This Was a Man

Had YOU been granted the unique opportunity to read YOUR grandfather's biography… would YOU??

This message will hopefully reach all of us who owe their very existence to 

Isaac Ochberg z"l.

"Daddy Ochberg" was the 'father' of OUR forebears.  

He was, therefore, OUR grandfather! 

THE LIFE STORY OF ISAAC OCHBERG 1878-1937 

A 2014 re-print of the original book by Bertha Epstein, (published 1974) by kind permission of the biological Ochberg family.

There are two major events indelibly engraved in our collective memories  - the rescue of the Ochberg Orphans from the perils of Eastern Europe in 1921, affording them new lives in South Africa, and the mammoth bequest to the JNF which established a record that stands to this very day. 

But the story of Isaac Ochberg reveals very much more than this.

Editing the script according to the wishes of the Ochberg Family and composing the addendum together with my good friend, acclaimed compiler and champion of the Ochberg legacy and 'partner' in this venture, David Solly Sandler, presented me with the opportunity to re-read every word and to be inspired once again by the virtues of the man known to us as 'Daddy Ochberg'. 

The author, Bertha Epstein, was Isaac's daughter so she would have been forgiven should she have embellished some aspects of her father's life.  However, this is not the case.  When she writes of his generosity, his character is reflected in the chapter listing his bequests. Proof indeed. Just some of the recipients of his generosity - local Jewish charities, the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Jewish poor of Cape Town, recreation facilities for Cape Coloured children, dowries and wedding gifts for poor Jewish girls, the Salvation Army, Old Aged Homes, Hospitals, Hebrew schools and Zionist causes.

When she describes his business acumen, the chapters dealing with his derelict ship exploits, ventures into scrap metal, cinemas, elegant stores, brickfields, astute investments - among which was the manufacture of British army uniforms in WW1 - bear eloquent testimony to his foresight.

A lesser known story is that of HMS 'Penelope', a British battleship which lay stranded for many years close to the beach near Simonstown.  Isaac bought the ship, a move which brought some amusement to the locals, intending to sell it as scrap but, after a lengthy series of exploits well documented in the book, sold it in Genoa and realised a handsome profit.  "He spoke of this incident as one of his best achievements".

The tragic events of his personal life - his father killed in an railway accident, his mother stricken by a most virulent cancer, two children died young, two afflicted by an incurable disability, and his darling youngest daughter Ruth died suddenly, shortly after her 17th birthday.

The heartwarming account of the 1971 Golden Jubilee describing the overwhelming emotional event which enabled almost all the original orphans to renew acquaintance ends with this comment by the author - "For me too, it had been a most momentous occasion.  Honour had been paid where honour was due, with love and affection, in the living presence of my Father's greatest humanitarian achievement.  This had indeed been a Golden Jubilee to remember; the reunion of Isaac Ochberg and his beloved pogrom orphan children.  God bless them all."

In addressing you, my fellow descendants, I am acutely aware that I am preaching to the converted when I state that most of us have a sparse record of our family history pre-1921.  After all, our forebears were orphans.  I know how much I would value a manuscript detailing the life and times of my biological antecedents - perhaps a forlorn wish.  Possession of this book changes all that. I suggest that it warrants pride of place to grace the bookshelf of every family with an Ochberg connection.

If not for the fortitude of this one great man, we descendants would not exist. In the spirit of his legacy, proceeds of sales will be directed to Arcadia Orphanage in Johannesburg and the American Joint Distribution Committee (The Joint).


The book, THIS WAS A MAN is on sale now!

For residents of Israel - contact Bennie Penzik - Price 88 shekels.  Contact details below.
For the Rest of the World - contact David Solly Sandler by email - sedsand@iinet.net.au

Bennie Penzik
Sderot Bialik 45-C, Aptmt 6
Ramat Hasharon
ISRAEL 47205

Tel:  03-540-6692
Fax: 03-549-2969
Mobile: 054-8133359 
eMail: benzipen@smile.net.il