GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Local Jewish descendants, with the generous assistance of Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft, Country Communities Rabbi of the SAJBD, have recently gone through great lengths to have the Jewish 'Smouse' plaque monument moved and restored after it was broken.
This is the third time since the erection of the plaque that it had proven necessary to replace it. The first plaque was made out of metal and stolen soon after the unveiling in 1989.
Two replacements plaques were then made from granite, one of which can now be seen as part of the exhibit at the Reinet House. The other one was affixed to the stone in College Road.
The third replacement of the plaque followed little more than a month ago after the marble granite was found broken, lying at the base of the monument rock.
"We are not sure if it was vandalised. I cannot say that, but I am grateful that it was replaced and moved to a place where it is easier to access," said local Jew, Brian Hough.
The councillor for Ward 2, Linda Botha said that help was not forthcoming from the local municipality after the breaking of the plaque was reported.
She said Hough and a visiting Rabbi arranged to have a new plaque made.
"We care about our town's history and we need the community to also care enough about the town's heritage to safeguard it," said Botha.
Locals and passersby are urged to visit the monument - a large piece of dolerite which has the memorial tribute affixed to - which is situated in front of the SAPS College on the southern outskirts of Graaff-Reinet as a roadside memorial.
The monument was originally erected to honour the pioneer Jewish pedlars, known as "smouse", who traded in outlying and remote country districts.
They supplied their customers with many of the necessities of life. In the course of their trading, they contributed to the economic development of the town of Graaff-Reinet and the country as a whole.
Their contribution to the growth of the Karoo economy was pivotal and in times past almost every Karoo town had an active Jewish community and synagogue, however, their numbers have dwindled and the Jewish community has all but disappeared from the Karoo.
An article about the erection of the original Jewish 'Smouse' plaque was published in the Advertiser on 18 September 1989.
The new plaque has been affixed to the original rock.
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