The Journey
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Lazar and Clara traveled with a load of cabbages and turnips piled on top of them and were told not to move or say a word. Once they were in Poland, the lady took them to the nearest shtetl. They were taken through Europe, from shtetl to shtetl, sometimes spending hours, days or weeks in one place. Finally they arrived in England and Lazar was now 9 and Clara was now 13. Once they reached England, the children were told that they were going to be separated. Clara would be going to friends in a different part off South Africa than Lazar. During this time, South Africa and England were at war, known as the Second Boer War. Lazar was sent on a ship from England to South Africa that was carrying British troops to fight in the war. The soldiers were very kind to him, and it was on the ship that he started to speak English. Lazar traveled with the soldiers from battle to battle until they reached Springs, where his parents friend, Joshua Epstein, came to claim him. Clara and Lazar were reunited when she was 25 years old.
History
Religious freedom in South Africa was granted by the Dutch in 1803 and carried out by the British in 1806. The first South African synagogue, Tikvat Israel, was founded in Cape Town in 1841. The discovery of diamonds in 1867 attracted many Jewish entrepreneurs and businessman from all over the world. Jews immediately became involved in the diamond industry. Between 1880 and 1910, the Jewish population grew with Yiddish speaking immigrants from Lithuania. The new arrivals were fleeing political persecution and pogroms in Europe. South Africa became known as a Lithuanian colony. During the Boer War, Jews served on both sides. In 1902, the British defeated the Boers and, in 1910, they formed four British South African colonies. The British gave the Jews equal status to the other white citizens, giving British authority among Jews. Following the mining boom, Jews became part of the rapid industrializations of South Africa. In 1930, there were increased feelings of anti-Semitism and the start of Nazism began in. The Quota Act was passed, which was established in order to restrict immigration from Greece, Poland, Russia and Lithuania. The main aim of the Quota Act was to restrict Jewish immigration. The Quota Act excluded Jews from Germany there was a boom in populaton im South Africa by 1936 from Jews fleeing Nazi Germany.
Why leave? (1990's)
My Grandmother Basha Rice left South Africa in 1997. Post apartheid South Africa was a time of hope and cause for celebration however the reality did not live up to expectations. South Africa and big cities like Johannesburg became crime ridden and violence was rife. There was a surge of illegal immigrants into the big cities from war torn African countries like Nigeria, Mozambique and Zimbabwe which put a strain on resources such as water, electricity and housing, especially in the cities. There was negative growth rate and unemployment and people were forced to turn to crime in order to support themselves and their families. The expected job creation and funds from First World Countries like America were not forthcoming or were channeled into other areas. A lot of Jews left South Africa between 1976 and 2000, most going to Australia, Canada and America. It was very difficult to get into these countries.