‘Boerejode – Jews in the Boer Armed Forces, 1899-1902’ by local journalist and historian David Saks is now available in its second printing. The first edition appeared in a limited print run earlier this year.
It elicited so much interest within the Jewish and Afrikaner communities and with military historians and genealogists and it quickly sold out. The much anticipated second edition includes interesting new information that has since come to light through readers’ input.
Many of the first editions were purchased by MyShtetl.co.za’s users and a number of them are on the waiting lists for the second printing.
About the book
This is the first full history of Jewish military participation on the Boer side during the Anglo-Boer war of 1899-1902. An estimated 300 Jews served in the Boer armed forces. These ranged from those fighting in the commandos through to medical officers, POW guards, commissariat officers and town guard members.
Individual Jews were involved in nearly all of the war’s best-known incidents, including the famous battles of Magersfontein, Colenso, Spioenkop and Paardeberg, the sieges of Mafeking, Ladysmith and Kimberley, the capture and escape of Winston Churchill and throughout the guerilla campaign. Many were interned for lengthy periods in POW camps on St Helena, Bermuda, Ceylon and elsewhere.
Based on original research conducted largely in the archives of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies, it weaves individual narratives of Jewish participants into a broader narrative of the war’s best-known events. The reminiscences of some of these “Oudstryders” (veterans) were subsequently recorded by, amongst others, Rabbi Dr L I Rabinowitz, and provide compelling and unique perspectives of the war from Jews who devoted themselves to fighting for the Boer cause.
The book features an annotated Nominal Roll of all Jewish participants known to have served in the Republican forces during the war as well as photographs from the SAJBD Archives. It includes an annotated nominal roll of all Jews known.
The first edition sold for R180.
The book is available through:
• Kollel Bookshop Ivy Common, 107 William Rd, Norwood,
• House of Judaica, Shop 38, Norwood Mall, Cnr Grant & Sixth Ave, Norwood
• The author (david@beyachad.co.za).
Previous reads on Saks’ book on MyShtetl.co.za
29 April 2010 story
10 June 2010 story
About the Author
David Saks is a writer, historian and Jewish communal professional. He has written extensively on South African Jewish, political and military history for a wide range of local and international publications. He is editor of the journal Jewish Affairs and the Associate Director of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies.
In the book’s cover picture (BELOW) is Isadore Bernitz, who was then a recent Lithuanian immigrant who joined the Free State forces
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