Moshe / Morris Natas

Dr Moshe Natas

born in Vizhun (Vizhon) Utian district Lithuania 10th august 1904

studied in Kovno

graduated in 1926

taught in Vilna

married Chaya Rubikowitz in lithuania

Left Southampton on the Union Castle liner "Carnavon Castle" on 24/5/1929 travelling 3rd class (at age of 25 and classified as a teacher ) together with his wife Mrs Chaja Natas (aged 22) and arrived in Cape Town,South Africa. ( Records at Jewish Museum Cape Town .... Passenger lists from Union Castle line ... Southampton to Cape Town )

Taught " cheder " in various places in the Cape

Enrolled at university of cape town in Faculty of Arts on 7/7/1938 Matric excemption (from Lithuania) Certificate of full exemption from 1/1/1938 1938: class medal Hebrew II 1939: Hyman Liberman Prize for Hebrew II 1940: Hyman Liberman Prize for Hebrew 1941: B.A. ( studied English, Psychology I and II, Ethics I and II, German I, Hebrew I, II and III.) 1942: M.A. (1st Class Honours)

March 1951. Title of Thesis: " an Outline of Jewish Education among Eastern European Jewry in the nineteenth century in relation to the movements towards secularisation and the development of the Jewish National Movement " 12th June 1951 : Degree of Ph.D. conferred. (Records from University of Cape Town )

B.A. M.A. Ph.D...doctor of philosophy

Jewish chaplain ( Padre ) in second world war ( saw service in North Africa and Palestine )

Came to Johannesburg 1945

Principal at Hebrew teachers training seminary in Berea until1951

Became cultural officer of south African Zionist Federation

World authority on the bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls. ( his particular field of interest )

Lectured throughout South Africa to both Jewish and non-Jewish audiences.

Died 25/2/2006

buried at west park cemetery Johannesburg grave no I580