Beyachad Library – not just a collection of books

LIONEL SLIER

The Jewish community in South Africa is rich in heritage and history, but its history is only as good as the historical books and digital means in which it is preserved. Lose those books, and so much of our past will be forced to depend on word of mouth for remembrance.

To preserve our history, Johannesburg Jewry has the Issie Maisels Library at Beyachad in Raedene. The library, named in memory of one of the greatest legal minds this country has ever seen, and also president of the South African Zionist Federation, once held pride of place. But today few people even know where it is and rumours persist, despite denials, that its future is uncertain.

Librarian Maxine Fine, however, says there is reason to be optimistic about the library’s future.

The library contains historical books about the early Jewish arrivals in Johannesburg. It has newspapers dating back to its origins as a mining town in 1886. It has pamphlets, press cuttings and pictorial material on practically every facet of Jewish learning and history, ranging from the community’s earliest beginnings to the present.

The library moved to its present premises in 1994 when Zion Centre on the edge of the Johannesburg CBD was vacated. The Jewish Board of Deputies, the SA Zionist Federation, the Israel United Appeal, among others, moved to Raedene.

The library was successful. It attracted scholars, researchers, historians, journalists and members of the public who came to borrow books. The archival material was excellent and the books by South African Jewish authors as well as Israeli books, were greatly appreciated. Often there was a waiting list to borrow books…

Eighty-year-old Jack Padolsky remembers that the library was a place where one could come and relax in a pleasant atmosphere. “The librarians were always helpful and often, when doing research, I would be offered a cup of tea.’’

In 2014, however, a decision was taken that the library was “an unnecessary expense” and should be closed down. Sections of the community reacted with shock and anger and raised their voices.

A sort of compromise was reached: The library would be downsized. It would no longer be a lending library, but only open for research purposes. About one-third of the library space was taken away and given to Beth Hatefutsoth, an estimable organisation in its own right which is compiling books about the early Jewish country communities.

Fortunately sanity of a sort prevailed. The library was saved, but changes were made. Some staff had to go and Fine, a new librarian was engaged. A glass wall was built, cutting off public access to the reference section. Only Fine could go in there. The fiction section was discontinued… But the library prevailed.

Fine has been reorganising the records and catalogues, the lists and the periodicals and the newspapers. Now the lending library has been restarted with books of fiction as well as non-fiction, mostly Jewish and Israeli. She also mentioned the extensive DVD library which long- time library assistant, Eric Machado runs.

So, how did the latest rumours of the library’s uncertain future start? A past employee of the library said that there was always this feeling that because the library was not making money it was a burden. “We never felt that we had job security there. Funding for new books was a joke.” 

Isaac Reznik, the well-known commentator on Jewish life, commented that since when were libraries expected to make money? “They provide the community with a service. They serve to educate the community. They guard and preserve the records and the history of the community.’’

Alas, members of the Jewish community are not great supporters of the library, but Fine hopes that this will change. She remains optimistic about the library’s future.

Fine is planning social events with guest speakers, have meetings, book launches and discussions with the general public in the space. She added that, as with most libraries, donations of books, documents and publications were very welcome- and of course, donations. 

It seems to be a fact of life at Beyachad Library, that rumours will come and rumours will go. Yet for those who care about the library, it is clear that eternal vigilance is needed.