Photograph of Laurie and Bessie Jaffee unveiling a plaque in memory of Joffe Marks, in honour of his endowment of the Jewish National Fund.
Bessie Jaffee was born in Cape Town, and married Harry Jaffee in Cape Town in 1918.
Her father Lazar Pinn started Pinn Jewellers in Cape Town having originally been a watchmaker in Lithuania.
Bessie went to Cape of Good Hope School in Orange Street. Her mother, Aurelia, was of German origin and according to family memories she was a stern and cold woman. Bessie was very musical as a child and played in concerts at an early age, and continued playing piano her whole life, improving with regular music lessons. After school she worked on the railways as an administrator. According to Diane (Gerald Jaffee’s oldest child), the marriage to Harry was arranged. Bessie played a very important role in the development the Jewish Orphanage, and was respected and loved for her role in the Jewish Benevolent Society, where she was Chair for many years. She and Harry also donated many scholarships for the education of members of the orphanage over the years. She died in 1970.