Highlands House history
Administration of the Home
From a practical point of view, the Home was diligently run by a team of paid staff, including a matron, nurse, and domestic worker. The Honorary Committee, with their unwavering dedication, controlled all policy decisions and financial matters. The first Honorary Secretary, N Wittenberg, a former Honorary Secretary of the Cape Jewish Orphanage, along with the accountant, Ise Levy, opened a set of books. Their commitment was evident when, towards the end of 1920, N Wittenberg was replaced by Percy Trappler, who remained in office for many years, followed by John Weinreich. It was not until 30 July 1922 that the purchase of a typewriter was minuted with the qualifier that it was essential for their work! A Lady’s Committee was constituted and chaired by Mrs M Rosen, who played an ever-increasing role, particularly in canvassing for funds. On 29 August 1920, it was determined that ladies be allowed to serve on the Executive. Until 1931, the Committee consisted of 24 members, when it was increased to 30 – 15 men and 15 women.
Dr Solomon F Kark -who also served the Cape Jewish Orphanage- was asked to serve as an Honorary medical doctor. Dr Robert Forsyth, a gentile, also offered his services for free. The Honorary dentist was a Dr Julius Figdor. By 1934, the Honorary medical officers had increased to four general practitioners (A Berelowitz, MN Gelb, E Liberman and J Weinberg), two ophthalmic surgeons (D Katz and B Kay), an Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon (Robert Woolf) and a Dental surgeon (J Gordon). Besides Honorary attorneys (Warshaw, Bloomberg & Co, and C & A Friedlander) and auditors (Messrs Levy & Co), the Home also listed an Honorary hairdresser, Mr M Sher. In March 1926, Dr Rebecca Katz offered to act as an Honorary doctor.
The original staff included a Matron who was required to be of the Jewish faith (Mrs Abrahamson), a domestic servant and a trained nurse. At the beginning of 1922, Mrs Tolano and her sister, Mrs Woodberg, were engaged as Matron and cook. In February 1923, the Matron was replaced by Mrs Phillips. On 28 February 1926, for the first time on record, a petition was received from the residents for the appointment of a new Matron. In June 1926, it was recorded that the Matron had resigned as she had been appointed to the Cape Jewish Orphanage. In the same year, Mrs Franks was appointed and stayed at the Home until 1939, when she resigned due to ill health. Mrs Gift replaced her.
In 1934, a Secretary, John Carasov, former Secretary of the Cape Jewish Orphanage, was employed. Carasov was succeeded in October 1935 by Ellis M Zion, the first full-time Secretary. Ellis Zion was married to a German Jewess, Klara Hubner. Their daughter, Renee Rod, remembers her mother visiting town every Friday morning to buy flowers at the well-known Adderley Street Flower Market to bring to the Home. The flowers were placed in small vases. As a child, Renee used to distribute them to all of the rooms together with a bar of chocolate. Today, Renee is a resident of Highlands House.
Besides subscriptions from individuals and communal organisations, the community came together in fundraisers organised by the Committee on occasion. In June 1921, two play performances, “Martin Chuzzlewit”, were staged at the Railway Institute, raising GBP 106. In October 1923, a Simchas Torah ball held in the Cape Town City Hall was so successful that it was decided to make it an annual event. Over the years, the Ladies Committee, with the support of the community, played an increasing role in fundraising, mainly due to the efforts of Amelia Stodel, the wife of impresario and sportsman Harry Stodel, who was the longest-serving Chairlady of Oranjia, the Cape Jewish Orphanage. During June and July 1929, together with the Matron, Mrs Franks, she made a tour of the Cape Province, returning with 30 new subscribers for both institutions.
In February 1934, it was determined—subject to the Committee’sCommittee’s approval—that for a donation of GBP 100 and over, one could have a room commemorated in one’s name; for GBP 50 and over, one could have a plaque affixed above a bed; and for GBP 25 and over, one could have one’s name inscribed on a Memorial board.
Acknowledgement
We profoundly thank Veronica Penkin Belling, who meticulously compiled the majority of our historical archives into a Centennial Volume published in 2016, ISBN 0780620718110. Her work is a testament to the importance of preserving our past and the invaluable insights it provides into the Jewish history of the Western Cape.