Emigration of Polish Jews to South Africa during the second Polish republic (1919–1939)

Abstract

The term “the wandering Jew” could be properly referred to the situation of Polish Jews during the Second Polish Republic. Polish Jews constituted the largest separate ethnic group within overseas emigration from Poland during the years 1918–1939. They left Poland mainly for economic, and later for political reasons. The settlement schemes were supported and sponsored by Polish governmental agencies and Jewish societies in Poland and abroad. During the years 1918–1939 about several thousand Polish Jews emigrated to South Africa. A new immigration law implemented after 1930 had seriously reduced the influx of Polish Jews. That emigration had a very permanent character and included mainly members of the lower middle class. From the great variety of social, cultural, religious and professional activity of Polish Jews who settled in South Africa a pro-Polish attitude and activity was only evident in a tiny proportion of immigrants. The pro-Polish activity of Polish Jews was focused in Johannesburg (e.g. The Polish-Hebrew Benevolent Association) and in Cape Town (e.g. The Federation of Polish Jews in the Cape). An integrating role in that activity was played by Polish consular posts.