"A History of the South African Jews: From The Pale to Pretoria – Part 1" with Ralph Cilevitz

From crowded shtetls to the southern tip of Africa, this is a story of movement, hope, and belonging.

Step into the world of Jewish emigrants who left the towns and villages of the Pale of Settlement and travelled across continents to South Africa’s cities and remote dorps. Most were young and alone, carrying little more than a small suitcase and the blessings of their families.

Through vivid accounts, photographs, and stories handed down, Ralph Cilevitz follows their path - from the railways of Eastern Europe to the harbors of Hamburg and Southampton, and finally to Cape Town and beyond.

Part 1 traces this journey from 1890 to the great wave of migration before the First World War - a chapter of courage, endurance, and the making of South African Jewish life.

Ralph Cilevitz was born in South Africa and studied electronic and mechanical engineering before emigrating to Canada in 1979.…