Sydney Oblowitz - Volunteer SAAF 12th Sqaudron Boston Bombers WWII
[12/12/10] Welcome to the Life Story of Sydney Oblowitz, aged 95. Sydney lives in Cape Town, South Africa and at 95 still has a remarkable recall of events, facts and people from years past. He was born in the quaint fishing village of Hermanus outside of Cape Town on 26th September 1915. His parents immigrated to South Africa from Eastern Europe in the early 1900′s to escape persecution and to find a better life.
Sydney was happily married to his late wife Sarah Oblowitz (nee Cohen) for over 60 years, living for the majority of it in Vredehoek Avenue, Cape Town where Sarah’s piano playing and love for music filled their home. They had 4 sons: Jeffrey, who died tragically in a car accident aged just 32, Leonard who now lives in Europe, Danny who lives in Australia and Eddie who lives in Cape Town. Sydney is also a proud grandfather and it was one of his grandchildren, Ronen Oblowitz, aged 16 (Eddie’s son) who conducted this Life Stories interview.
In it you will enjoy anecdotes and photographs from Sydney’s life growing up in Hermanus, rare colour film of his and Sarah’s wedding at the Garden Synagogue in Cape Town in 1940, fascinating stories and photos describing Sydney’s experiences in World War II and the Six Day War and wonderful footage of Sarah playing her beloved piano at the Oblowitz home in Cape Town.
Movie Trailer: ‘My Life – Sydney Oblowitz’
Part 1: Sydney’s parents come to South Africa, info on Sydney’s father Jacob Zelig, Sydney’s family geneology.
Part 2:Sydney’s mom Rachel, stories from Sydney’s childhood in Hermanus
Part 3: Meeting Sarah and getting married: includes colour wedding film (1940)
Part 4: Stories from WWII,Tobrouk and the Middle East Campaign.
Part 5: Sarah Oblowitz’s love for music: includes film of the late Sarah at her beloved piano.
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Part 6: Raising the Oblowitz boys, the death of Jeffrey, Sydney volunteers for the Six Day War.
Part 7:Sydney’s secrets to over 60 years of happy marriage, Sydney’s current motto: ‘Every day is precious’
Sydney Oblowitz during WWII - Member of SAAF No 12 Sqaudron Boston Bomber
Sydney's father Jacob Zelig Oblowitz (2nd right) aged 18, played French horn in the Russian Army
An older Jacob Zelig Oblowitz, Sydney's father
Sydney's wife Sarah Oblowitz as a teenager with her mother Ada Cohen (nee Furman)
Sydney's mother Rachel Oblowitz
Sarah (nee Cohen) and Sydney Oblowitz were married at the Gardens Synagogue in Cape Town, South Africa in 1940
Hermanus 1906: Sydney's father's store 'Oblowitz General Dealers' with the family home in the foreground.
Sydney Oblowitz, WWII
Sydney (centre) - Middle East, WWII
(1940) Sydney and Sarah on their honeymoon, Lourensford Estate in Somerset West outside of Cape Town
Sydney during WWII - at the Western Wall in Jerusalem
Sydney and Sarah on honeymoon in 1940
Marriage of Edel Cohen & Ada Cohen, Sydney's late wife Sarah's parents
Sydney's father's receipt for the purchase of a 'bioscope' in Hermanus from Mr Schlessinger
Hermanus - The fishing village outside of Cape Town where Sydney was born
Jacob's mother Rachel
WWII - Jewish New Year greeting card from Israel
Eddy Oblowitz being interviewed by his grandson Ronen
Sarah Oblowitz - early days
Early 1900's Cape Town
Sydney and Sarah in their Vredehoek Avenue garden
WWII newspaper clip
World War II postcard featuring Sarah and Eddy
The Oblowitz's former family home, 40 Vredehoek Avenue, Cape Town
Sydney Oblowitz during WWII - Member of SAAF No 12 Sqaudron Boston Bomber
Sydney's father Jacob Zelig Oblowitz (2nd right) aged 18, played French horn in the Russian Army
An older Jacob Zelig Oblowitz, Sydney's father
Sydney's wife Sarah Oblowitz as a teenager with her mother Ada Cohen (nee Furman)
Sydney's mother Rachel Oblowitz
Sarah (nee Cohen) and Sydney Oblowitz were married at the Gardens Synagogue in Cape Town, South Africa in 1940
Hermanus 1906: Sydney's father's store 'Oblowitz General Dealers' with the family home in the foreground.
Sydney Oblowitz, WWII
Sydney (centre) - Middle East, WWII
(1940) Sydney and Sarah on their honeymoon, Lourensford Estate in Somerset West outside of Cape Town
Sydney during WWII - at the Western Wall in Jerusalem
Sydney and Sarah on honeymoon in 1940
Marriage of Edel Cohen & Ada Cohen, Sydney's late wife Sarah's parents
Sydney's father's receipt for the purchase of a 'bioscope' in Hermanus from Mr Schlessinger
Hermanus - The fishing village outside of Cape Town where Sydney was born
Jacob's mother Rachel
WWII - Jewish New Year greeting card from Israel
Eddy Oblowitz being interviewed by his grandson Ronen
Sarah Oblowitz - early days
Early 1900's Cape Town
Sydney and Sarah in their Vredehoek Avenue garden
WWII newspaper clip
World War II postcard featuring Sarah and Eddy
The Oblowitz's former family home, 40 Vredehoek Avenue, Cape Town
Baby Danny Oblowitz
Baby Eddy Oblowitz
The Model Drapery Store
Danny, Leonard & Jeffrey in Hermanus
Danny and Eddy
A young Jeffrey Oblowitz
Jeffrey Oblowitz makes the papers, aged 17
Sarah Oblowitz with son
Sydney and Sarah Oblowitz with the boys
The late Jeffrey Oblowitz
Sarah Oblowitz at her beloved piano
Oblowitz clan in Hermanus
Sydney and Sarah, married for over 60 years
Family gathering - Sabbath or high holidays
Sydney, son Leonard and Sarah Oblowitz
Sydney and Sarah
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