Arnold Helfet (1911 - 1983)

Arnold Helfet is my 1st cousin 2x removed. Helfet family HERE

Parents: Leon Helfet (1877 - 1945) and Sarah Ann Levin (1880 - 1953)

Tombstones for his parents Leon Helfet and Sarah Ann Levin. They are both buried in the Pinelands no 1 Jewish Cemetery in Cape Town, South Africa

Born: 10 March 1911 in Calvinia, South Africa

HELFET. On the 10th of March, at Calvinia, C.P., South Africa, to Mr. and Mrs. Leon Helfet (née Sara Levin, Liverpool), a son (Jewish Chronicle).

Arnold Helfet

Ceres

Cape province

Dec 6th 1914

Dearest Hannah

Am sending you, at last, a photo of my little family. Only regret that my dear hubby is not with us, but as there is such a good photographer here, it was an opportunity not to be missed, especially as I wanted to introduce you to my darling little Girlie. She is very tiny here but T.G. she is really a splendid child for her age.

Baba is in his favourite cadet attitude. It is too bad that he is not smiling, for smile come far more natural to him than seriousness in fact it was quite an effort for him to keep his face straight and you will see in Esther’s that the smile is nearly bursting through. Hope you like our little group. 

Sincerely trust all is well with you all.

Do write, dear, am longing to hear from you again.

With ever fond love from us all to you and your loving sister. Sara

The picture is as follows: Ceres, Cape Province, South Africa, December 1914. L-R, Cyril Helfet, Girlie Helfet (on the maid Esther's lap), Arnold Helfet, Sara Helfet and Arthur Helfet

I understand, that the position obtained by Arnold Helfet, at the recent examinations, is one that his parents and also the local High School can be proud of. He headed the list of successful candidates at the local High School, but it now transpires that he stands second on the list of successful candidates in the  Cape Province. To attain such a high position needs hard work.  there is no doubt that the co-operation between teachers and pupil has reaped the fruits of persistent training. (undated article in his mother's scrapbook, probably dated around 1927)

Occupation: Businessman, owned a Ford motor dealership, Adelphi Motors, in Cape Town

Married: Edna Landsman on 7 September 1941 in South Africa. Arnold was age 30 and Edna age 20

First page of Edna and Arnold's ante-nuptial contract dated Cape Town 4 September 1941

Children

Their first child was born in 1943 when Arnold was 32 and Edna 21. Their last child was born in 1953 when Arnold was 42 and Edna 32 

• Linda Gail Helfet 1943 -
• Edsel Keith Helfet 1946 -
• Leon Michael Helfet 1950 - 1952
• Clive Helfet 1953 - 

Back row: Cyril Helfet, Arthur Helfet. Front row. Herzl Helfet, Sara Helfet, Arnold Helfet

Arnold with his siblings and their spouses in Cape Town on 23 January 1960. Back row: Cyril Helfet, Edna Helfet (Nee Landsman), Arnold Helfet, Theo Helfet, Celia Helfet (Nee Polen), Arthur Helfet

Front row Girlie Meyers (Nee Helfet), Cynthia Helfet (Nee Bernstein), Nathalie Helfet (Nee Freedman) 

Travel

A postcard of the family in 1912. Postmarked Kloof Street Cape Town May 8, 1912 and addressed to Hannah Levin, Arnold's aunt. Arnold is seated on his mother's lap. The card says "So that you should recognise us when we meet -. Love Sara (I spoil the group)

The reason Sarah sent the postcard to Hannah was that the family travelled to England in May 1912 aboard the Galician arriving in Southampton on 30 May 1912. Sarah took her three children with her, Arthur, Cyril and Arnold

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Arnold and Edna travelling from Cape Town to Southampton on the Dominion Monarch arriving on 7 August 1952 and then returning from Southampton to Cape Town on the Oranjefontein on 26 November 1952

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Arnold flying from Rome to New York on 2 June 1958

Biographical details

HELFET, Arnold. Director of Companies. Born Calvinia, Cape, 10th (March, 1911, son of Leon and Sara Helfet. Educated in Calvinia. Director of Adelphi Motors (Pty.) Ltd., and Adelphi Investments (Pty.) Ltd. Previously Director of Helfet Motors (Pty.) Ltd. Was Hon. Secretary of the Calvinia Hebrew Congregation in the 1930's and was Hon. Treasurer and Vice-President of Cape Town Jewish Reform Congregation in the 1950's. Member, Clovelly Country Club, King David Country Club and Sea Point Rotary Club. Married Edna Landsman, 1941; sons, one daughter. Recreations: Golf, charitable work. Add.: 40, Forest Drive, Pinelands, Cape Town. (In South African Jewry 1967-68 Edition)

Arnold, born in 1911, joined his father in his motor, business, which he eventually took over on the latter's retirement, while also doing journalism and news reporting. He and his family left Calvinia to settle in Cape Town in 1947, exactly half a century after his father settled as a young man in Calvinia. He retired from a motor business in Sea Point in 1972 and returned to journalism. He and his wife Edna have a daughter and two sons. (written by his brother Arthur Helfet)

Journalism

His daughter Linda has provided the following information about Arthur's journalism career:

Arthur was very proud to have been a cub reporter and later an adult reporter for REUTERS in London. He was their eyes and ears on the ground for the Karoo region of South Africa, and it was his reporting which appeared on Campbell’s land-speed trials of 1929 at Verneukpan in the “Blue Bird”.

After retirement from Adelphi Motors Arnold had a regular column in one of the daily Cape newspapers where he wrote about Apartheid and Israel. 

Having been unable to take up either the REUTERS or the University of Cape Town scholarships he had been awarded because he had to take over the family business due to his Father’s failing health, it meant a lot to him to use his intellectual gifts. My parents found another and highly pleasurable way to educate themselves by “collecting Countries” as he called it. They travelled to many corners of the world, learning about food, art, other cultures ... and made many friends along the way. 

My brothers and I benefited greatly by listening to their endless stories and being guided by them when we fled the close confines of Apartheid.

Book

South Africa by Gerald Cubit & Arnold Helfet, 1975, 208p.

Death

28 May 1983 (16 Sivan 5743) at age 72 in Cape Town, South Africa and is buried in the Pinelands 1 Jewish Cemetery there

Tombstone for Arnold Helfet in the Pinelands 2 Jewish Cemetery in Cape Town, South Africa, grave no 4291 

The inscription is: 

ARNOLD HELFET

10.3.1911-28.5.1983

MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU

WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH

EDNA, LINDA, KEITH

Death certificate for Arnold. He died from a heart attack

Death notice for Arnold

The first page of Arnold's will dated 4 May 1982

Residences

In Calvinia Arnold and his family lived at Carmel Villa in 19 Pastorie Street, which his father Leon had built. It is now a bed and breakfast establishment

Arnold and Edna and their family lived at 40 Forest Drive, Pinelands, Cape Town, South Africa. The bottom photo was taken by Jon Helfet on a visit to Cape Town in 2025

At the time of Arnold's death they were living at 301 Somerset Place, 7 Beach Rd, Mouille Point, Cape Town, South Africa

Article

An article by Arnold Helfet about his family and the Jewish community in Calvinia. It was published in Die Buurman in 1977 Afrikaans and I have translated it into English using Google translate

The original in Afrikaans