DR RUPERT – A TYCOON WITH A SOCIAL CONSCIENCE – JANUARY 2006

The late Dr Anton Rupert, with Rabbi Silberhaft. Between them is Irma Stern's 1916 painting "The Eternal Child".

Tobacco tycoon Dr Anton Rupert, who passed away last week at the age of 89, was passionately committed to the preservation of South African history. Towards the end of this life, this included sponsoring the research and publication of a history of the Jewish community of Graaff-Reinet, his hometown. Rupert offered to sponsor the publication after meeting with Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft, Spiritual Leader to the Country Communities. Rabbi Silberhaft had been in Graaff-Reinet to oversee the upgrading of the town's historic Jewish cemetery, the third oldest Jewish cemetery in the country.

The booklet, researched and written by Linda Behr at the S A Friends of Beth Hatefutsoth, eventually appeared in October 1999 under the title: "The Jewish Community of Graaff-Reinet - A Brief History". The publication was dedicated to Rupert, "son and benefactor of Graaff-Reinet, for his love of this historic town and its people". Copies were made available for distribution at the Graaff-Reinet Publicity Association.

Rabbi Silberhaft maintained his association with Rupert, even after the Graaff-Reinet project had come to fruition. Speaking on Radio 702 after his passing, he described the late tycoon as "a thoroughly charming gentleman, who passion for preserving and promoting South African history and culture was unique and an inspiration".

Amongst other things, Rupert was the owner of the largest collection of the paintings of the South African Jewish artist Irma Stern. Rupert's own meteoric rise began with his manufacturing cigarettes in his garage in the 1940s and culminated in the establishment of a business empire spanning several continents and with assets worth an estimated $1.7 billion.