Hymie Segall

1918 – 2010

By the Segall Family

Hymie Segall was born on March 18, 1918 in Bloemfontein in the Orange Free State, South Africa. His parents Jacob and Freda Segall lived in Kaffir Rivier, a trading station about 40 miles from Bloemfontein. In 1928 the family moved to Smithfield where Jacob opened a general store.

 Hymie attended the local school and as Smithfield had quite a big Jewish community in those days, – about 30 families – he learned Hebrew at cheder and had a barmitzvah. After he finished school he worked in the family business.  He joined the army reserves and was periodically called up for training in Pretoria. It was during one of these training sessions in Pretoria that he met Rose Zawels. They were married in Pretoria on December 26, 1945 and had four children.

The family lived in Smithfield until 1966 after which they moved to Pretoria.

Joining their four children in Israel, Rose and Hymie made aliyah in 1981 to Herzliya and in 1992 made Beth Protea their home, where they were among the first residents there. With their energy and enthusiasm they became the force behind some of the initiatives and activities that still continue today. In a condolence letter one of the residents wrote: “A little piece of Beth Protea died as well………..”

Hymie had a keen interest in sport: as a young man played tennis and golf and later became a champion bowler. He brought his love for bowls to Beth Protea and established an indoor bowling “green” there.

To truly appreciate Hymie, one has to look at the inner man, his subtle expressions, actions, and gentle mannerisms. He was not the clown of the party, or the main speaker, he was the back stage, the one who silently held everything together with great modesty and great strength. What you saw is what you got –no pretenses, no airs, - just a good, honest and kind guy. He was always willing to help others and firmly believed that that you do not only do for yourself, but find time to help others. Hence all the community activities that he was involved in: working for the IUA collecting money or visiting the Jewish prisoners and inmates at the Pretoria jail and the mental hospital. When he came to Israel these activities did not stop. He volunteered for ESRA for many years serving with great dedication and caring on the Executive and as Treasurer and was active in ESRA’s Meals on Wheels. Hymie also established and ran the residents fund at Beth Protea for 15 years. He finally took early retirement at the age of 90.

The most outstanding value for Hymie was the value of family - if in fact it is a value. It encompassed all his beliefs in life. His family is blessed to be all together here in Israel and at every family gathering he would say how heartwarming, meaningful and important it is to him that he has such a wonderful supporting family; his children, their spouses, the grandchildren and the great grandchildren. 

He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, Beth Protea and ESRA and all those whose lives he touched. It was a great honor to have known Hymie Segall.

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