines, Lazer, owner of Beron grocery store.
• Kusner, Wulf, Roodepoort Motors, agents for General Motors.
• Kupernick
• Levin
• Levy, owners of Theron’s Durban Butchery.
• Levy, Leon, optician.
• Mendelsohn, brother and sister, owner of jewellery store.
• Meyerson, Dave, married to Jack Schlapo's daughter, Miriam.
• Michaels, cobbler.
• Milunsky, Harry and Janie, grocery store, Florida. Sons Aubrey (well-known geneticist in USA), and Cyril and daughter, Joyce.
• Nafte, Ben and Ida, businessman, with children, Joshua, physician in Israel, and Leon, builder.
• Orenstein, Rev. His eldest son was Meyer/Meir. The second was Aviel, who was brilliant and became an actuary, and a daughter, Nechama. The rabbi served the community for many years and died in Israel.
• Osrin, Benny, owner of pharmacy in Florida.
• Philips, Rachel, daughter of Akres, dentist.
• Redhill, Barney, Central Meat Market.
• Rosowsky, Solly, owner of Station Hotel and Station Bottle Store, son, George, and daughters, Beryl and Karen in Australia.
• Rosowsky, George, owner of Station Bottle Store and then locksmith.
• Samuel, Jean and Fanny, owned a clothing factory. They had a son, Joe, a daughter, Debbie Fleischer, and a son, Hessy, who died after a fight at school.
• Schlapo, Jack, Station Garage, was the Mayor of the Roodepoort Municipality for some years. Had a daughter, Miriam Meyerson.
• Schutz, had a son, Jack.
• Schwartz, Mark and Doris (Arenstem), lawyer, son, Leo, and daughter, Greta.
• Seliger, Ernest and Frieda, cattle speculator, owner of Bridgewater Dairy. A daughter, Jeannette, settled in Israel, and Islon, who became a doctor.
• Schewitz, Morris and Sonia, Morrie's Outfitters, and daughter, Joyce Kruger.
• Silber Max, a teacher, and Ethel, a saleslady in retail stores. Sons Gus and Harold and daughters Rhoda and Elaine. Max's sister Hilda was married to Zelig Josman.
• Simon, Arthur, son of Issie. A vet in Johannesburg; Glenda and Ethne
• Simon, Issie and Tilly, son Arthur and daughters Glenda and Ethne, owner of Simon Timber and Hardware Co.
• Shubitz
• Shutz, Sim, accountant and insurance agent.
• Smirin, Harry, Reliable Cycle Company.
• Sochen, North Rand Butchery.
• Spiro, Sabse and Gladys, general practitioner, son Farrell, radiologist married to Miriam Stoppleman and Celeste Reef (lives in Canada) and Fiona Nafte.
• Stone
• Stoppleman, Walter and Hilda, electrical contractor, daughters Miriam and Arlene. Miriam is married to Farrell Spiro and they have 4 children. Arlene was married to Archie Ruddick. They had two children. Arlene died young.
• Stoppelman, Ernst, Theron's Durban Butchery. Son Ari, from first wife. Second wife was Dutch Jewess, who had a son from a previous marriage.
• Super, Sam, owner of Simon Timber and Hardware Co, son Ivan.
• Tannenbaum, Charles, husband of Tilly (Boner), owned Tannenbaum Hardware, had four sons, Hymie, Jack, Leonard and Archie, and 3 daughters, Florrie, Leiba and Essi.
• Tannenbaum, Dave, son of Sam, married Renee (Gordon) and had a son, Brian (a lawyer) and daughter, Eleanor.
• Tannenbaum, Sam, husband of Shaina (Boner), had two daughters, Lilly Lieberman and Gerty Cohen, and two sons Leonard and Dave Tannenbaum.
• Traub, Jack and Bertha (sister of Josman brothers), had Paul, Dave and Sheila.
• Weintraub, Moores Beer Hall, it is possible that his son became a doctor.
• Zimbler, Joseph and Sarah, owners of Savoy Hotel, two sons, Len (accountant) and Gerald (attorney), and one daughter, Sonia.