by Marilyn Land
It was 1925, and with most of Europe still recovering from the Great War, the brothers felt Europe was not an option. Times in Russia had only worsened, and with Communism rapidly spreading throughout the Country, they sought to try their luck elsewhere. They assured Harry that they would each send word as soon as they were settled.
Before they were married and sailed for London, Ada’s parents had been killed in a Pogrom. She was an only child, and Harry’s parents welcomed her into their home. As Ada approached her eighteenth birthday, there was no need to seek the customary arranged marriage for her; Harry and Ada had fallen in love. At the urging of Harry’s parents and brothers, they decided to leave Minsk—leaving only distant cousins scattered among the many small shtetls (towns)—some they had not seen in years as well as others they had never met. By the time Sidney and Benjamin left, the void had only deepened.
The early years of Jacob’s life saw little change in the Lyons household. When he was an infant, Ada often took him with her to work. He slept in the small bed in the back of Ida’s shop between feedings. As he grew older, Ada found ways to amuse him, but once he mastered walking and talking, there was no way he was going to be content tagging along after Ada.
He was a happy baby who grew into a rambunctious little boy with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. He questioned anything; he questioned everything. It was always: Why? How? When? What? But mostly it was a combination of all four.
She enrolled him in the day care program at their synagogue where he could be with children his own age, and he thrived. It wasn’t long before he started school. He became a member of the Brady Club where he participated in sports, excelling at soccer, his favorite. He was tall for his age, with blond hair and piercing, deep blue eyes; he resembled a young Greek God!
As the years passed, he did exceedingly well with his studies, but the mandatory religious classes were not to his liking. Rabbi Levin, his Hebrew teacher, was a stern taskmaster and accepted no excuses. Jacob, who was often late because of a myriad of reasons, was continually reprimanded with the eternal promise of punishment.
Although they had wanted more children, year after year went by without Ada conceiving. When Jacob was seven years old, Ada became pregnant; and three months after his eighth birthday, the twins were born—Rose and Rachel weighed in at exactly five pounds each. After a difficult pregnancy and hours of another hard labor, Dr. Rosen told them there would be no more children.
Harry and Ada viewed the girls’ arrival as true blessings that completed their family. Like Jacob, they were both fair-haired, but only time would tell if their eyes remained that same deep blue. Jacob adored his little sisters, and helped in any way he could. He now had a new reason to dodge his religious classes—he was needed at home to help his mother.
When the school semester ended in June, Rabbi Levin summoned Harry to his office for a conference.
“Shalom Rabbi Levin. It’s good to see you.”
“Please take a seat Harry. I have put off speaking with you about Jacob because I hoped beyond hope that the situation would right itself. However, at this point, I no longer believe that will happen without a little intervention.
“Since Jacob has been a student in my Hebrew class, he has rebelled time and again. He’s either late or misses class entirely; and his studying is inconsistent and disappointing.
“I know that he is a good scholastic student, and that he is quite capable of doing much better. He simply doesn’t assert himself, and seems to have no interest whatsoever in preparing for his Bar Mitzvah.
“Although a little over four years seems a long way off, I have been remiss in speaking with you about this sooner, hoping that he would come around and apply himself. I have been thinking that perhaps another teacher could get through to him.”
Harry sat stunned at what the Rabbi had conveyed to him. Never had any of his teachers had anything adverse to say about Jacob. Whether it was his schoolwork, sports, or how any of their many friends and neighbors felt about him, he was always spoken of with praise and adoration. He was kind and always ready and available to help anyone he could.
Ada had never mentioned anything to the contrary either, and Harry was certain she would have if there had been a problem. Where was this coming from? Was it possible that he and Ada did not know their own son?
“Rabbi, I had no idea that our Jacob has been so difficult for you to deal with. There is no need to retain another teacher. You may rest assured, when the new semester begins in the fall, he will become your best student.”
As he walked home, Harry’s thoughts were all over the place, as he slowly formed a plan in his mind of how he would handle the situation with Jacob. He concluded he did indeed know his son, and he knew his son well; he also knew that the offer he was about to make him would not be turned down.
If one looked at his plan as a bribe, so be it! He knew in his heart it would all work out.
The Father’s love for his son knew no bounds; the Son’s love for his Father was mutual, but the love, the respect, and the admiration the son felt for his Father, went far beyond that. To the Son, his Father was his Champion; his Idol; his Hero; you could almost say that he worshipped him.
To the Father, leaving Russia meant he could give his Son the freedom and opportunities that he never had. That did not leave the Son free of responsibility. He was Jewish. Becoming a Bar Mitzvah was not his choice it was his undeniable responsibility.
As they were finishing dinner, Harry put his arm around Jacob. “Son, after we clear the table, and help Mama put everything away, I’d like you to take a walk with me. Are you up to it?”
Jacob was delighted. “Yes, Papa, where shall we walk?”
“Not far, but it’s a beautiful evening, and there is something I wish to discuss with you.”
With Harry taking the lead, they left Hughes Mansions walking at a brisk pace. They turned onto Charing Cross; at Trafalgar Square they made a left onto Fetter Lane then a slight left onto Holborn Circus towards Hatton Garden. Jacob had no idea where they were headed.
As they walked, Harry began speaking. “Jacob, Mama and I have told you many times the story of our coming to London for a better life; a life free of persecution; a life where you can worship the God of your choice; and a life in a community you are a part of and where you are treated with respect and appreciation even at your young age.
“Our lives in Russia were nothing even close to what we have here. To be blunt, living in Russia was not living.
“When Mama and I decided to come to a new country where we knew no one, leaving what little family we had far behind, it was a big decision. We knew in our hearts, we would in all probability never see our parents and other relatives again, but we felt it was worth it because it offered us the opportunity to live a better life and give any children we had a better life.
“I was very fortunate to get a job immediately with Max Lerner, doing what I do best. Diamonds have been my family background for generations, and now you—the next generation—are ready to follow in my footsteps.”
At last, Harry stopped walking. Raising his hand upward and waving it around, he said, “Jacob, this is Hatton Garden, better known as London’s Jewelry Quarter and the center of England’s diamond trade. This is what I aspire to and where I aspire to be. When the time is right, this is where I want to open my own, or shall I say, our own Jewelry Emporium.
“I see in you what my grandfather and father saw in me. You have a special eye for diamonds, and that my son, pleases me to no end.”
Jacob listened and absorbed all that Harry said, and as soon as he paused to catch his breath, he hugged his father and said, “Papa, I love you. Thank you, I only want to be like you. Cutting a dull stone and making it into a beautiful and shiny jewel is what I love best. I am amazed each and every time I watch you pick up a stone that resembles broken glass, and then I see what it becomes
when you have cut and polished it.”
Harry smiled, “I love you too, and although you are quite young, I know you are speaking from your heart. You seem to have caught diamond fever from your Papa. Diamonds are not everything; they are only one part of our lives.”
Harry paused and then began speaking again, “Jacob, I had a meeting with Rabbi Levin the other day.”
Suddenly, Jacob grew quiet.
“He tells me that you are not doing too well with your Hebrew lessons, and he’s afraid you will not be prepared to become a Bar Mitzvah.”
“Papa, I just don’t like Hebrew. It’s not really hard, but I find it boring and repetitive, and Rabbi Levin is mean. He doesn’t think we should have any other interests but learning Hebrew.”
Harry tried hard not to laugh. He had felt the same way when he was growing up. “I understand all that you say, but you are Jewish and you will become a Bar Mitzvah. So, I have come up with a plan that will hopefully make all of us happy—Rabbi Levin, you, your Mama, and me.
“Starting tomorrow and all through the summer, you will come to work with me each and every day. Max has agreed to it. I will teach you everything I know about diamonds. I will get you the tools that you need to learn to cut and polish a stone. I’ll even teach you how to work with gold.
“In return, your part will be to diligently return to your Hebrew lessons in the fall and make us proud of you. I know you can do it. Do we have a deal?”
Jacob did not hesitate. “Oh Yes, Papa, yes we have a deal.”
On the walk back to the apartment, Jacob talked and talked. He was so excited. Harry was excited too. He couldn’t wait to start teaching his son all about diamonds and the art of diamond cutting.
Jacob readily gave up his annual trip to the seaside camp that had occupied his previous summers for the chance to work with his father.
The very day after their walk to Hatton Garden, Jacob arose early and accompanied Harry to work. It became their routine. Each morning they would have breakfast; Ada would prepare their lunch; and for the remainder of June, July, and August, Jacob was at his father’s side eagerly absorbing everything and anything Harry taught him.
Max Lerner welcomed the young boy. “Shalom, Jacob. So your Papa is putting you to work. We can always use a smart young man in the business.”
“Thank you, Mr. Lerner. I want to learn as much as I can about diamonds. My father says that I’m a quick learner, so I’m ready to get started.
“Did you know he was my age when his father and grandfather began teaching him how to cut diamonds?”
The summer flew by quickly. Both Harry and Jacob were true to their promises. Much to Rabbi Levin’s surprise, when religious lessons began in the fall, Jacob became his best student, by far. When the Rabbi asked if he had studied during the summer, Jacob’s reply was simply no without any further explanation.
The winds of war were blowing stronger with each passing day. At their synagogue after Sabbath Services, congregants compared notes about Germany’s actions that were relayed by their relatives all over Europe. Many were seeking help to leave and come to England or go to America.
Others did not fully believe the stories. They felt, with the 1936 Olympics in Berlin a little over a year away, the eyes of the world would be on Germany. How could they be persecuting and displacing so many, while managing to avoid anyone taking notice of what was actually happening? How was that even a possibility?
Harry listened with concern. He did not have any relatives in Europe, however, it brought back disturbing memories of life in Russia, and he prayed that war would not come to pass.
CHAPTER THREE
At times, the days flew by melding into weeks, months, and years; but, when time seemed to stand still, it was frustrating. Harry never found the need nor the time to seek employment elsewhere. He liked working with Max, and over the years, his skill, expertise, and growing reputation brought many new and repeat customers to the small shop. Accordingly, Max was able to increase his wages consistently.
Harry never put a time limit on the goals he hoped to achieve. On one hand, he was quite pleased with all that he and Ada had accomplished since coming to London over fifteen years before, but each passing day showed him how quickly Jacob and the girls were growing up, and he was still working for Max Lerner. His dream of opening his own Emporium was still not imminent, and his dream to move his family into a house outside of London seemed also to lie in the distant future.
On a beautiful spring morning in April 1935, a distinguished, well-dressed gentleman entered Max Lerner’s shop and asked to speak to Harry Lyons. Max went into the back of the shop where Harry was working.
“Harry, there is a gentleman here to see you.”
Harry was puzzled. “I don’t have an appointment with anyone. Who is he? Did he give you his name?”
“I’m sorry Harry, I didn’t think to ask his name. When he asked for you, I just assumed you were expecting him.”
He put down his tools, washed his hands, and went to meet the person who came to see him.
As Harry approached, the man extended his hand and introduced himself. “Good morning. My name is Marcus Hirsch, and I wonder if I might have a few minutes of your time.”
For a brief moment, Harry was speechless.
Max handed Harry his jacket. “Why don’t you take a break and head over to the Café where you and Mr. Hirsch can enjoy a cup of tea and freshly baked scones?”
Acting on Max’s suggestion, they crossed the street to the Café and were soon seated. After placing their order, Marcus Hirsch handed his business card to Harry, who looked at the card and saw that he represented the De Beers Diamond Companies. Harry, as everyone else in every aspect of the diamond industry, knew the De Beers name and what it stood for. The words diamonds and De Beers were synonymous and had been for years.
For almost an hour, they spoke of diamonds. Marcus relayed De Beers’ position of supplying the world with the finest finished product.
“Although a diamond in the rough is very valuable, it is the end piece of diamond jewelry, the highly sought after perfect stone which is worth much more. At De Beers, we are involved in every step of the diamond supply chain that begins with the mining of deposits to sorting to cutting and polishing to jewelry creation, and finally to the selling of the finest product attainable.
“We are opening a facility in Hatton Garden here in London under the name of The Diamond Trading Company to control supply, secure demand, and tighten our grip on the market. At this facility, we are introducing auction rooms for potential buyers of rough diamonds. The auctions will be advertised as London Sales Meetings and those in attendance will be by invitation only to buyers who have expressed a desire to do business with De Beers.
“We have scheduled our first London sales meeting to take place in mid-May, and I am here to offer you a position that I feel you are very qualified to fill. Should you accept our offer, we will work with you prior to the opening and show you what we hope to accomplish and the part you will play.
“Although in the beginning, we will only be selling rough diamonds, we plan to move forward in the not too distant future with retail establishments that will sell the final product to our customers directly.
“I don’t expect your answer today; go home and talk it over with your wife and family, and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Let me know your decision, shall we say by the end of the week?”
Harry was amazed, and he did indeed have questions—a million of them. How did this man know so much about him? How did he know that he had a wife and family? Why did he think he was so qualified for the position? Why did he assume he was even interested in working for De Beers?
Marcus continued. “Of course, if you accept the position, I think you will be pleased not only with the salary we are offering, but even more so with the opportunit
ies that are endless. I am not at liberty to disclose that salary until you accept our offer, but I assure you, it is considerably more than you are now earning.”
Again, Harry couldn’t believe he knew so much about him, including what he was earning.
At last, Harry found his voice. “Mr. Hirsch, as you can probably sense from my demeanor, you have caught me completely off guard. As you can probably also sense from my reaction to your offer, I have many questions. How is it that you know so much about me, and I knew nothing of De Beers’ interest in hiring me?”
Marcus laughed and sat back in his chair. “A couple of months ago, a gentleman came into our corporate office in London inquiring about the new auction house and what type of positions would be available. He was an elderly man, and at first, the person he made contact with was reluctant to speak with him at all. But he was quite sincere and persistent, and that person decided to put him in touch with the man that was chosen to manage the daily overall operations of our new facility, Albert Werner.
“Albert met with the elderly gentleman several times and learned that he was not inquiring about a position for himself, but for you. He filled him in on your expertise in sorting and rating diamonds, and your inherent talent for cutting and polishing diamonds, as well. He supplied samples of your work, and when all was said and done, your qualifications exceeded what we originally planned for this position. So with an eye on future growth and expansion, we decided to make you an offer to become a part of our team.
“Who was this elderly man? Do I know him? Why didn’t he say anything to me?”
“He is Max Lerner, the man you have worked for since coming to London. He feels that your talents and abilities should have the opportunity to grow and expand allowing you to better provide for your family.
“I hope you won’t be angry with Mr. Lerner for going behind your back, but he really has your best interests at heart. He told Albert that he loves you like a son, and although he gave you a job when you needed it, he feels that he got the better end of the bargain when you came into his life.”