Isaac Joe YODAIKEN was born in Lithuania in 1876, but lived a good many years in Dublin Ireland with his siblings, and parents (Avraham Menachem Mendel and Bassa (Lapedus) YODAIKEN until he was a man in his early twenties.
 
Leaving Dublin, he set sail for South Africa, the land of sunshine and golden opportunities. His brother Myer was already in S.A. as well as his sister Paulina who had married Louis SAKINOFSKY in Cape Town, South Africa in 1909.
 
Naturalized in Johannesburg on the 8th December 1911 (Ref. 1315), he was a Coal Merchant by trade.
 
He was also a very religious man and spent a lot of his time in Yeoville (district of Johannesburg) with the Rabbonim. (Jewish Clergy).
 
Yeoville in those days was a very Jewish area. It was also regarded as very "central", close to downtown Johannesburg and the ever popular Hillbrow (district of Johannesburg) . The Johannesburg Beth Din (Jewish Ecclesiastical Court) was in Yeoville, and shtiebel type Shuls (small Synagogues, usually in a house).
 
Later there was a larger Shul built in Yeoville with a Chazan (Cantor) and Choir but I can't say what year exactly it was built. In Yeoville's main street, Raleigh Street, there were many Jewish shop-owners.
 
Isaac Joe YODAIKEN married to Sarah FREEDMAN (born in Ireland) and had 3 children, Lionel Trevor, Clarice (Clarrie) and Florence.
 
He is lovingly remembered by his Grandchildren, (Clarrie's 3 daughters) Dawn, Merle and Lynn (all neé ROSTOVSKY) for being a kind and caring man, and showing them the ways of Yiddishkeit, always observing the Jewish Festivals and Holydays. Dawn remembers him giving her a Jewish book and gave her lectures on the "Laws of Kashrut" (Jewish dietary laws)
 
His grandchildren also remember his quick temper, and bad moods (a YODAIKEN trait) and prickly moustache.
 
Sadly he lost his only son, Lionel Trevor YODAIKEN, during WW2 but to Isaac Joe, Trevor was "lost" years beforehand when he married out of the faith. He sat Shiva (7 days of mourning) for his son, mourning him as if he were already dead.
 
Many family members looked down on him for this act, but there were (and possibly still are) certain Jewish families would do this when their children married out of the faith. It was as if that child was "dead" to them.
 
He died on the 8th April 1951, leaving his wife Sarah, and two daughters, Clarrie and Florence. He had lived the last few years of his life in an apartment in Claim Street, Hillbrow, Johannesburg.

 
Clarrie Rostovsky was a totally unselfish person who had incredible values. Throughout her life she fought for equality of man.
 
She had great compassion only giving to others and never taking. She always considered the next one first.
 
She believed in the 10 commandments and she lived by them.
 
Her love for nature was immense. She adored all that grew from the earth and came from the ocean, every tree, leaf, flower and shell. One can say, she treasured every form of life, especially birds and animals too. She had no time for anything crude, vulgar or rude.
 
She fought for all that was right. She had a very active political life in the 1950's. These were dangerous times for anyone opposing the prevailing regime in South Africa. Out of respect and concern for her husband and children she steered away from politics and concentrated on a huge role in social work, becoming the South African President of the National Council of Women.
 
She busied herself in building an old age home in Soweto and motivated the formation of the National Council of African Women, working closely with them on many projects for creating a better life for black people. She was an avert supporter of all charities and gave unselfishly.
 
During the 2nd world war she turned her home into a convalescent home for wounded soldiers. In her later years she turned her full attention to her husband who she nursed through a tough illness.
 
She was a fighter. The last fourteen and half years produced her biggest fight of all – the struggle for her own life. A severe stroke struck her down in October 1990. She was left paralyzed and unable to talk and walk. But her personality shone through and somehow she managed to communicate with others. She insisted on staying on in the home where her children were born and bred, and there she remained literally to her last day.
 
This lady was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, friend and a huge asset to mankind and deeply was respected by all that knew her.
 
This day must surely be a celebration of her full and wonderful life. She leaves her 3 daughters Merle, Dawn, Lynn and their families who will always treasure the wonderful memory of her.