The Reb and the Rebel by Carmel Schrire & Gwynne Schrire

Jewish Narratives in South Africa, 1892-1913

272 pages, Paperback

21cm x 15cm

Condition: LIKE NEW: This book is almost as new, with no damage nor defects

Genres: Nonfiction * History * South Africa * Judaism

The literature surrounding the formation of 19th-century Jewish diasporic communities worldwide is extensive and diverse. Adding to this body of work are the previously unpublished autobiographical writings of two members of the Schrire family, which serve as the focal point of The Reb and the Rebel. These writings primarily cover the period from 1892 to 1913 and consist of a diary, a poem, and a memoir.

The first two pieces were penned by Reb Yehuda Leib Schrire (1851-1912) and document his travels through various countries, including Lithuania, Holland, England, and South Africa. The third piece was written by his son, Harry Nathan (1895-1980). Within these documents lies a rich social history that vividly portrays the South African Jewish communities at the turn of the 19th century.

These writings offer insight into the minutiae of life aboard a ship, the complexities of religious beliefs and practices in Lithuanian shtetls, the challenges faced by individuals on the Johannesburg goldfields and in District Six homes, and the broader global issues of mass migration, pandemics, and war. They illustrate how the formation of communities in Cape Town mirrors the traditions of der alte heym, even as the new generation embraces a lifestyle unimaginable in the Old Country.

Through detailed analyses of the historical contexts and the authors themselves, along with the inclusion of Appendices containing a genealogy, glossary, and catalogued artworks, The Reb and the Rebel brings the South African Jewish past to life.