Elizabethville, Katanga, Belgian Congo, Jan. 20-The Belgian Congo is one of the largest and most sparsely populated territories in Africa. Its enormous area of nearly 2½ million square kilometres carries a meagre white population of 18,169, while the native population is approximately 10 million. To every 1,000 square kolimetres there are thus 7.6 white persons and 4,000 blacks.
A large proportion of the white population is settled in the province of the Katanga, which adjoins Rhodesia.
The Jews in the Katanga number roughly between two and three hundred. The majority are Spanish Jews who came over from the Isle of Rhodes. There are, also, Roumanian, English, South African, Russian and Polish Jews. The language question is their most difficult problem. Three distinct tongues are spoken: French, Spanish and English. Thus their progress as a community is considerably handicapped by their inability to understand each other.
They show little interest or enthusiasm in Jewish affairs. Nevertheless, it is anticipated that a new synagogue costing £8,000 will shortly be erected.
The majority of the Jews are in business, having small stores. The two principal business houses started in the early days were in the hands of Jews, Messrs. Morris Pieters and I. Pieters. But a few months ago the latter sold out to a Belgian firm. Several other Jews are associated with the opening of Congo business. Elizabethville, the capital of the Katanga, was really opened only in 1911. Among the Jews in the wholesale trade are Messrs. Blumenthal Bros., Daniels & Co., R. Glasstone & Co., S. Salmon, Benator Bros. & Israel, J & A. Alhadeff, Morris Pieters and several others. There are others up the river carrying on big produce business, dealing principally in rice, coffee, monkey nuts, meal, ivory and beeswax.
The two largest butcheries and cattle ranches have Jews at their head-the Elekat with Mr. B. Smith and the Mefrikat with Mr. B. Granat as managing director. Both these firms run extensive farms outside Elizabethville and control the output of the meat supply in the Katanga district. There are two hotels run by Jews, the Hotel Metropole by Mr. Sidney Davies, and the Grand by Mr. J. Kemp.
Likasi, a rising town, 90 miles from Elizabethville, is practically in the hands of the Spanish Jews, who are chiefly in the Kaffir truck trade. The two butcheries in that town are branches of the Elekat and the Mefrikat.
The local paper, “The Journal” of the Katanga, is controlled by Jews, Messrs. Van Praag and Granat, who besides do a big business in printing, etc. Up to a few months ago, when the Belgian firm started, they were the only local news agency. (Continued on Page 4)
Every year there is an increase of the Jewish population, but most of the new arrivals come from Rhodes. There is also a notable increase in the number of Jews from South Africa. While the Jews mix freely with the Gentiles, there exists, however, a slight strangeness among them towards each other, a strangeness particularly noticeable between the Ashkenazim and the Sephardim. There is no doubt that the language difficulty is responsible.
As far as the relationship between Jews and Gentiles goes, there is very little anti-Semitism from the Belgian side, but there is a good deal among a few of the British section, although it is not shown to any real extent, everybody mixing freely with everyone else. Socially, the Jews, strictly speaking, keep to themselves, although there are a few visiting Gentile friends.
As far as politics are concerned, there is no such thing, and no doubt this has a great deal to do with the progress in the Congo. The Jews as a whole are doing their share and are supplying a good bit of the capital needed to build up the country.
As regards sports, the South African and English Jews and Jewesses take part in all the various outdoor games, and a Jew has twice captained the Katanga Rugby side.
At the last British Empire Day celebration, four members of the committee of eight were Jews.
Taking it all round, the Jews hold their own in all respects and there is no question but that the Jews are doing their full share towards the progress now being made in the Congo. On the Day of Atonement it was remarked by the Gentile population that the town was dead with the closing of all the Jewish business houses.
More than 300 persons attended the opening of the Jewish Home for the Aged at Waterbury. Coun. Rabbi Harry Schwartz and Rabbi D. Breslau of Temple Israel and Rabbi Harry Schwartz of Beth El were the speakers.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
