"A History of the South African Jews: From The Pale to Pretoria – Part 2" 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 2 continues the journey into early 20th-century South Africa - from the bustle of gold and diamond mining towns to the slower pace of rural dorps. Some began as smouse with cases of cloth and pots, walking dusty roads to visit farmhouses; others ran small shops, built shuls, and kept…