Giving voice to 160 years of Jacaranda Jews

The history of Pretoria Jewry, told in Jacaranda Jews: Voices from Pretoria 1865–2025, is a rich and fascinating one. The story of how that book came into being, told at Limmud Johannesburg, is as interesting. 

Spanning 160 years, from the arrival of the first known Jew in Pretoria, the book tells of a community that’s played a far greater role in the life of South Africa’s capital than its size might suggest. 

Many had assumed the book would simply follow on from the 1987 publication, which documented the community’s story from the late 1800s to 1930. But Jacaranda Jews is neither a sequel nor a supplement. It is a comprehensive history of Pretoria Jewry, beginning in 1865 and continuing through to 2025. 

Diane Wolfson, who was part of the editorial team responsible for bringing this history to readers, told how just as the project began gathering momentum, the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a standstill. Meetings stopped, research slowed, and people became isolated behind masks and computer screens. Tragically, some of the Pretoria community’s precious historical memory was lost as people passed away. 

For a time, the project seemed destined to become another piece of unfinished history. Fortunately, as Wolfson put it, “Jews are stubborn – and Pretorian Jews perhaps even more so.” Once work resumed, there was no stopping the team, and five years after the renewed effort began, the result was finally on the table. 

To get there, families opened cupboards and drawers that hadn’t been touched for decades. Old photographs emerged from albums, letters were discovered, and stories that had previously been shared only around dining tables became part of the permanent historical record. 

With those memories came an enormous responsibility, said Wolfson. Because ultimately, Jacaranda Jews isn’t really about buildings, committees, or dates. It’s about people, the men and women who built businesses, raised families, established institutions, supported charities, led congregations, and contributed to the development of Pretoria and South Africa. 

And what remarkable people they were. 

Among the stories uncovered are those of two Jewish Nobel Prize winners, judges, a mayor, leading academics, prominent rabbis who went on to serve communities around the world, a composer who contributed to South Africa’s national anthem, and a Spanish dancer honoured by the King of Spain. 

Not bad for a community often described simply as “small”. 

Wolfson also reflected on the special character brought by the size of the community. 

“There’s a certain warmth and closeness that comes from being part of a smaller community,” she said. “People often joke that everyone knew everyone else’s business, and that is true! But it also meant that people looked after one another.” 

Jewish geography, she noted, remains a central part of community life and Pretoria is a perfect example of this enduring sense of connection. 

The team has also compiled a list of “Remarkable Pretoria Jewish Stories” for anyone wishing to explore some of the community’s personalities and achievements in greater detail. 

Wolfson said perhaps the greatest lesson of the Jacaranda Jews project is that history doesn’t preserve itself. 

If a story isn’t recorded, it disappears. If photographs aren’t labelled, future generations may never know who the smiling faces are. If memories aren’t written down, they disappear with the last person who remembers them. 

That is why Jacaranda Jews matters. It’s not simply a record of the past; it’s a gift to the future. The Hebrew phrase l’dor v’dor (from generation to generation) is woven through Jewish life. In this book, that principle has been given tangible form. 

Perhaps the most important message from the Limmud presentation was that people should encourage parents and grandparents to record their memories – and not just the important milestones. Their childhoods, their parents and grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, the places they lived, the schools they attended, the family stories, and even the seemingly insignificant details can become invaluable to future generations. 

And those who are themselves the oldest generation should do the same. 

With technology making it easier than ever to record personal histories, there’s little reason for these stories to be lost. A small family book, accompanied by photographs, can become a treasured legacy for children, grandchildren, and generations yet to come.