Lifestyle
Jacaranda Jews honoured in new book
A record 190 guests filled the lounge at Jaffa Accommodation for Fellow Aged in Pretoria on Sunday, 26 October, for the launch of the book Jacaranda Jews Voices from Pretoria 1865-2025.
Master of ceremonies Paula Slier was the favourite of the day, as she mentioned how the first saplings of Jacaranda trees were planted in 1888, and like the Jacaranda, the book is about the families and stories that took root here, growing and flowering across generations. With humour and charm, she mentioned how this book is our tribute to the dreamers, the doers, and the builders of community, and the enduring beauty of life in the Jacaranda City.
Gary Nowosenetz, the chairperson of the Pretoria Council of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) said he was in awe at those whose hard labour over five years had created this work of art, and made presentations to the three stalwarts, Yvonne Eskell-Klagsbrun; Diane Wolfson; and Carol Baron.
Candles were lit representing past, present, and future generations who built, nurtured, and continue to sustain the Pretoria Jewish community. Willie Pokroy, the oldest member of the community, who recently turned 101, symbolised roots, reliance, and tradition; Sharon Yuter represented leadership, service, and continuity, and a candle was lit by Mia Baron, a 10-year-old student. This was followed by the Baron family, uniting all three generations still living in Pretoria today.
Myra Egdes, secretary of the Pretoria Council SAJBD for 40 years, gave a short summary of her experiences followed by Estelle Lief, representative of the Bet Menorah Progressive community.
The event concluded with everyone in the room singing along to the well-known old school war song “We are marching to Pretoria”, accompanied by Nathan Noche on the piano.
Roger Price
July 2, 2026 at 12:14 am
Being born in 1940 this was my Community growing up and my parents, Barney and Freda Price were an integrative part of Pretoria Culture in both business and communal activities.
Who remembers The Invisible Mending Company, opened in 1940 in the middle of WW II, and my enterprising Dad found little vacuum powered crochet-hooks that could mend ladders in nylon stockings. I remember, as a small boy, watching these Italian ladies sitting at tables in front of the various branches while women lined up with their laddered stockings. If I recall he charged sixpence a ladder. He was also the ‘pioneer’ in replacing worn collars and cuffs on perfectly ‘otherwise good’ shirts. We lived at 110 Mackenzie Street directly over the road from the Brooklyn Bowling Club where my Mom was Club Champion more times than I can remember. I went to CBC and when I came home from school, she and I would practice ‘singles’ for 2-3 hours every afternoon. She opened The Needlewoman – right next door to The City Centre branch of The Invisible Mending Company and was a noted ‘needlewoman’ with much of her work on display at various shows. Who still remembers ‘Radiodoc’ the paging company I started in 1969 using the old ‘Doctors Telephone Service 43231 (how is it possible to remember such detail). The sons of some of my original doctors are here in Sydney. My sister, Pam, passed away in Johannesburg a few years ago at 87 and I am going strong in Sydney Australia where I am still in active practice and travel around the world teaching and lecturing in’Sleep and Breathing Disorders’. I released a book recently which covers a .lifetime of work and weaves in the early days at Davis Pharmacy Lyttleton and then Eastwood Park Pharmacy, in Arcadia. ‘The Way We Breathe Is Killing Us’ – Amazon print and Kindle. Sadly, not a lot of us left in the age group – we grew up in special times.