David Sandler honoured guest at Arcadian do

JULES GORDON

The Old Arcadian Association (Old Arcs) held a special reunion to honour David Solly Sandler, a former Arcadian, who has lived in Australia for the past 30 years.

Sandler is a writer and collator of Jewish history and to date has published nine books.

Jules Gordon, chairman of The Old Arcs Committee, told the audience about Sandler’s first two books, “100 Years of Arc Memories”, and “More Arc Memories”, for which he had collected memories, stories and photographs from many of the people who had been residents over the years of Arcadia Jewish Orphanage, in Parktown, Johannesburg.

Through book sales and also sales of “The Arc Movie”, over R1,2 million has been raised for Arcadia.

Through his weekly e-mails Sandler has managed to keep everyone in touch, as spread around the world they might now be.

By doing this, former Arcadians have been able to maintain their “Arc Bond and Spirit of Togetherness and Brotherhood” and their heritage.

A painting by South African artist Shani Krebbs – also a former Arcadian – was presented to Sandler.

Micheal Sieff, CEO of the Chevrah Kadisha, presented a video showing the new state-of-the-art building for Arcadia, which is currently being erected in Sandringham, Johannesburg, due for completion by year end.

The audience – some of them in their late 80s and 90s – thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon, the company and the tea and snacks as they reminisced and caught up with each other’s news.