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| Jenny Goldsmith (nee Galkoff) |
| copyright www.galkoff.com 2006 |
| Name: Jenny Goldsmith DOB: 12th March 1912 DOD: 12th January 2006 Spouse: Joe Children: Lynne and Rochelle Birthplace: 29 Pembroke Place, Liverpool Occupation: n/a |
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| Profile – Jenny Goldsmith nee Galkoff Born 29, Pembroke Place, Liverpool 12th March 1912 I was born in Liverpool, the third child of Percy and Bertha Galkoff. When I was 4 years old, I went as a day pupil to Dr. Fox boarding school then on to Rathbone School where I won a scholarship. I worked for my father as a secretary and served at the delicatessen counter of his shop. I remember the tram cars passing by all the shops . We used to go to the pier head and go on a boat to New Brighton. The fare was 2 pence for ½ hour ride. We used to see all the large liners going to Africa, America etc like the Queen Mary and the Queen Elizabeth. We moved to a house in Dumbabin Road, at the corner of Queen’s Rd, opposite the Childwall Synagogue.This was an area where a lot of Jewish people lived at this time. My father (called by us children Da) was on the committee of the Synagogue and was a well-respected member attending the daily minyan . I remember that he even contributed the silver for the Torah Scrolls. During the Second World War, Liverpool, being a port, was bombed so many people moved out to the country. We moved to Hesketh Bank, to a farm about a hour away and came by car to work every morning and returned in the evening. We decided to make our home in Southport, a seaside town. I was called up to do W.V.S (Women’s Voluntary Service) in the army and I was made a librarian in the Southport Military Hospital and helped the nurses to look after the soldiers. The Jewish Ladies Guild opened a small hall in Southport for the Jewish Soldiers. There were many from America living in the area. We opened in the evening for tea and light food and it was a social place for the soldiers to come to. I always remember running back home at about 10 pm when the sirens started. I married Joe Goldsmith from Croydon, Surrey (now London) in 1948, and my two daughters were born there. He was a friend of my brother Cyril, who worked as a dentist in Croydon before the Second World War. Joe had just been demobbed from the Army. When he returned, he continued his job as an assistant manager for The Britannic Assurance Company. When he was made a manager, we moved to Gillingham, Kent. We got in touch with the nearest Synagogue in Chatham and soon made lots of friends. We then moved to the branch in Southampton which had a small Jewish community. We lived in a modern house with a large garden. As there was not a lot of social life, I joined the Bournemoth Wizo which was ¾ hour away by train. I used to bring my Southampton friends to the Wizo social events. I was on the committee in Bournemouth and they honoured me by putting my name on the board of the Wizo Baby Home in Jerusalem, for the work I did for Wizo. About 2 years before Joe retired, after both daughters had got married, we bought a flat that was just being built near the sea in Bournemouth. We used to go on Fridays when Joe left the office till Sunday evening. We joined the Bournemouth Hebrew Congregation and were active in all the societies. We had an excellent social life. When Joe finally retired we were well settled in. I was then able to do lots of social work. I helped in the Kindergarten, ran the Children’s library and on Sunday mornings, I ran the Shul’s shop selling Hebrew books, and Barmitzvah presents. My Dear Husband died in August 1988 when we were in Israel for my Grandson’s Barmitzvah and he is buried in Haifa. After 4 years of living on my own, I decided to make Aliyah to live with my younger daughter who had moved into an apartment which had space for a “granny flat”. The flat overlooks the sea and I have my own front door and small garden. The weather suits me much better. My elder daughter, Rochelle, comes to visit me often and now that her daughter Elana, made aliyah over 2 years ago, I have 4 grandchildren living in Israel. I love the sunshine and try to keep active, walking every day, even though I will be 93 on my next birthday in March 2005. I enjoy a weekly game of bridge and still belong to Wizo. I read a lot and people come to visit me. I extend an invitation to any of the Galkoff family to come and see me in Haifa. |
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| Jenny passed away in January 2006. You can read the eulogies from her funeral and stonesetting by clicking here. |