- SA Jewish Report

OPEN LETTER
SIGNED BY JEWS,
PROTESTS
XENOPHOBIA / 4
www.sajewishreport.co.za
Friday, 23 May 2008 / 18 Iyar, 5768
THE CHIEF
RABBI’S
MESSAGE ON
ATTACKS / 5
Volume 12 Number 19
Xenophobic horror hits SA
A HATRED of foreigners came to the boil in Gauteng, with vicious attacks on especially
Zimbabweans, Mozambicans and Nigerians. These attacks shook the country and the world and
sent thousands of refugees to police "safe havens", often clutching only a handful of meagre possessions they could salvage. The broader SA community - including Jews - rallied to the call for
help, and money, clothing and foodstuffs are pouring in. PAGES 3, 4, 5 & 10
STARK REALITY OF
XENOPHOBIA
YOUTH TALK / 18-19
A "foreign" child on Tuesday looks forlorn among the sum total of the scanty possessions targeted
foreigners managed to scrape together in their escape from a xenophobic feeding frenzy. This particular "safe haven" - one of many around the Reef - is the Cleveland Police Station in Johannesburg.
(PHOTO: ILAN OSSENDRYVER)
SPORTS / 24
LETTERS / 14-15
GROUNDBREAKING NEW
BOOK ON SA
JEWS / 16
CROSSWORD & BRIDGE / 20
APPEAL
FOR ITEMS
FOR THE
REFUGEES
A NEEDS analysis has been
ascertained and the following
is a list of items required by
various depots sheltering
refugees that are in contact
with the Board of Deputies.
Drop off can be at SAJBD,
Beyachad, 2 Elray Street
Raedene. It will be delivered
to the Red Cross for delivery
to the refugees.
Telephone: 27 11 645 2583
Fax: 27 11 645 2559/086 614
6697
Switchboard: 27 11 645 2500/23
What is needed
• Cooking facilities and utensils such as large pots,
knives, spoons, etc, (perhaps
old big pots not being used
anymore)
• Cooking oil
• Maize
• Washing powder
• Rope/chord to hang washing
• Tarpaulin so that they can
bath in private
• Towels
• Soccer balls
• Soup stock
• Sugar
• Dishwashing liquid
• Tubs
• Blankets
• Soap
• Sanitary towels
• Black bags
• Baby formula (15 x 0-6
months; 12 x 6-12 months; 20
x 12-24 months; 5 x 18-24
months; 8 x 24-36 months)
• Nappies
• Tinned fish and tinned
beans
• Milk formula for children
• Lactogen or Nan
• Milk
• Cough mixture
COMMUNITY BUZZ / 7
WHAT’S ON / 20
2
SA JEWISH REPORT
23 - 30 May 2008
SHABBAT TIMES
PARSHA OF THE WEEK
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EDITOR - Geoff Sifrin
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Cape Town correspondent
Moira Schneider: 021-794-4206
Who protects who?
TWO JEWS from a small town in
Poland attached themselves to a
band of Polish partisans who were
waging war with the German
army. They lived in the forest, hiding in places that were unnoticeable to the casual view of the
human eye.
There was always one partisan
who hid in the trees outside the
camp’s perimeter to warn the partisans of an enemy approach. One
day, the lookout gave an emergency call to break camp. He
noticed that, in the distance, a
German column was on its way
into the forest.
Immediately, they broke camp,
concealing any sign that would
reveal their presence, and left for
the other end of the forest.
Because of the tumult, the two
Jewish partisans did not realise
until they reached safety that they
had left their tefillin in the camp.
What were they now going to do?
To return to their camp meant
PARSHAT
BECHUKOTAI
Rabbi Ze’ev Gruzd
Edenvale Jewish community
placing their lives in danger. If
they were discovered by the
Nazis, they would immediately be
put to death. To live without
tefillin meant a life that had very
little meaning. They decided that
they would return for their tefillin.
They prayed to Hashem saying:
“Ribono Shel Olam, please protect us. We are returning for our
tefillin, only so that we may serve
You properly.”
Miraculously, they were able to
avoid the German army. After
they located their tefillin, they
davened and rested for a short
while and prepared to return to
their group at the other end of the
forest. When they arrived, they
were confronted with a grizzly
scene: every member of their
group was dead.
Apparently, the Nazis had been
able to locate and ambush them.
Because they had returned for
their tefillin, the two Jewish partisans were spared. The mitzvah of
tefillin had protected them. It was
reciprocity for the attitude they
had manifest for this mitzvah.
This story illustrates the power
of following the behest of
Hashem. We are told: “If you will
follow My decrees and observe My
commandments and perform
them. (26:3)” - if we are following
G-d’s decrees, what does it mean
“and observe My commandments
- u’shmartem et mitzvotai”.
A shomer is a guard, a watchman. He makes sure to guard and
protect whatever has been
entrusted in his care. Hashem
enjoins us to guard His mitzvoth,
to make sure that they are carried
out to the fullest detail.
It is all in the attitude which one
May 23 / 18 Iyar
May 24 / 19 Iyar
Erev Shabbat
Starts Ends
17:08
17:59
17:30
18:23
16:49
17:41
17:10
18:01
17:02
17:55
16:55
17:48
Johannesburg
Cape Town
Durban
Bloemfontein
Port Elizabeth
East London
manifests towards mitzvah performance. He does not simply
perform the mitzvah; he takes
care of it, looking forward to
carrying it out, making sure that
everything leading up to its
actual performance is properly
prepared.
When one guards Hashem’s
mitzvoth, Hashem sees to it that
the mitzvoth serve as a protection for him.
May we always be worthy of
Hashem’s love and protection.
Good Shabbos!
Pretoria correspondent
Diane Wolfson
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Honourable Abe Abrahamson (Chairman), Issie Kirsh, Dennis Maister, Bertie
Lubner, Herby Rosenberg, Russell
Gaddin, Marlene Bethlehem,
Stan Kaplan, Norman
Lowenthal.
Mr Justice Meyer Joffe
(Chair, editorial comm)
Excitement and anticipation at the Lions Shul. The Shabbat walking group gathers at the shul’s entrance moments before Shabbat.
KASHRUT
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outside sources do not neccessarily reflect
the views of the editors and staff.
Lions Shul - very much alive and kicking
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPH
ILAN HERMANN
IN THE heart of Doornfontein in
Johannesburg, the once-upon-atime hub of Jewish activity and
community, proudly stands the
Lions Doornfontein Shul.
A hundred and two years old, this
magnificent structure continues to
thrive as a Jewish house of worship,
in this by now rather run-down
area, with the Jews having, over the
years, migrated mainly to the city’s
north-eastern suburbs. The shul
still holds services throughout the
year and over the Jewish festivals.
But what was an ordinary gathering of worshippers on a Friday,
Shabbat evening, has turned into
an extraordinary feature. Once a
month volunteers arrive by car
before Shabbat from the northern
suburbs of Johannesburg and participate in creating a festive and
majestic Shabbat celebration.
The song-filled evening sees a
service and drosha followed by a
light kiddush and lechaim, with
ideas, vorts, stories, jokes and tales
being shared with a delightful
spread of delicacies around the
haimish Shabbos tish.
Basking in the light and glow of
Shabbat and the warmth of the
chavershaft, the time arrives to
thrust on jerseys and jackets and
the group embark on the walk to
the new medinah.
Up Siemert Road, further on to
Joe Slovo Drive, right onto Louis
Botha Avenue and up toward the
northern suburbs, in high spirits
and with bubbling conversations,
voices filling the air, the group ful-
fil the traditional Shabbat observance with pride and in style.
A bit tired but invigorated by the
exercise, chatter, sites, fun and
excitement, they arrive home, or
are off to a friend or family for the
Shabbat dinner. A wonderful
evening had by all - special and
unique.
Memorable - you bet! Inspirational - for sure! So, hop on the
bandwagon and join us in this
unique and unforgettable experience. For information contact 082683-4100.
UPCOMING FEATURES 2008....
Kosher Korner - Every 2nd week
for everything kosher
Contact Manuela Bernstein
May 30 Build, buy or renovate
Contact Marlene Bilewitz
TO ADVERTISE TEL: (011) 886-0162 for more information
June 6 Shavuot
Call (011) 886-0162
23 - 30 May 2008
SA JEWISH REPORT
3
Jewish community
heeds call for aid
DAVID SAKS
PHOTOGRAPH: SHELLEY ELK
THERE HAS been an outstanding
response from the Jewish community to
last week’s call to assist victims of xenophobic violence that is sweeping townships through Gauteng.
On Friday, the first consignment of
donated goods, including food, clothing,
blankets and hygiene packs, was collected
from Beyachad by the SA Red Cross. Two
Red Cross vehicles were filled to capacity
and a large amount of goods had to be left
behind for collection at a later date.
The SAJBD, in association with the
Union of Jewish Women, the King David
schools, the SA Union of Progressive
Judaism and Yeshiva College, is co-ordinating the relief efforts. With donations
continuing to pour in, further handovers
to various crisis points, including the
Cleveland police station, are at the time of
going to press scheduled to take place in
the course of this week.
Funds deposited into a special account
set up by the SAJBD, are being used to buy
basic foodstuffs, including baby formula.
In a media release, the SAJBD deplored
the indiscriminate targeting of foreign
nationals, which it described as “criminal,
racist acts that strike at the very heart of
the tolerant, peaceful and democratic society that South Africans are striving to
build”.
SAJBD National Chairman Zev Krengel
further likened the violence to the kind of
orchestrated mob attacks that Jews had
been subjected to throughout their history, as well as to the deadly civil strife
occurring elsewhere in Africa.
“The violence is reminiscent of some of
the darkest periods of Jewish history,
when helpless Jews were subjected to
murderous attacks by the host nations
among whom they lived. It is also similar
to the kind of sectarian violence that has
resulted in genocidal atrocities elsewhere
on this continent,” he said.
The SAJBD has called on all South
Africans to take a firm stand against the
evils of xenophobia and to assist wherever
they could in helping its victims rebuild
their lives.
To make a financial donation, the
details are:
Name of account holder: SA Jewish Board
of Deputies
Name of bank: Standard Bank - Killarney
branch
Account number: 2003 05 190
Branch code: 007205
Ref: Please write “Alex Relief” alongside
your name or organisation. Deposit slips
can be faxed attention Shirley, SAJBD,
(011) 645-2559.
Victims of xenophobic violence, pictured at a "refugee compound" at Cleveland
Police Station in Johannesburg.
What’s your risk?
LILA BRUK,
REGISTERED
DIETICIAN
With the rates of
obesity and conditions such as
heart disease rising
in
South
Africa, it's essential to be able to
assess one's health risk and take the
appropriate action. Here are two
simple methods to determine your
own health risk.
Waist circumference:
The amount of fat around the
abdominal area is indicative of
one's risk of heart disease and
therefore by measuring your waist
circumference you can assess your
heart disease risk. To determine
your waist circumference, use a
tape measure to measure your
waist at its narrowest point.
• Women: waist circumference
should be less than 88cm
• Men: waist circumference should
be less than 97cm
A waist circumference which
exceeds these recommended values, means you are at greater risk of
heart disease.
Body Mass Index (BMI):
The BMI is a very useful indicator of
health risk. You can determine your
BMI by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in metres
squared (ie weight/[height2]). For
example someone who weighs 60kg
and is 1,6m tall would have a BMI of
23 (ie 60kg/2,56 = 23).
• BMI of 18,5 or less = underweight
• BMI of 18,5 to 24,9 = healthy
weight
• BMI of 25 to 29,9 = overweight
• BMI of 30 or more = obese
If you have a BMI above 25, you are
at a significantly greater risk of conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and infertility. This risk
is even further increased if your BMI
is above 30. Therefore, it is very
important to take steps to actively
improve your health if your BMI indicates that you are at risk.
What you can do lower to your
risk:
• Eat more fruits and vegetables
• Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water per
day
• Do at least 30 minutes of exercise
3 times a week.
• Choose low-fat or fat-free dairy
products instead of full-cream
• Choose high-fibre starches (eg
seed bread, brown rice, bran flakes)
• Remove the fat on meat and the
skin of chicken before cooking
For more information call Lila Bruk on
(011) 880-9156 or 083-244-0163.
4
SA JEWISH REPORT
23 - 30 May 2008
Heart-rending tales
of hatred gone mad
SHELLEY ELK
WITH JUST the clothes on his back, a piece
of paper to write on, and a pen, George
who has lived in Johannesburg for nearly
14 years, and is originally from Mozambique, said: “I was chased from my home, I
have lost everything, I have nothing. How
can I go back home, like this?” he gestured
towards his clothing. “I have a family to
support, a wife, two children. All I need is a
job, a thousand rand a month, five hundred
to send home. I can’t go back home (to
Mozambique), I won’t even survive there. I
have no money, I have nothing.”
“They want asylum papers, now those
are not good enough, I have no passport, or
ID, it is all gone.”
Men, women and children, from Senegal,
the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Mozambique, Zimbabwe... crowded a small
area at Cleveland Police Station, some just
sitting, some talking, some silent. These
are the victims, the statistics of the outbreak of recent xenophobic attacks.
Two marquees were partially inhabited,
with many sitting outside this “temporary
dwelling”, as if to say: “What is the point of
moving inside; we may be evicted here as
well.”
Most of the group had opted to sit outside, guarding their pitiful salvaged
belongings. Suitcases were piled up alongside blankets, and vendors were selling
food inside the police station’s grounds.
People milled around. Sat, did nothing what was there to do in any event.
The stunned horror on their faces, the
bruises and disillusionment, bore testimony
to the trauma they had been through, with a
future as bleak and uncertain as the past.
Stripped of their dignity, fearing for
their lives, the men’s and women’s heads
were bowed. They hid their faces, which
reflected their broken spirit.
“The world must see, must know, has to
know, what is happening here. It is vital.
Hard as it is, people need to know the reality it is the only way. That is how they will
respond, and help,” Said Wendy Kahn
national director, of the SAJBD.
Chaya Laya Singer, national chairman of
SAUJS, told the Jewish Report of one of
her visits to the Methodist Church in town
and to Bramley Police Station. “People
were trying to wash their clothes, and had
nowhere to hang them; they were using
electric wires. There was only one working
toilet for hundreds of people, and hardly
any taps.
“The conditions were horrendous, but
we are trying our best, to help, provide
necessities,” she added. “There are at least
20 children from infancy to two years old at
the one compound. The women need nappies for them.”
“The attacks have been systematically
planned, and orchestrated,” said Adam
Sack, secretary general of Habonim. “A
warning call, a threat that ‘you will be the
next target’ usually means that 24 hours
later, a xenophobic attack will occur.
“During a meeting (earlier in the week
with three government ministers, 30 or 40
organisations, including Doctors Without
Borders, religious organisations, the Red
Cross and many more, three bishops’
phones went off and they affirmed to those
present, that they had received a threat,”
Sack told Jewish Report.
“Look,” he gestured. “All the shops are
closed, these are probably next on the list,”
he said, pointing to some shops that had
been secured and locked up.
OPEN LETTER:We should
be lining the streets!
A POGROM Is happening in our own back
yard. Xenophobic attacks are spreading
across Gauteng, destroying the lives of
thousands of Zimbabweans and others
deemed to be of “foreign origin”. They are
being beaten, raped and hounded out of
their communities by violent mobs, often
having had their life possessions stolen.
As Jews we know what racial and ethnic
hatred means. It is in our blood and bones
and history, even if we, as individuals, may
have been fortunate enough not to experience this directly.
The xenophobic attacks and undercurrent that we are now witnessing, have
echoes of the situation in Germany of the
early 1930s, prior to the formal institutionalisation of Nazi ideology.
This is the time for us to bring our own
historical understanding and experience
into the public domain. We need to take a
strong and principled stand, as Jews and as
human beings, and tackle the scourge of
xenophobia and scapegoat-ism now.
We can be proud that in the last week
many Jewish communal groups have
responded with a sense of urgency and
commitment: collection centres have
reportedly been inundated with clothing,
blankets, food and offers of funding to ease
the pain of those directly affected.
It is good and appropriate that we show
we care, by responding to the humanitarian crisis. But we need to go further: As
Jews, it is part of our inheritance to
remember and, indeed, propagate the lesSA Holocaust Foundation:
Cape Town, Durban and
Johannesburg Centres
Richard Freedman
Tali Nates
Janine Cohen
Irene Klass
UNISA Primedia Holocaust &
Genocide Unit
Anthony Court
Habonim Dror Southern
Africa
Ilan Strauss
Diana Sochen
Adam Sack
Wayne Sussman
Daniel Linde
Bianca Sossen
Lisa Cohen
Karla Green
Jodi Wishnia
Alexi Tal Kitay
Association of Holocaust
Survivors in Johannesburg
Chief Rabbi Cyril
Harris Community Centre
Hazel Cohen
Rene Sidley
MaAfrika Tikkun,
Bertie Lubner
Marc Lubner
Herby Rosenberg
Michele Zeff
SAUJS
Benjamin Shulman
Barry G Sherman
Grant Harli
Michael Shapiro
Sarah Pearson
Egal Yaron Orlovik
Joshua Schewitz
Caylee Talpert
Jonathan Isakow
Ilana Berman
Gideon Shapiro
Jonny Solomon
Gabriella Lifshitz
Jenna Solarsh
Chaya Singer
Adam Sachs
Sarah Kariv
Bianca Wailer
Dani du Plessis
Gavin Meltz
Nikia Evian
Sara Evian
Clive Evian
Kim Ziman
Adam Levin
Shira Evian
Tahl Evian
sons arising out of our history. It is time for
us to speak out loudly against such human
rights violations and to harness fully the
commitment of the entire community to
address an emerging human tragedy.
What does this mean?
Our history requires us to lead by example.
In the immediate term:
* We call on Jewish communal organisations and leaders to maintain strenuous
efforts to mobilise and channel urgently
needed humanitarian support to those
affected.
* In so-doing, we urge Jewish organisations to continue working with other religious and human rights bodies to find new
and effective ways of addressing the crisis.
Into the future:
* We call on communal leadership on all
fronts to come up with practical long-term
initiatives aimed at preventing the spread
of hate crimes.
* Volunteers interested in the programmes to fight prejudice being conducted by the South African Holocaust
Foundation are invited to contact:
The Cape Town Holocaust Centre: (021)
642-5553 admin@ctholocaust.co.za
The Durban Holocaust Centre: (031) 3686833 projects@djc.co.za
The Johannesburg Holocaust Centre:
(011) 640-3100 info@jhbholocaust.co.za
“If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
And if I am only for myself, who am I?”
Shai Evian
Sonia Evian
Rabbi Yossy Goldman
Rabbi Aharon Rose
Rabbi Mathew Liebenberg
Rabbi Yossi Chaikin
Rabbi Kalman Green
Rabbi Laurence Perez
Merle Favis
Martine Usdin
Graeme Bloch
Shereen Usdin
Michael Kransdorff
Jessica Sherman
Dennis Davis
Lisa Seftel
Max Price
Rina King
Barry Dwolatsky
Daniel Sher
Ariella Sher
Aaron Sher
Joel Sher
Tessa Abramovitz
Doron Isaacs
Maxine Reitzes
Nathan Geffen
Ros Usdin
Merle Dieterich
Allan Horwitz
Anton Harber
Shaun Reznik
Carin Favis
Roy Topol
Rose Kransdorff
Ian Goldman
Brett Steingo
Lorraine Purkey
Paddy Meskin
Steven Sher
Judith Sher
Russel Sher
Maureen Sher
Marion Block
Gary Anstey
Viv Anstey
Robyn Aronstam
Janet Shapiro
Laurence Lurie
Susie Levy
Stacey Sacks
Barbara Buntman
John Buntman
Leanne Stillerman
Esta Levitas
Nina Lewin
Yael Shalem
Norma Reitzes
Karen Brooks
Don Krausz
Astro Zack-Dishon
Ray Sher
Lali Sher
Basil Kransdorff
Graeme Sher
Joan Sher
Brett Levitas
Rene Pozniak
Dr Colin Cohen
Syndi Kahn
Jared Kahn
Beulah Jankelowitz
David Jankelowitz
Eleanor Schulman
Loren Young
Renee Usdin
Yda Walt
Pearl Stillerman
Bianca Heather Wailer
Sue Schalit
Mike Schalit
Michal Singer
Colin Purkey
Brett Sher
Tamiko Sher
Lewis Levin
Clive Nates
Lauren Segal
Dennis Feldman
Beverly Feldman
Adir Puterman
Rena Sherman
Madeleine Fane
Shirley Hatzkilson
Meryl Urson
Michael Fox
Vivien Fox
Pearl Stillerman
John Kransdorff
Kathleen Kransdorff
Marc Snaid
Daniel Tenzer
Lara Granville
Laura Sassoon
Andy Feldman
Ryan Davis
Carol Green
Jonathan Groll
Francesca Favero
Barbara Elion
Lois Bloch
Anne Abrams
Glyn Ismay
Ivy Hesp
Ortal Shklaz
Michael Jubiler
Tracey Farber
Marcelle Brenner
• At our going to press, names
were still streaming in.
23 - 30 May 2008
SA JEWISH REPORT
5
COMMENT
Adam Sack, secretary general of
Habonim, with a
man from
Mozambique, at the
Cleveland Police
Station. This refugee
has been living in
Johannesburg for
more than 10 years.
(PHOTO: SHELLEY ELK)
Chief Rabbi Warren
Goldstein on xenophobia
AS THE South African Jewish community
our hearts go out to the victims of the terrible and devastating scourge of violence
which is sweeping through parts of our
country.
Some of the most important and precious
moral principles of Judaism are the sanctity
of human life, compassion, kindness, and, in
particular, protection of the vulnerable.
The Talmud says that the precept to love
and not to oppress “the stranger” occurs 36
times in the Torah. In fact, no other commandment is repeated so often.
Over the centuries of our dispersion we
Jews have suffered the fate of the stranger
repeatedly. The Holocaust was preceded by
numerous murderous pogroms and institutionalised hatred and oppression of Jews
throughout Europe. And so, we feel deeply
and viscerally, in our bones and hearts, the
pain of the “foreigners” in our midst who
are being attacked because they are
strangers in our country.
We know from centuries of bitter experience what it means to flee from your home in
fear. Indeed South African Jews are descendants from refugees who fled the barbarism
and anti-Semitism of Europe. A number of
Jewish communal organisations have
already come forward to help alleviate the
plight of the vulnerable victims.
Let us all support these efforts with energy and commitment, while at the same time
trying to find additional avenues and ideas
to make a practical difference.
Ultimately, the responsibility to protect
life and to maintain safety and security for
all, rests on the shoulders of the South
African Government. We call our government to lead visibly and decisively and to act
with urgency and force necessary to save
our society from this awful violence.
At this time, let us also carry in our hearts
the suffering of millions of human beings at
the hands of brutal oppressors, especially
those on our continent and especially our
Zimbabwean neighbours who suffer under
the Mugabe regime.
Let us also in our prayers implore our
beloved Father in Heaven to help end this
terrible suffering which has engulfed so
many, and to heal the wounded and comfort
the bereaved.
* The Chief Rabbi will be speaking on the
issue of xenophobia on Thursday night 20:10
on Radio 2000 (99.7mhz - 110.2mhz).
SAJBD expresses itself
strongly against xenophobia
“You shall not oppress a stranger, for
you know the feeling of the stranger having yourselves been strangers in the land
of Egypt. When strangers reside with you
in your land, you shall not wrong them.
You shall love them as yourself, for you
were strangers in the land of Egypt.”
Exodus 23:9
THE SA JEWISH Board of Deputies in a
media release has expressed its deep dismay concerning recent episodes of xenophobia, violence and abuse “against those
individuals and communities who have
sought to find refuge and deliverance in
South Africa from lands where they too
were being oppressed.”
It again appealed to the community to
collect, clothing, foodstuffs etc.
The SAJBD says that while the outbreak
of violence in Alexandra (north of
Johannesburg) is shocking, “on our own
doorstep refugees are struggling against
the threat of eviction, inclement weather
and face daily incidents of aggression and
violence based purely on their status as
‘foreigners’.
“In an effort to alleviate their suffering,
the SA Jewish Board of Deputies has
mobilised its community to collect clothing, blankets, non-perishable foodstuffs
and other necessities to help those in
need.
“We call on all citizens of Cape Town,
and their respective communities, to also
take this opportunity to stand against the
human rights violations of refugees in our
city. We encourage all communities to
likewise rally material goods and vocalise
their support to stem the tide of the
humanitarian crisis unfolding on our
doorstep.”
The SAJBD says that as a people who
have been the target of hate crimes, genocide and prejudice for centuries, “the
Jewish community appeals to all citizens
of South Africa to treat the strangers in
our land in the great spirit of ‘ubuntu’.”
Wendy Kahn,
national director of the
SAJBD, at the
Cleveland
Police Station
in Johannesburg, which is
providing shelter for some of
the victims of
xenophobia.
(PHOTO:
SHELLEY ELK)
6
SA JEWISH REPORT
23 - 30 May 2008
Rita Lewis jont@global.co.za
SOCIAL SCENE
Monty and Jenny Fleischer.
Conductor Richard Cock announces the next number.
Leon, Hazel and Stacey Zeller.
And a glorious Mothers
Day was had by all
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS
BY RITA LEWIS
Mark Miller with his daughter, Shira.
THE ANNUAL Mothers Day concert held
at the Johannesburg Zoo in Jan Smuts
Avenue, Parkview, last week was once
again the successful, well attended event
that it always is and was organised by
Radio 702 and BP Express.
As usual families with their hampers,
picnic baskets and cooler bags jam
packed with whatever was needed to satisfy their needs on a balmy winter’s day,
sat on their deck chairs, blankets or on
the grass - in fact anywhere they could
find an empty space in which to squeeze.
There was an overwhelming relaxed,
happy, atmosphere pervading the event.
Children wandered around freely and noone looked over their shoulders as they
lay on the grass listened to Richard Cock
and the 43 members of the Johannesburg
Symphony Orchestra entertaining them.
Well rehearsed and professional to the
nth degree, the orchestra played its way
through a medley of well-known top-ofthe-pops tunes, songs taken from popular
operas and musicals, including for the
first time Reggae singer Thabo Mdluli.
Nicholas Niccolides sang magnificently as always, bringing alive many operatic pieces as did the Sisters Sentimental.
After the “more serious stuff” was
over, some of the musical renditions
were interspersed with “contests” aimed
at the younger, as well as, bolder members of the gathering and proved to be a
lot of fun.
There were fun prizes for the best
dancers (which meant you had to get to
the front of the bandstand in order to be
seen and the dancing had to be done on
the grass - no mean feat).
There were prizes for the best waltzing, disco dancing and even can-can
dancing - which was won by a pair of
courageous youngsters.
Jenny Crys-Williams enjoyed herself
immensely, announcing all the activities
and the winners as she acted as MC and
Richard Cock was on form again - not
only with his conducting - but with his
jovial manner, jokes and announcements.
Having a great day out are Samuel and Robert
Rubin with their grandmother, Jill Katz.
Carol Hirschowitz with Marian Nussbaum.
Mother and daughter Maryann and Daniella Sachs enjoying the day together.
Larry and Michelle Smeyatsky.
Ivan Gruzd with Flora Fleminger.
Collin Green with Molly and Stuart Jayes.
Danny Nussbaum, Yvette Keller and Uri Gelgor.
23 - 30 May 2008
SA JEWISH REPORT
COMMUNITY
BUZZ
LIONEL SLIER
082-444-9832, fax: 011-440-0448,
lionel.slier@absamail.co.za
‘PERUVIAN’
A Dictionary of South African
English by Jean Branford and
William Branford gives the following
definition: “Peruvian Jewish. An
E European Jewish immigrant in
South Africa: as used by S African
Jews sig E European Jews retaining
their foreign accents, customs and
characteristic eating habits. Also
among Jews a generally derogatory
term for an unacceptable, crude
or possibly dishonest person. Informant: L Reich, Jewish leader,
Grahamstown 1987. (Probably from
acronym PRU Polish and Russian
Union).”
The following examples are given:
“Illicit liquor traffic was in full blossom and mostly in the hands of
‘Peruvians’ (lowest type of Polish
Jews). Louis Cohen Reminiscences of
Johannesburg. 1924.
“Among Dutch-speaking Afrikaners Meninsky was usually known
as ‘The Peruvian’ - by heaven knows
what confusion of ideas, for he had
come to South Africa from Poland by
way of Whitechapel.”. Francis Brett
Young City of Gold 1940.
In Kimberley in the early days
there was an organisation calling
itself the Polish and Russian Union,
which had its own club. This became
shortened to PRU... the expression of
“Peruvian” originated. M Sonnenberg 1957 cit Eric Rosenthal.
The excellent recently published
book, The Jews in South Africa by
Richard Mendelsohn and Milton
Shain, devotes half a page to the
word. It says: “This distinctly South
African word endured among Jews
even after the social type had disappeared, being used as a term of
opprobrium for uncouth and vulgar
fellow Jews.”.
So, the feeling is that the word
“Peruvian” is as South African as
kugel, biltong, braai, melktert or
mielie, among many others. It
belongs to us.
Then imagine the surprise when
in a book just published in England
called The Earl of Petticoat Lane by
Andrew Miller, the following sentence appears: “On no account
would they be ‘Peruvians’, the inexplicable term for newcomers who
retained their foreign ways and
accents long after they arrived in
London.”
Can anyone explain this?
WARMBAD, NAMIBIA
From Marc Kopman:
“This town lies halfway between
AROUND
THE
WORLD
NEWS IN
BRIEF
Karasberg (Namibia) and Pofadder
(South Africa). My mother-in-law, Fay
Rosenberg (ex Bloemfontein) and widowed, was living in Florida (Gauteng)
up until just before her passing in
September 2007. She had befriended a
male companion, a gentile, James
Herridge, now age 91.
“Last year he handed me a mezuzah,
measuring 4 -5 centimetres in length,
dark green in colour and he explained
that his late brother (one of eight siblings) had bought the hotel in
Warmbad from a Jewish family in the
1930s. The mezuzah had remained at
the entrance until his brother sold the
hotel some 30 years later.
“For some reason James Herridge
removed the mezuzah as a memento
when Edward sold the hotel some 30
years later. Now some 40 years on, the
mezuzah finds its way to Krugersdorp
where we are busy readying the museum in our new shul complex.
“No doubt there must have been
many Jewish traders passing through
Warmbad way back then and using the
hotel. It would be interesting if anyone
has information as to who the Jewish
owners were.”
BLOEMFONTEIN/
JOHANNESBURG
From Hashomer February 1950:
“It is with a feeling of deep regret
that
the
committee
of
the
Bloemfontein congregation had to
accept the resignation of Rev
Hadassin. He had served the community for close on 24 years as chazan,
schochet and Baal Koreye. Failing
health forced him to resign.
“Further he was a trustee of the
committee of the Chevrah Kadisha, on
which body he was a pillar of strength
and an inspiration to the younger
members of the committee. He was
also on the committee of the Gemilas
Chesodim Society and chaplain in the
Bloemfontein Lodge of the Hebrew
Order of David.
“Rev and Mrs Hadassin have left for
Johannesburg to be with their children. They carry with them the
very best wishes of the entire
Bloemfontein Jewish community. We
will miss this genial and genuine
man.”
Patsy Dakes of Feigels Delicatessen
in Lyndhurst, Johannesburg gave us
this cutting and continued with the
story of Rev Hadassin who came from
Schud in Lithuania. He and his wife
had three sons, Louis, Joe and Nikki
and three daughters, Ray, Fanny
(Feigel) and Ethel. Feigel started the
eponymous Feigels in Rockey Street,
Yeoville and it is now an institution in
the community. By April this year,
Feigels had been around for 40 years
Feigel married Mully Zaslansky and
they had a daughter and three sons.
The daughter, Patsy Drakes is at the
Lyndhurst shop with brother Jossy.
Son Myer is in Israel and another son
Solly is married to Denese and as Firzt
Realty Company, they advertise regularly in The Jewish Report.
7
GRAAFF REINET
This town in the Eastern Cape is on
the Sundays River, 300 km northwest of Port Elizabeth. It was founded in 1786 and became a municipality in 1845. It is named after Reinet
Graaff, wife of Cornelius van der
Graaff, Dutch governor of the Cape
Colony, 1785 to 1791.
From Rollo Berman:
“Graaff Reinet is known as ‘The
Gem of the Karoo’. It has a wonderful climate. It takes about 3 1/2
hours by car to get there from Port
Elizabeth. During long weekends
many PE-ites used to go for a relaxing break to GR. The gravel road
had many corrugations.
“When you arrived there you
either stayed at Robbie Berger’s
Graaff Reinet Hotel or at the
Serman’s Drostdy Hotel. Both still
exist today but under different ownership. The GR Hotel reminded you
of a ‘cowboy hotel’ that you would
come across in the US. The dining
room was well-known as the food
was second to none.
“During 1978 Simon Perl who was
quite elderly at that stage, was given
the job of booking in patrons who
wanted to stay overnight. He had a
pokey little office, possessed a gruff
voice and wore heavy black-rimmed
spectacles. The travellers who
arrived at the hotel were tired and
weary and would ask Mr Perl:
‘Could I have a room for the night?’
Perl would look down his spectacles, look the person squarely in the
face and say, emphatically:
‘Nutting!’ In other words many
would-be guests were turned away
unnecessarily.
“Simon Perl, however, was a very
kind man, especially to the pigeons
on the Market Square that waited
for the crumbs he dished out daily.
His son, Morrie, is a retired architect and lives in Claremont.
“In the ‘shtetl’ of Graaff Reinet, a
few families come to mind - for
example the Halberstadts. Mr
Halberstadt used to prepare the
boys for their barmitzvah. He had
two daughters, Melanie and Shelley.
He ran a business called the CAZ
Bazaar.
“The Goldbaums, Heinie and
Sybil, lived in a house with a tennis
court. Their two children were
Sandford (Sandy) and Avis. Avis’s
grandmother was Rahle Perl.
“One day Avis was having lunch
and left a portion of her meal
behind. Seeing this, the grandmother put her arm affectionately
around Avis’s shoulder and in a
deep voice and with a heavy
Yiddish accent she said: ‘Avis,
mein kiend, ess der green beans.
Dos bien zayer goet.’ To this day
Avis never leaves her green beans.
Sandy is a dentist living in
Johannesburg.”
To be continued.
BARAK: LABOUR SHOULD PREPARE TO BEAT KADIMA
JERUSALEM - Israel's Labour Party should
prepare to challenge Kadima for the national
leadership within months, Ehud Barak has
said.
The Labour chairman, who serves as Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert's defence minister, predicted on Sunday that Israel's current political
crises could trigger snap elections.
"I reckon the elections will be brought forward to the end of the year, December, or to the
beginning of 2009 at the latest," Barak told fellow Labourites, according to political sources.
"We must prepare for these elections and
bring the party together."
Elections are, for now, slated to take place in
2010. Olmert, whose Kadima Party commands
a broad coalition government in which Labour
is senior partner, has vowed to stay in office
and seek re-election.
But a police investigation against the prime
minister, as well as setbacks in his US-sponsored peace talks with the Palestinians, have
prompted many experts to question how long
the government can stay together. (JTA)
8
SA JEWISH REPORT
23 - 30 May 2008
KDVP’s Gerassi is packing for Oz
SHELLEY ELK
THE NEWS last week of the resignation of one of Johannesburg’s top educators, Joseph
Gerassi, (headmaster of King
David Victory Park High School),
has sent shockwaves through the
Jewish community.
Gerassi who has made KDVP
one of the top schools in
Gauteng, told Jewish Report that
he would head up Bialik College
in Melbourne, Australia, at the
beginning of October. He said
it was an opportunity he just
couldn’t turn down, although it
was very hard for him to say
goodbye - especially to his
beloved Victory Park.
“The south African Board of
Jewish Education (SABJE) has
agreed that I will be an integral
part of the selection team
involved in finding my successor
and I assure you... I will do everything in my power to ensure we
find the right person for this
school”, Gerassi said in his letter
to the parents.
“My learners are
what have inspired
me, and as an educator I look at what
they have achieved in
South Africa and the
world at large, and I
am proud of this fantastic and prestigious
school which has
managed to give the
Jewish community in
South Africa and the world some
of the most talented individuals.
Paying tribute to his KDVP
staff, he said they were strong,
reiterating that he just couldn’t
turn down the Bialik offer “in
terms of my own personal
growth and professional development. I was not looking for an
opportunity to emigrate, rather I
was head hunted in a world wide
search”.
He said his staff had supported
him through the tough times at
KDVP, “and the ultimate success
of KDVP which is a prestigious
school.
“The foundation that has been
laid at KDVP is strong,
and I will leave with the
knowledge that KDVP
will continue to achieve
excellence and no one
should be dissuaded
from coming to this
school, as it is fantastic,
with or without me.”
In a letter addressed to
parents and pupils, the
SABJE in the name of
Adrian Gore, chairman, Rabbi
Craig Kacev, general director and
Warrick Sive, KDVP campus representative, wrote of
their
immense appreciation of Gerassi’s
outstanding service to the staff,
pupils and parents of KDVP over
the last 20 years, and his passionate care for the school, which
ensured its success and commitment to excellence in all fields.
“The board respects the
incredible ethos Joseph has created on the Victory Park campus
and recognises the values of
integrity, tolerance and respect
that Joseph has instilled in his
learners.”
The board said it intended
announcing a suitable successor
to Gerassi soon, and that Gerassi
would continue to lead the
school, to ensure a smooth transition period, until he left South
Africa at the end of September to
take up his new post.
Gerassi, who holds a B Ed
degree from Wits, and is currently completing his honours in
education, started teaching history at King David Victory Park
in 1989 and was appointed vice
principal and form supervisor in
1995.
“I became head of the school in
1999, and in 2006 executive head
of the entire campus at which
point I decided to teach Jewish
history, as I thought it was
important as head of a Jewish
school, especially when it was no
longer a compulsory matric subject.
“I specialised in Israel advocacy and Zionism, and in teaching
the Shoah.
South Africa’s loss is definitely
Australia’s gain.
Israel, Syria
in peace talks
IN SURPRISE statements issued
simultaneously from Jerusalem
and Damascus on Wednesday,
the old foes said their representatives have been meeting in
Ankara this week to set up
peace
negotiations
under
Turkish auspices.
“The sides have declared their
intention to conduct the talks
without prejudice and with
openness,”
Israeli
Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert’s office
said. “They have decided to conduct the dialogue in a serious
and continuous manner with
the aim of reaching a comprehensive peace.”
Olmert’s two top aides have
been in Turkey since Monday, in
parallel with counterparts from
Syrian
President
Bashar
Assad’s regime.
Israeli-Syrian talks were last
held in 2000 but collapsed over a
demand by Damascus for the
full return of the Golan Heights,
which were lost to Israel in the
1967 Six Day War.
To book your space in the next Kosher Korner
contact Manuela Bernstein on (011) 886-1062 or
email: manuela@global.co.za
23 - 30 May 2008
SA JEWISH REPORT
It’s (nearly) Business
Achiever time again!
PETER FELDMAN
THERE IS just a week left before
nominations close for this year’s
Absa Jewish Achiever Awards
2008, an annual highlight of the
business and social calendar.
Entries, which close on May 30,
have been pouring in to the
offices of Dlamini Weil Communications.
This year’s event is set to take
place on June 17 and will again
be held in the Moroela Room,
Sandton Sun.
This is the 10th year that the
SA Jewish Report has been associated with these prestigious
annual awards, which pay tribute to the community’s business,
humanitarian and social achievers in various categories.
Absa Bank is again sponsoring
the main “Business Achiever of
the Year Award”, which goes to
nominees from both listed and
non-listed companies. The criteria are that nominees must be
members of the Jewish community, must serve either as MD or
CEO of a major corporation, and
must show consistent performance and credible empowerment
procedures.
The other key sponsors are again - Lexus and Johnnie
Walker.
The Lexus Lifetime Achiever
Award is given to a member of
the Jewish community for his or
her lifetime contribution to SA
Jewry by achieving reconciliation, change and empowerment
in the fields of business and/or
art or science, and/or sport and
philanthropy.
The Johnnie Walker Entrepreneur Award is to a member of
the Jewish community between
the ages of 18 and 40 years, who
owns a small or medium enterprise operating in South Africa,
with empowerment credentials.
The criteria for Business
Achiever Awards are that nominees must be members of the
Jewish community, must serve
either as MD or CEO of a major
corporation, and must show consistent performance and credible
empowerment procedures.
In the Lexus Lifetime Achiever
category, which was won last
year by Daniel Levy, this is given
to a member of the Jewish community for his or her lifetime
contribution to South African
Jewry by achieving reconciliation, change and empowerment
in the fields of business, sport
and philanthropy.
The criteria for the Johnnie
Walker-sponsored entrepreneurial award, won last year by Brett
and Mark Levy, are that the nominees must be a member of the
Jewish community, aged between
18 and 40, be the owner of a small
or medium-size enterprise and be
operating in South Africa with
empowerment credentials.
SA Jewish Report honours
people from a broader community with the Cyril Harris Humanitarian Award. These are for people who make a contribution to
the economy and community by
improving both the quality of life
and the fabric of society in general.
Nomination forms are available from Dlamini Weil Communications, tel (011) 804-1485 or
fax (011) 804-3512/3466.
• The rules state that nominees
must be South African citizens
or hold a valid South African
identity document.
• In categories “Business Achiever Award,” “Lifetime Achiever” and “Entrepreneur”, a
nominee must be a member of
the Jewish community.
• Only the Business Achiever and
Young Entrepreneur nominees
will be called in front of the
judging panel; other nominees
are judged on the CV submitted
by the nominator.
• The “Humanitarian Award”
category is open to the broader
community, irrespective of culture, creed or gender.
• Nominations are subject to
adjudication by an independent
panel of judges and the judges’
decision is final.
9
10
SA JEWISH REPORT
23 - 30 May 2008
OPINION AND ANALYSIS
FORUM FOR DIVERSE VIEWS
On ubuntu and
the pogrom
ASIDE FROM the shame and outrage that out of
our society should come the xenophobic killings
of the past 11 days, there is another question
demanding an answer: Why has our government’s
response been so lame and mealy-mouthed?
Why have the president of the country, the president of the ANC and other top leaders not been
seen in the field at the coalface, encouraging the
embattled police, reassuring the terrified foreigners cowering in police stations, or speaking to the
nation forcefully through television? The absence
of strong and decisive leadership is alarming. It’s
no good just issuing a press statement or two condemning this outrage.
The response of ordinary citizens has been very
different, practically and in showing solidarity,
including the Jewish community, other faith
groups and humanitarian organisations.
The spirit of ubuntu, which we so often refer to
in this country, has been demonstrably evident.
Collections have been made, volunteers organised, and blankets, food parcels, medical help and
other things have been delivered to the refugees.
But it is not enough. Only the government can
do what is necessary.
The word “pogrom”, so ingrained into the
Jewish psyche because of the Jewish historical
experience, has a clear resonance in what has
happened to the foreigners in Gauteng and now
also elsewhere.
Jews have always complained - rightly so - that
in most instances the gentile citizens of various
countries stood by and did nothing when Jews
were being persecuted, except for the few brave
souls who did take a stand.
We can choose to be bystanders, or to act in
practical ways, politically and by forcefully speaking out. If we do not respond firmly as a society,
this terrible week could set the stage for massive
tribal and ethnic conflict - and we have seen in
other parts of Africa and elsewhere where this
sort of conflagration can lead to.
What manner of society are we building in this
country? This is a boil that has to be lanced quickly and effectively. Today it is South Africans turning on foreigners, tomorrow it may be Zulus turning on Vendas or Sothos on Tswanas, for example.
This kind of thing does not just spring up
overnight. It has root causes which have been simmering and building up for years. Have we, as citizens, been concerned enough, or have we
cocooned ourselves in comfortable ghettos away
from the troubles?
Incredible things have been achieved by this
country, of which we can be immensely proud.
But after the euphoria of the Mandela years, why
is it that just below the surface such violence and
rage exists?
Can it be blamed on the legacy of apartheid, the
unresolved rage of all those years of brutality?
There certainly is a portion that can. Or poverty
and unemployment? They all factor in, but they
are not enough to explain or justify the events of
the last week.
Jews do not inhabit the centre stage of political
power in this country. Decisive political action of
the necessary scale must come from the government and the ANC. But we do have considerable
skills and resources. If we are to build a country
in which we can live good lives and which we can
be proud of, we must use all of this to help combat
the growth of hatred and intolerance which has
been exposed for all to see.
Jews are already involved in educational programmes in tolerance education through institutions like the SA Holocaust Foundation. We need
to become more involved. We have something to
contribute and should do it.
Jewish organisations like the Union of Jewish
Women, the United Sisterhood and others, were
active during apartheid in combating the injustices. It seems clear that now, after only 14 years
into our democracy, organisations like them have
a new task, no less urgent than those during
apartheid.
Sadly, for those who have decided to leave South
Africa, or have already left, this week’s events will
provide them with more conviction that they are
doing the right thing. But for the huge number of
us who see this country as our beloved home, and
are determined to make it work, there is much to
be done.
Xenophobia: Learn from the
Holocaust, says Freedman
IT WAS vital that the Holocaust should continually be used “as the most powerful
example of the tragic consequences of
unrestrained xenophobia and bigotry”,
Richard Freedman (pictured), national
director of the South African Holocaust
Foundation, said, commenting on the xenophobia sweeping the country, especially
Gauteng.
He cited columnist Rich Mkhondo who
wrote in The Star newspaper of May 19, as
saying: “Bigotry, xenophobia and unrestrained national ambitions led to two
world wars in the last century and produced the Holocaust and other genocides.
Today’s world is more complex, but the
same deadly strains of human emotion
remain extant,” therefore, it was vital that
we continued to use the Holocaust as the
most powerful example of the tragic consequences of xenophobia.
“We must convince people that these horrors are not just facts in history texts, but
things that can happen to us if we do not
curb the scourges of nationalism, xenophobia and the desire to prove the ‘superiority’
of one’s nationhood.
“The Holocaust remains the most graphic, powerful example of that failure of the
human spirit. We owe it to the victims of
xenophobia to help prevent new horrors.
“The need to instil patience and tolerance
for others in everyone is one of the most
critical imperatives of this new century. If
we fail, we are doomed to face recurrent,
irresolvable conflicts as nationalities
unavoidably come into even closer contact.”
“As South African Jews we do not have to
go too far back into our own history as
immigrants to this country to recall the
anti-Semitism and xenophobia that was
directed against us.
“The exhibitions at the
Holocaust Centres in Cape
Town and Durban contain
two images and references
that are of particular pertinence at this time. The first
of these documents the
arrival in Cape Town of the
Stuttgart in 1937 with 537
German refugees on board and
records the protests from Prof
Hendrik Verwoerd and others against
Jewish emigration.
“The second image that appears in
the exhibitions, is a cartoon of a group
of East European Jews who are depicted arriving at Cape Town docks in
1904. They are drawn as dirty,
unkempt and grotesque caricatures,
echoing stereotypical representations
of Jews in earlier anti-Semitic literature and foreshadowing the portrayal
of the Jews in Nazi propaganda. The
caption for this cartoon is, ‘The
Coming of the Scum’, (the same type of
language which is being used in the
contemporary rhetoric of those perpetrating the attacks we are witnessing
in Johannesburg today).
“However, the small Jewish community of South Africa was able to provide support for the newcomers and
also they enjoyed the protection of the
government of the time. When one
reads of the nature of the attacks taking place in South Africa against
refugees and foreign nationals, one is
put in mind of the pogroms against
Jews through the centuries, when the
Jews were very often the targets of
vicious attacks on their property and
Ex-premier preaches
Muslim tolerance message
RON KAMPEAS
WASHINGTON
IN ITS telling, the story of a notorious
lynching of Jews is not unusual. The storyteller, however, is: Abdurrahman Wahid,
the former Indonesian president, and a
leading Muslim scholar.
In an interview with JTA, Wahid, who
travelled to the United States and then
Israel in recent weeks to preach his message of Muslim tolerance, revealed the root
of his understanding of the risks and perils
of Jewish existence.
Wahid was a 29-year-old student at
Baghdad University in 1966, earning his
keep as a secretary at a textile importer,
when he befriended the firm’s elderly
accountant, an Iraqi Jew he remembers
only by his family name, Ramin.
“I learned from him about the Kabbalah,
the Talmud, everything about Judaism,”
Wahid recalled of the four-year friendship
that included long lunches, quiet walks and
talks at the city’s legendary Hanging
Gardens.
Wahid has spoken about this friendship
before - it is featured in his biography by
Greg Barton, Abdurrahman Wahid:
Muslim Democrat, Indonesian President but on this recent tour Wahid added to the
account his memories of January 27, 1969.
In 1968, the Iraqi government effectively
had come under the control of Saddam
Hussein, whose title at that time was
deputy to the president, Ahmad Hassan alBakr.
At Saddam’s behest, Iraqi courts had
convicted 14 Iraqis - nine of them Jews - on
trumped-up charges of spying for Israel,
and they were hanged that day in
Baghdad’s Tahrir Square, just steps away
from where the textile firm had offices.
Ramin came to his friend Wahid and
wept, wondering what would become of
Iraq’s ancient Jewish community.
“I said: ‘This is not only your fate, it
is my fate’,” said Wahid, now frail and
in a wheelchair.
Wahid said he decided then that
“the Islamic people should learn”
about the Jews and their faith.
Ramin’s worst fears were realised:
The community that dated to the
Babylonian exile, heard Saddam’s
message loud and clear, and by the
early 1970s it had dwindled to barely a
hundred Jews. By 2007 there were less
than 10, according to media accounts.
Wahid, however, made good on his
pledge. Best known as the president
who shifted Indonesia to democracy
from 1999 to 2001, Wahid then was
forced out due to a combination of
financial scandals and hard-liners
who opposed his attempts to liberalise
restrictions on political groups and
the country’s Chinese minority.
As an opposition leader, he broke
new ground by visiting Israel in 1994.
The apex of this effort, conducted
jointly
with
the
LibForAll
Foundation, a group that promotes
moderate Islam, and the Simon
Wiesenthal Centre, was the Holocaust
conference last year in Bali,
Indonesia.
At the conference, which was
attended by survivors and Jewish and
Muslim clergy, Wahid called Iranian
President Mahmoud Achmadinejad a
“liar” for denying the Holocaust.
Wahid, 67, continues to promote his
message with LibForAll, founded in
2003 by C Holland Taylor, a scholar of
Southeast Asia and a telecommunications magnate.
Wahid, who says he plans to run for
president again in 2009, brings to the
venture his prestige as the scion of a
family of Javanese Islamic scholars.
Earlier this month he attended a
persons resulting in untold loss of life.
“It was, and is, the creation of ‘the
other’ which fuels the hatred, bigotry
and xenophobia, which leads to the
attacks of this nature.
“While it is encouraging that the
Jewish community has opened
its hearts to this crisis, it is
imperative that we remain vigilant and mindful of the human
rights abuses that occur in our
society on a daily basis.
“The South African Holocaust
Foundation through its three
centres in Cape Town, Durban
and Johannesburg, is dedicated
to using the prism of the
Holocaust and anti-Semitism to
address the deep-seated issues at the
basis of our fragmented society.
“Tali Nates, the director of the
Johannesburg Holocaust Centre,
wrote the following upon hearing
about the attacks on refugees and foreign nationals: ‘I have just returned
from Poland and Israel from an emotional March of the Living, and
arrived into the madness of South
Africa at present.
“‘After being in Auschwitz, I reflect
on us as Jews, members of a nation
that know suffering intimately, and
feel the urgency to act rather than to
stand by without helping those who
suffer...’”
Nates added that when she took
groups to Poland many Jewish participants said: “Where were our neighbours when it happened to us?”
She added: “Now of course, we are
the neighbours and we need to be
there for our fellow human beings.”
“Like Tali Nates and Rich Mkondo I
urge the Jewish community to remember our own history and not to stand
by. Only through involvement and caring can we create a South Africa,
which values the right to respect, dignity and life itself.”
Wiesenthal Centre tribute dinner in
his honour and then travelled to Israel
to participate in Israeli President
Shimon Peres’ conference celebrating
Israel’s 60th anniversary, “Facing
Tomorrow”.
This Jewish component is just part
of Wahid’s larger effort to promote an
ideology of moderate Islam. He wants
to demonstrate that the radical factions are not pre-eminent and to promote a faith that preaches equality for
women and tolerance of non-believers.
LibForAll recruits respected, moderate Muslim leaders in Indonesia to
endorse and write tracts repudiating
the radical brand of Islam promoted
by
Saudi-funded
advocates
of
Wahhabi Islam.
One of the project’s highest-profile
coups was getting rock star Ahmad
Dani, whose group, Dewa, has been
likened to U2, on board with the programme. Dani has recorded a single
taking on Laskar Jihad, Indonesia’s
radical Islamist terrorist group. The
song is called Laskar Cinta “Warriors for Love”.
Taylor says plans are under way to
translate the videos and tracts into
Arabic and other languages.
“We feel that Indonesia has the cultural capital to be a leader in the
struggle,” he said.
This strategy might make headway
in countries where moderate Islam
has roots - Malaysia, Turkey and some
East African nations - but Taylor does
not have a clear plan of action for how
this strategy is supposed to work in
places such as Saudi Arabia, which
has few Islamic moderates.
Saudi Arabia, in particular, remains
the primary funding source for the
global spread of fundamentalist Islam.
“Don’t give any kind of recognition
to the fundamentalist view of Islam,”
Wahid said. “The Saudis have a double-pronged thing: the first is to give
assistance to fundamentalists, on the
other side to show the ‘humanist’ side
of Islam. These things cannot be reconciled.” (JTA)
23 - 30 May 2008
SA JEWISH REPORT
OPINION AND ANALYSIS
FORUM FOR DIVERSE VIEWS
Some are more equal
MERELY DENOUNCING Israel as an
“apartheid state” is no longer enough, it
seems. Now it must be labelled a Nazi state
bent on genocide. That certainly has been
coming through in the frenzied messages
being put out by Israel’s enemies during this
60th anniversary year.
The propaganda strategies adopted by
anti-Israel hardliners are cunningly conceived. The natural reaction of someone
who is accused of terrible crimes is to
defend himself, thereby inadvertently placing himself in the dock even if he is completely innocent.
Israel advocates have fallen into the same
trap, responding to charges of “genocide”
and “apartheid” with cries of “Oh no! It’s
not true, you nasty anti-Semite you!” Before
they know it, they’re hopelessly on the back
foot, denying, qualifying, justifying and
equivocating, naturally losing credibility at
every step.
When it comes to Israel, Jews have on the
whole been surprisingly slow to adapt to the
“sound-byte culture”, which judges a message by its packaging rather than its substance and which, like it or not, is here to
stay.
The correct response - given that this is
not an academic debate but a gloves-off war
in which anything goes - is to ignore the
accusations and focus instead on the accusers. Who exactly are the ones who are leading the prosecution against the Jewish State,
and what is their motivation?
This simple but crucial paradigm shift
will quickly reveal that what Israel’s enemies are very cleverly doing is what is
termed “projection”, that is, they are disguising their own faults and intentions by
projecting them onto someone else.
Thus, when the Palestinians, Iran, Saudi
Arabia and sundry other Islamic entities in
the Middle East, call Israel an apartheid
state, they are in reality the ones truly guilty
of apartheid practices. And when Israel is
charged with “Nazi genocide”, this is really
what its enemies are seeking to achieve.
Heaven forbid that the Jewish people
should sink this low, even in self-defence,
but hypothetically, what would be the outcome if the Israelis decided to adopt
Palestinian tactics? Put more explicitly,
what if the Israelis set about killing and
maiming as many Palestinian civilians as
they could, in the same way as the
Palestinians are going to every conceivable
length (even turning their own children into
human bombs) to massacre their civilians?
Given the massive military resources at
Israel’s disposal, it is more or less a given
that in such an event within a mere hour or
two the Palestinian death toll would far
exceed the total number of casualties
incurred since the launch of the “Second
Intifada” eight years ago. This - albeit rather
brutally put - is the reality of the situation.
As for identifying real apartheid parallels,
based on an honest comparison with pre1990 South Africa, one soon finds that of all
the countries in the Middle East, Israel is the
least discriminatory.
Everywhere else, discrimination against
minorities is endemic, even in relatively
BARBARIC
YAWP
David Saks
enlightened Arab states.
Thus in Saudi Arabia, the “Holy Land” of
the Muslim world, only Muslims can acquire
citizenship, which means that non-Muslims,
among other things, cannot serve in the judiciary or as members of government and
must carry legal resident identity cards designating their status.
Saudi courts discriminate against them.
For example, in cases of accidental death or
injury compensation rulings, Muslim males
receive 100 per cent of the amount determined while a male Jew or Christian receives
50 per cent. All others, including Hindus and
Sikhs, receive 1/16 of what a Muslim male
receives.
Discrimination of a different sort occurs in
Lebanon, where the law prohibits Palestinian
Arab refugees and their descendants from
working in 72 professions outside the 12 official camps in which they are forced to live.
The parallels with apartheid’s “independent homelands”, where blacks could only
practise a profession or engage in business
within the homeland to which they were
assigned, can hardly be missed.
Then there is Iran, where non-Muslims
cannot hold senior government or military
positions, face restrictions in employment,
education, and property ownership and are
barred from election to representative bodies.
A set number of parliamentary seats are
reserved for religious minorities, apparently
a concession but actually ironically reminiscent of how in apartheid South Africa, a
token number of seats were at one time set
aside in the “white” parliament to represent
non-whites.
Ethnicity rather than religion is the basis
of discrimination in Syria. Members of the
200 000-strong Kurdish minority are deprived
of citizenship, are unable to obtain passports,
identity cards, or birth certificates and thus
cannot own land, obtain government employment, and vote.
This is just a small sample of the
apartheid-like discrimination that takes
place in Middle Eastern countries other than
Israel. Why is it, then, that not only is Israel
being pilloried as an “apartheid state”, but
more often than not, those who are doing the
pillorying are the very countries most guilty
of such practices?
All this needs to be at the forefront of our
consciousness when we are confronted by
calls (invariably made by Muslim groups or
the sundry front organisations they have set
up) to “boycott racist, apartheid Israel”.
Having failed to destroy the Jewish State
by military means, our enemies are seeking
to do so by lies and propaganda. Hopefully,
Jews are learning to recognise their slanders
for what they are and to shrug them off
accordingly.
AROUND THE WORLD
NEWS IN BRIEF
US SUPREME COURT DENIES DEMJANJUK APPEAL
WASHINGTON - The US Supreme Court
has denied an appeal by convicted Nazi
camp guard John Demjanjuk to overturn
his deportation order. The court refused to
hear the appeal without comment.
Demjanjuk, 88, had argued that immigration judge, Michael Creppy did not have the
authority to order his deportation.
Demjanjuk was stripped of his US citizenship in 1981 and extradited to Israel, where
in 1993 he was acquitted by that country's
Supreme Court of being the sadistic
Treblinka death camp guard "Ivan the
Terrible".
He was stripped of his citizenship again
in 2002 after new evidence showed he was a
guard at another camp.
In December 2006, Creppy dismissed an
appeal by Demjanjuk to have a deportation
order overturned.
Demjanjuk denies that he helped the
Nazis, claiming he was drafted into the
Soviet army and captured by the Germans.
Though Demjanjuk's legal fight is over, it
is unlikely that he will be forced to leave the
United States since neither Ukraine nor
Germany will accept him.
Demjanjuk was born in Soviet Ukraine,
which gained its independence in 1990.
Demjanjuk, a resident of the Cleveland
suburb of Seven Hills, is said to be in ill
health. (JTA)
11
12
SA JEWISH REPORT
23 - 30 May 2008
TAPESTRY
ART, BOOKS, DANCE, FILM, THEATRE
ARTS MATTERS
COMPILED BY
ROBYN SASSEN
Call 084-319-7844 or
info@frodo.co.za at
least one week prior to
publication
Art Extra, Craighall: “Aftermath”, a curated exhibition,
including work by Joni Brenner,
Churchill Madikida, Sandile
Zulu, until June 7. (011) 3260034.
Artspace, Rosebank: “Heptad”, an exhibition celebrating
seven years of Artspace. Artists
include Gina Waldman, Luan
Nel. Until May 31 (011) 880-8802.
Civic Theatre, Braamfontein:
In the Nelson Mandela, “Stars
of the Moscow Ballet” celebrates 70 years since Rudolf
Nureyev’s birth, until May 25.
“Queen: It’s a Kinda Magic”, an
Australian tribute show, May
28-June 15. In the Tesson,
Genna Lewis directs “Nipple
Caps and G-Strings”, until June
5. In the People’s Theatre,
“Winnie the Pooh”, from June 2.
(011) 877-6800.
A new direction for Joan Abrahams
“Capture the Rain” by Joan Abrahams,
until July 1. (Origins Centre,
Braamfontein, (011) 717-4700)
REVIEWED BY ROBYN SASSEN
JOAN ABRAHAMS’S latest solo, located
in the Origins Centre’s gallery, tucked
between the exhibit proper and the offices
of the Rock Art Research Institute, represents a new direction for her. The work is
about water - a source of life, the substance of technology and health.
The 14 works on show are layered, and
grouped into four series; one using sheets
of Perspex riveted into the surface of oil
paintings and painted on, in turn.
These contain a play of shadows, translating the palimpsests central to
Abrahams’s earlier works into something
more removed. In other series, she uses
acrylic on raw, unstretched canvas, paint-
ing with characteristic subtlety. In
“Altered States”, the works are horizontal and abstractly landscapular.
In “Hoodia” and “Khadia”, she interlays hand-written text and image to create a commentary on plants that the San
community used in their harsh waterless conditions.
The sound infusing this space is a gentle water-induced one, coming from the
“Spiritual World” of the Origins
Centre’s exhibition, which relates poetically to Abrahams’ works. Indeed, the
gallery overlooks the “Spiritual World”,
allowing the half trance-induced monsters, half-men, by Russell Scott, visibility, which may whet your appetite to
explore the whole Centre.
Entrance to the exhibition alone costs
R35; entrance to the whole Origins
Centre for adults: R55; pensioners: R40;
children and students R35.
One of the works by Joan Abrahams. (PHOTOGRAPH
COURTESY THE ORIGINS CENTRE.)
Goodman Gallery, Rosebank:
“Joburg”, by David Goldblatt,
until May 24. (011) 788-1113.
Linder Auditorium, Parktown: The fourth of JPO’s second season features Boris
Giltburg (piano) playing works
by Wagner, Chopin and Brahms.
Conductor: Michal Dworzynski.
May 28, 29. (011) 789-2733.
Market, Newtown: In the Main
Theatre, James Ngcobo directs
Wole Soyinka’s “The Lion and
the Jewel”, until June 22. In the
Laager, Stuart Taylor’s “TechniColoured”, until June 1, and
“Original Skin” written and
performed by Phillipa Yaa de
Villiers and directed by Robert
Colman, until June 22. (011) 8321641.
Montecasino, Fourways: In
the Studio, “Defending the
Caveman”
with
Alan
Committie, until June 1. In the
Pieter Toerien, “Chess”, with
Gina Shmukler, until May 31.
(011) 511-1988.
Old Mutual Theatre on the
Square, Sandton: “Beauty and
the BEE”, directed by Janice
Honeyman, with Ben Voss, May
27-June 21. (011) 883-8606.
Origins Centre, Braamfontein: “Capture the Rain”, a
mixed-media exhibition by Joan
Abrahams, until July 1. (011)
717-4700.
The Picture Workshop, Parkview: Hannah Katz shows oils,
May 28-June 4. (011) 646-9216.
RCHCC, Oaklands: Oils by
Michael Schur, until May 31.
(011) 728-8088.
SA Jewish Museum, Cape
Town: “When Cape Art was
Coffee with Joe”, an exhibition
about Joe Wolpe. Until July 31.
(021) 465-1546.
Victory Theatre, Houghton:
“Rocky Horror”, until July 31.
(011) 728-9603.
Vincent Mantsoe in “Skin”. (PHOTOGRAPH: VAL
ADAMSON)
“Boat Yard, Alexandria, Egypt”, by Obie Oberholzer.
It’s Grahamstown Festival time again
ROBYN SASSEN
IT’S ALMOST that time of year again when the
arts community turns bodies, hearts and pockets toward the Eastern Cape. Now in its 34th
year, The Grahamstown Festival is the oldest
and largest local arts festival.
This year, it celebrates landmark anniversaries: the 21st birthday of Cue, the Festival’s
daily paper, 25 years of Standard Bank sponsorship - although the bank took a lower-key
sponsorship a couple of years ago, the Young
Artist Award it still handled by it.
This year, it was won by Zanne Stapelberg
(music), Lolo Veleko (fine art), Jaco Bouwer
(theatre), Mark Fransman (jazz) and Dada
Masilo (dance). It’s the 20th year of Lynette
Marais’s festival directorship. She retires in
December; the new incumbent is arts administrator, writer and critic, Ismail Mahomed.
“Working for the National Arts Festival is a
dream job for anyone in the arts,” he said. “It
takes the pulse of the country’s arts and plays
an important role in pushing boundaries and
giving our artists a platform.”
It’s the time of year when school halls get
cannibalised by scaffolding comprising theatre
seats, and every conceivable space, from a bar
to a park can turn into a venue for a spot of jazz
or a dash of art. It’s the time of year when this
lazy city, tucked in its own climactic grip, puts
on its finery for the onset of more than 50 000
guests.
Highlights include “An African Celebration”,
directed by Janice Honeyman with a line-up
including Sibongile Khumalo and the Debbie
Rakusin Dance Company. The Human Factory,
Israeli jazz quintet, perform on the festival’s
opening evening, courtesy of Tararam.
“Biko” written and directed by Martin
Koboekae, premieres. Craig Higginson collaborates with Mncedisi Shabangu in “Ten
Bush”, a play of witchcraft, revenge and sacrifice. Leila Anderson features in “Isabella”,
one of several works directed by Rob van
Vuuren.
Keren Tahor and James Cuningham take
the stage once more in “Jutro”, a beautiful
war drama. “Original Skin” which opens at
the Market Theatre before trekking down
south, is directed by Robert Colman.
This year’s ballet is “Don Quixote”, danced
by SA Ballet Theatre. Dada Masilo interprets
“Romeo and Juliet”; fans will remember the
electricity she injected into Lady Macbeth.
Vincent Mantsoe, performs in “Skin”, presented by Britain’s Ace Dance and Music
Company, and “TapAttack” is Tap Talk
Rhythm Company’s show, directed by Sandra
Rosenberg.
Visually, photography will play an important role this year, with Lolo Veleko a photographer and Obie Oberholzer offering a retrospective of his well-loved images. However,
printmaker Nyaniso Lindi debuts with his
first solo and Roxandra Dardagan presents
“Exodus”, an exhibition about loss and dismantlement of social structures in Zimbabwe.
The Winter School has had a spring-cleaning; it’s more provocative, hard-hitting, relevant and exciting than ever, featuring Dennis
Davis, Jody Kollapen, Darryl Accone and
more.
The festival also has craft and kids’ events.
Accommodation, travel and theatre reservations fill up as we speak; festival booking kits
are available at Standard Banks, or phone
(046) 603-1103. The National Festival of the
Arts in Grahamstown: June 26-July 5.
Jody Kollapen, chairman of the SA Human
Rights Commission, speaks on the viability of
equal human rights for all, at the Winter
School. (PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY NATIONAL ARTS
FESTIVAL)
23 - 30 May 2008
SA JEWISH REPORT
13
TAPESTRY
ART, BOOKS, DANCE, FILM, THEATRE
Soothing to the ear
REVIEWED BY GWEN PODBREY
Duets: Friends and Legends by
Anne Murray and Various Artists
(EMI, R149,95)
One has to credit Anne Murray
with consistency: in her long,
unblemished career, she has never
made the slightest concession to
changing trends and has steadfastly stuck by her inimitable brand of
sultry country ballads, performed
with the same languid, husky
Canadian drawl she had some 30
years ago, even when performing
alongside young,
contemporary
artists like Nelly
Furtado and KD
Lang.
This album is a
mellow, sweetly
sentimental compilation of love
ballads performed with a range of
female singers, such as Dusty
Springfield, Shania Twain and
Olivia Newton-John. The one
stand-out track is a splendid version of “When I Fall in Love” with
Celine Dion. The rest comprises
evergreens such as “You Needed
Me”, “Snowbird” and - believe it or
not - the old Beatles classic, “You
Won’t See Me”. Not earth-shaking
stuff, but good for reflective moods
or long, solitary drives.
Sleep Through the Static by Jack
Johnson (Brushfire, R209,95)
For those who like their R&B
with a New Age touch, Johnson’s
laid-back, low-key style gently
pierces the heart. This album is a
bitter-sweet collection of pensive,
poignant - but rarely powerful tracks, with lyrics that are wistful,
but clever (“I’ve been losing lots of
keys lately/ I don’t know what that
means, but maybe/ I’d be better off
with things that
can’t be locked at
all”).
All the numbers are written
and
sung
by
Johnson himself,
with riveting guitar artistry. He is
accompanied by Merlo Podlewski
on bass, Zach Gill on keyboards
and backing vocals and Adam
Topol on drums. Highlight of the
CD is the superb, cynical “They
Do, They Don’t”. A highly recommended release from an intriguing
artist.
Unforgettable by Various Artists
(Universal Music, R159,95)
A double CD that comprises 20 of
the most memorable, heart-tugging songs from the last five
decades, from Mel Torme’s “A
Nightingale Sang in Berkely
Square”, Aretha Franklin’s “I Say
a Little Prayer” and Dionne
Warwick’s “Walk on By” to Bobby
Hebb’s “Sunny” (a Sixties classic),
Patsy Cline’s iconic Fifties ballad
“Crazy” and the
more recent “My
Baby Just Cares
for Me” by Nina
Simone.
These compilations are now
appearing more frequently - possibly as a response to the inaccessible, often tuneless aggression of
modern genres such as hip-hop
and rap - and certainly evoke an
era when vocalists could not hope
to succeed unless they had voices
that did not rely on echo chambers,
distinctive melodies, rhythmic
arrangements that did not degenerate into monotonous thumping,
and messages worth hearing.
A collection that is not only
great value for money, but also
pays nostalgic homage to better
days.
Trav’lin Light by Queen Latifah
(Verve, R189,95)
Pick of the month - and, possibly,
of the year - is this offering from
one of the most underrated divas
on the contemporary scene.
Latifah’s voice ranges from stirring, bluesy contralto to sultry
mezzo, but is always impeccably
controlled, with an emotional
FELDMAN ON
FILM
Peter Feldman
Be Kind Rewind
Cast: Jack Black, Mos Def, Danny Glover, Mia
Farrow
Director: Michael Gondry
Michael Gondry’s quirky “Be Kind Rewind” is a
fascinating mix of tones and styles which also
crosses genres, abandons sub-plots and occasionally turns totally nonsensical. But, throughout,
the viewer is guaranteed a host of genuine laughs
from comic star, Jack Black.
The production is a constantly changing
escapade; one minute it’s a comedy, the next a fantasy and then it evolves into drama. It’s a series of
loosely woven skits, and what begins as another
crazy Jack Black physical onslaught winds up as a
sincere homage to independent filmmakers.
The Be Kind Rewind video store exists in a rundown neighbourhood in Passaic, New Jersey, a
part of town due to be demolished.
Its owner, Mr Fletcher (Danny Glover), is fighting gentrification with all his might. While out of
town observing how a modern video store operates, he leaves the business in the hands of his livein employee, Mike (Mos Def). Mike’s best friend
Jerry (Black) is a bit of a lunatic who embarks on
a foolhardy attempt to sabotage the local power
plant. In the process he becomes “magnetised”, a
situation that becomes catastrophic when he inad-
vocabulary that is devastating and utterly sincere.
Her interpretive skills are every
whit as accomplished as her vocal
style, while her selection of songs
is ideally suited to her. The sublime title track and “Gone Away”
are sizzling torch songs, while
more upbeat, Big
Band
numbers
such as “I Want a
Little Sugar in my
Bowl” evoke Lena
Horne and Bessie
Smith at their
best.
Pick of the CD, though, is the
brooding, bitter “I Know Where
I’ve Been”, with its chilling message. A gutsy, magnificent album
from an artist with the depth and
vision to shatter - and heal - hearts.
Across the Universe (music from
the motion picture) by Various
Artists (Interscope, R189,95)
The movie which generated this
soundtrack is one of several that
have attempted, with varying
degrees of success, to conjure up
the magic of the Beatles, both in
their early Kaiserkeller days and
later, as Sixties and Seventies icons
leading the LSD/Eastern mysticism movement.
This album includes many of the
great Beatles numbers, such as
“Come Together”, “I am the
Walrus”, “Strawberry Fields
Forever” and “Lucy in the Sky
With Diamonds” - but, somehow, it
doesn’t quite gel, for all the dulcet
tones of Evan
Rachel Wood and
imaginative
mixes of Mike
Piersante
and
Joel Iwataki.
However, there
are interesting renditions of Paul
McCartney’s maudlin “Blackbird”
and a fabulous treatment of the
towering anthem, “Hey Jude”.
All CDs available from Plum CDs
at the Mall of Rosebank, tel (011)
788-2255.
vertently erases all the tapes in the shop.
Panicking, Jerry and Mike grab a camcorder
and “re-create” popular films so the store will
have something available to rent. Their homemade versions of hits like “Ghostbusters” and
“Robocop” are a success and queues develop outside of the soon-to-be-demolished Be Kind
Rewind with people clamouring to see the latest
and greatest that the store has to offer. It’s all
over-the-top comedy and it’s necessary that
viewers buy into the premise that a magnetised
man can erase all the store’s tapes.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the
Crystal Skull
Cast: Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Karen
Allen, Ray Winstone, John Hurt, Jim Broadbent
and Shia LaBeouf
Director: Steven Spielberg
It’s been a long wait but Steven Spielberg is back
in the saddle, an older Harrison Ford has
grasped his bullwhip once again as adventurous
archaeologist Indiana Jones and together they
fire up the engine for another high-octane adventure.
Set in the late ‘50s, this yarn goes in search of
one of the most spectacular archaeological finds
in history - the Crystal Skull of Akator, a legendary object of fascination, superstition and
fear.
Shia La Beouf plays a rebellious young man
who helps show Indy the way to the fortune,
while Cate Blanchett is the deadly Soviet agent
who believes the Soviets can dominate the world
if they find the skull and unlock its secrets.
Gaudí has left a
spell-binding
architectural legacy
ROBYN SASSEN
BRIAN ALTSHULER gave a captivated capacity audience a mindblowing foray into the architecture
of Antonio Gaudí (1852-1926), at the
Rabbi Cyril Harris Community
Centre in Oaklands, recently.
Altshuler is a creative practitioner
on several levels, and includes
architecture, sculpting, painting,
writing and research among his
skills.
Having studied at Wits and lectured there in architectural theory
and design for several years,
Altshuler freelances as an architectural academic locally and
abroad. He is currently doing his
doctoral thesis and runs his own
Johannesburg-based architectural
design studio.
Gaudí is unique in modern
architecture. His work is timely influenced by art nouveau, and the
Gothic and Moorish styles, and
timeless - it stands alone in world
architecture.
The work is mostly in and
around Barcelona, built from 1885
until his death, with one work, the
Sagrada Familia Cathedral being
continued by others to this day.
Being of a religious and nationalistic bent, he initially looked to
history for inspiration and later to
nature, always with a highly personalised vision. His work, which
includes religious, domestic, commercial and urban structures, as
well as furniture, combines idiosyncrasy with practical mathematics, and is spellbinding.
Although his body of work isn’t
vast, the variety of his detailing
most certainly is.
One of the realities of this work,
which often belies the hardness of
its wood, iron and stone, is that the
technology during the time he was
most active on, was hand-made,
relying on collaboration with
guild-educated craftspeople; the
results are something our computer technology is still unable to
emulate.
Another is that the curvy lines
and helicoidal geometry might
look crazy, but employs a beautiful
economy of material and a logical
use of mathematics, resulting in
timeless magnificence that’s very
human.
Inordinately fond of the parabola arch, Gaudí was “a hard-nosed
architect with sound design
habits”. Altshuler explained how
the “skew” pillars in Gaudí’s
works drew from gravity’s line of
force, thus making the work
stronger. Never reliant on architectural blueprints, Gaudí worked
with drawings, most of which were
destroyed by Franco during the
Spanish Civil War, but reconstructions of them by his peers, reveal
an exploratory sinewy line.
Gaudí’s personal life was
coloured with disappointment and
loss which resulted in his being
“married to architecture”. He considered himself a humble instrument of Divine power; the community was ambivalent as to whether
he was saint or nut.
Salvador
Dalí
rapturously
described Gaudí’s Casa Batlló as
houses made of water; the surrealists loved Gaudí’s lavish aesthetic
that anthropomorphosised furniture and roofscapes, used asymmetry and broken tiles, leaning on the
idiosyncrasies of nature poetically
and with empathy.
Gaudí died in a pauper’s hospital
after being hit by a tram; in his
later years he became ascetic,
alternating working with begging
for alms in the streets. The city of
Barcelona declared his lonely
death a civic disgrace; his funeral
was huge and state-supported.
The Nativity Façade of the
Sagrada Familia Cathedral in
Barcelona, by Antonio Gaudí.
(PHOTOGRAPH: BRIAN ALTSHULER)
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14
SA JEWISH REPORT
23 - 30 May 2008
LETTERS
Disclaimer
The letters page is intended to provide opportunity for a range of views on any given topic to
be expressed. Opinions articulated in the letters are those of the writers and do not necessarily
reflect the views of the editor, staff or directors of the Jewish Report
The Editor, Suite 175, Postnet X10039, Randburg, 2125 email: carro@global.co.za
Guidelines for letters
Letters up to 400 words will get preference. Please provide your full first name and surname,
place of residence, and a daytime contact number. We do not publish letters under noms de
plume. Letters should preferably be e-mailed. Letters may be edited or shortened.
OSTROFF IS HOPELESSLY OUT OF SYNCH WITH REALITY
REASONS TO ‘PACK’ ARE EXTREMELY RACIST
I TAKE the strongest exception to Rafi
Ostroff ’s article in your last issue
(“Everything will not just be ‘okay’”, May
16). The strong implication of this piece is
that South African Jewry face a possible
Holocaust if they choose to remain in the
country, and that the local Jewish leadership is in denial about this.
This is unnecessarily alarmist, hopelessly out of synch with the realities on the
ground and, in its allusion to the tragic fate
of European Jewry, frankly offensive.
The SAJBD has always strongly supported the ideal of aliyah, and every member of
our community who chooses to settle in our
beloved State of Israel goes with our every
blessing. That being said, however, we
adamantly reject the use of scare-mongering tactics to persuade people to leave
South Africa.
Putting out ill-informed and emotive messages that this country is on the brink of a
catastrophe and that its Jewish community
could face the same fate as its European
forebears, serves only to sow panic and
undermine morale.
Those living abroad, even if, like Rabbi
Ostroff, they were once part of the local
Jewish community, are simply in no position to make sweeping declarations to the
effect that “the end is nigh” and that, contrary to the considered views of the Jewish
leadership on the ground, Jews should get
out while they still can.
Unacceptably high crime levels are a
major problem in this country. However
unlike anti-Semitism, which singles out
Jews for exclusive persecution, it is something that affects all South Africans. In fact,
South Africa has consistently shown lower
rates of anti-Semitism than any other
IN RESPONSE to the article carried in The
Jewish Report last week (May 16) in which
Rabbi Ostroff (from Bnei Akiva) exhorts
South African Jewry to flee in the light the
churban (destruction) - the rabbi’s description - that has already happened, in the
Yeoville, Berea area of Johannesburg, and
the churban that is about to happen.
At the outset, I have no argument with
anyone giving their views as to why citizens should want to stay or leave South
Africa, but the reasons given by the writer
are both unfounded and extremely racist.
In how many towns and cities worldwide, have Jewish communities not relocated? Is the movement of almost the
entire Jewish community from New York’s
Lower East Side, a sign pointing to a churban waiting to happen? Or the exodus from
London’s East End to Hampstead and
Finchley?
The Johannesburg Jewish community
has continued to flourish notwithstanding
the move from Doornfontein to Yeoville
and then to Orange Grove and then further
Diaspora community of comparable size.
For that reason alone, evoking visions of
a possible future Holocaust is simply out of
line.
Rabbi Ostroff refers to the demise of
Yeoville as a centre of Jewish life as a
“churban”. This, too, is an emotive overstatement. From the outset, the story of
Jewish Johannesburg has been one of
demographic shifts, with Jews concentrating for a time in particular areas of the
city and then moving on.
Prior to the decline of Jewish Yeoville,
equally vibrant centres of Jewish life,
such as Fordsburg-Mayfair, Jeppestown
and Doornfontein, had also seen the disappearance of their Jewish communities.
However, wherever Jews have moved,
they have successfully established equally,
if not more, vibrant centres of Jewish life.
For example the Greater Glenhazel area,
with its many shuls, schools, kosher establishments, welfare institutions, kollelim
and political and Zionist organisations, at
least matches and quite possibly surpasses
the centres of Jewish life that preceded it
elsewhere.
Finally, contrary to Rabbi Ostroff ’s
assertion, the SAJBD is not, and never
has, urged people not to emigrate. The
decision to leave or to remain is a personal
one, and it is not for us to advise people
either way.
What we do advise is that those considering emigration look to Israel as a first
choice, and that those choosing to remain
commit themselves to making a positive
contribution to building a better society.
Zev Krengel
Johannesburg
BUILD ISRAEL WITHOUT DESTROYING DIASPORA
RAV RAFI Ostroff is no doubt sincere in his
attempt to convince South African Jewry to
leave the “churban” - destruction of Jewish
life in our country and move en masse to
Israel, though he claims that that is not his
intention.
Is he really unaware that this very same
churban has occurred in virtually every
major North American city, from New York
to California. The old neighbourhoods our
grandparents settled in became black slums.
The most magnificent synagogues of yesteryear are today churches.
It’s called demographics and it is a fact of
modern life in most urban centres worldwide. The demise of Jewish Yeoville is,
indeed, very sad. But so is the fall of the
Jewish Bronx and the Lower East Side of
Manhattan.
Like most modern people, Jews are
mobile. Glenhazel today is not what it was
in Rav Ostroff’s youth. Neither was there
much happening in Sandton, Illovo, etc.
And, yes, Jewish communities the world
over do need to proactively protect their
current enclaves from deterioration in the
future, so we shouldn’t be compelled to
keep moving.
If aliyah is to be successful, it must be
preached from a positive perspective, not by
scare tactics. By all means promote and
build Eretz Yisrael. But you don’t have to
destroy the Diaspora to do it.
Rochel Goldman
Johannesburg
SA’S ISRAEL STANCE NOTHING TO BE PROUD OF
LARRY BENJAMIN (SA Jewish Report
May 2) refers to the current South African
government position on Israel as being
“even-handed”.
I will not at this stage refer to (Cabinet)
Minister Ronnie Kasrils’ regular venomous
outbursts against Israel and Israelis - any
fair-minded person knows that denigrating
an entire nation and supporting the murder
of people based purely on their nationality
amounts to racism, pure and simple, even if
espoused by someone born Jewish.
But it is interesting that not one current
ANC member or government member has
taken Kasrils to task for his hate speech
(and hate speech I believe it is whatever the
biased SAHRC says); it is the display of
hatred for all Israel Jews - men, women and
children.
South Africa was one of the few countries
to vote against Israel’s admission to the Red
Cross, and the only “democracy” to go to
The Hague to call for the removal of the
security fence so that terrorists could get
into Israel to murder Jewish men, women
and children.
And South Africa had voted in EVERY
UN vote against Israel, even when the
majority of African countries have not
done so.
Several African states including Ethiopia,
Uganda, Rwanda, Congo-Kinshasa, Came-
roon, Cote D’Ivoire , Ghana and Togo have
condemned South Africa for that country’s
overt and hostile prejudice against Israel.
But compare South Africa’s attitude to
those clear and just observations by several European leaders, leaders who put
South Africa’s current rulers to shame.
Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, in
response to Muslim protests at his presence at an Israeli book fair replied that
“criticising Israel’s policies is completely
legitimate. What is unacceptable is any
position that denies the legitimacy of the
State of Israel... and its right to exist in
peace and security.”
Not long ago German Chancellor Angela
Merkel on a visit to Israel ruled out all dialogue with Hamas. She said she felt a
moral duty to protect Israel and would
stand firm in the face of Iran’s nuclear
ambitions and its threats to wipe the
Jewish state off the map.
If South Africa had leaders who truly
respected Israel’s right to exist in peace
and security such as George W Bush,
Napolitano and Merkel, then and (only
then) I would be proud to be associated
with South Africa.
Gary Selikow
Johannesburg
north to Glenhazel, Waverley and
Sandton, which were all as a result of
demographic changes similar to those
seen in many other parts of the world.
Of more concern is the writer’s racist
tone. South African Jews, have since the
early nineties, been in a position to participate in the emancipation of the vast
majority of South Africa’s people.
I am proud of the attitude of the community and its leadership in this regard.
The change in South Africa, to a truly
democratic state, has not given rise to
anti-Semitism and the Jewish community
has never thrived as it has today.
The upliftment of people who are now
able to acquire homes in areas previously
not available to them, is a positive development and the change in demographics
in areas like Yeoville should be seen as
such. In what way is this a churban?
Gerald Leissner
Glenhazel
Johannesburg
A BIG THANKS TO THE SAJBD
AS A former president of the Harare
Hebrew Congregation, I would like to
express my thanks and appreciation to the
SA Jewish Board of Deputies and its
national director, Wendy Kahn, for the
kind and thoughtful appeal she has
announced for the victims in Alexandra
and elsewhere of horrible xenophobic violence and theft.
I mentioned in a recent letter in the local
press that I have an unshakeable belief in
the people of benighted Zimbabwe as hard
working, enterprising and educated. In a
normal country, their recent elections
would have meant a regime change for the
much better and without the needs for millions to leave.
Ivor Davis
Johannesburg
A NEW TAKE ON RABBI ELISHA BEN AVUAH
I FIND Rabbi Matthew Liebenberg’s commentary on the Parshat Behar interesting,
particularly his statement that Rabbi Elisha
ben Avuah sunk to the “depths of depravity”.
Rabbi Meir, many of whose writings form
the basis of Rabbi Judah ha Nasi’s Mishnah,
was a disciple and friend of Elisha. He studied with Elisha right up to Elisha’s death. I
hardly think that a man of Rabbi Meir’s calibre would study with one who had “sunk to
the depth of depravity”.
In addition, Elisha is quoted in the Ethics
of the Fathers (4:25). One wonders if the
words of a depraved character would be
quoted in that Mishnah.
One of the reasons for Elisha’s apostasy is
that he saw a boy who had just performed
two mitzvoth which would be rewarded with
a long life, fall to his death from a tree. He
also witnessed the death of his righteous
friend Rabbi Meir’s two young children from
the plague. These two events shattered his
faith.
His belief in Divine providence was further destroyed as a result of the fearful per-
secution following the Bar Kochba revolt he saw the tongue of Rabbi Judah haNahtom, the man with the “golden tongue”,
in a dog’s mouth and the tongue of Huzpit
being dragged in the dust by a pig.
It would be obvious that he would be
demonised by his colleagues after deserting
the fold; they even refused to pronounce his
name. In fact Louis Ginzberg writes “that for
this reason it is almost impossible to derive
from rabbinical sources a clear picture of
his personality and modern historians have
differed greatly in their estimate of him”.
The lesson that one can learn from Elisha
ben Avuah is that not everything one reads
should be accepted blindly and not
analysed.
The other lesson is that even the most
holy and learned can have a crisis of faith.
Indeed, the very saintly and holy Mother
Teresa spent the last 50 years of her life
without feeling G-d’s presence!
Irving Lissoos
Johannesburg
FOREIGNERS HAVE THEMSELVES TO BLAME
WITH REFERENCE to your article “Alex
Crisis Appeal” (Jewish Report May 16), I feel
I cannot let this go without comment.
You quote a passage from “Vayikra, 19.34”
which refers to us as Jews being “strangers
in the Land of Egypt” and as such must give
a helping hand to those in need too.
Sure! But when we were in the Land of
Egypt we helped develop and make prosperous the country in which we were
“strangers”. We didn’t plunder, murder and
cause the chaos these foreigners are causing
us South Africans irrespective of our colour
or creed.
You say their only “crime” is trying to
make a new life for themselves, BUT at
what cost to us South Africans? There isn’t
enough work to go round, they take away
positions from us, and then steal and murder those of us who have managed to keep
body and soul together.
Good for you who have finally woken up
and are smelling the roses!
Myrna Nayman
Johannesburg
COLIN TYER IS LOOKING FOR RELATIVES
I AM trying to trace any living relatives of
my late grandmother’s brother Jack Myers.
Jack lived in Berea Street in
Johannesburg and had three children,
Arnold, Isadore “Bubbles” and a daughter
(either Freda or Esther).
My grandmother, Rose Vitkin, came to
South Africa by boat in 1956 and was reunited with her brother Jack Myers for the first
time since possibly 1912.
Jack died around 1957 and his two sons
have also died.
I am not sure about Jack’s wife or daughter. My grandmother lost touch around
this period.
My uncle who is 84, is the last surviving
member of my grandmother’s children
and we thought it an appropriate time to
build a family tree.
If you can be of assistance in tracing any
of Jack’s relatives, please contact me at:
Colin Tyer, 24 Rochford Avenue,
Whitefield,
England
or
colintyer@yahoo.com
23 - 30 May 2008
SA JEWISH REPORT
LETTERS
A BREATHTAKING DEFAMATORY CONCOCTION
I DO not wish to dignify David Albeldas’
breathtaking defamatory concoction of
misrepresentation, denial and invention
of fact with a response. But to deny saying that he initially said that there was
no Jew on the panel when there are a
couple of hundred of witnesses, surely
represents a nadir in public discourse in
our community.
As I made clear in my column, Mr
Albeldas (whom I took great care not to
mention) tried to correct himself after
public reaction. But to deny making the
comment, raises the question: How do
you conduct honest conversation in such
a case?
It was not only I who reacted to his
remark. Prof (Milton) Shain, in answering Mr Albeldas’ questions, commented
that when he looked in the mirror that
morning, to the best of his knowledge,
he was still Jewish! This was a direct
response to that which Mr Albeldas said
in public.
Mr Albeldas complains that I do not
respect his Jewish commitments. To the
contrary, I most certainly do. Indeed, as
I have made plain in my columns in this
newspaper, I have great admiration for
the way various forms of Orthodoxy
have brought back Jews to the fold.
I have great admiration for people like
Mr Albeldas who have returned. The
problem is that the converse is not true.
As is evident from his letter, Mr
Albeldas has no respect for my Jewish
identity, as he makes clear, in his view,
only his conception (is valid); nor was he
prepared to listen to me.
I apologise. But I know of no better
word to describe such an intolerant
approach as myopic.
Instead of providing a text book copy
of lashon hora in his letter, he would be
advised to follow the principled and
courageous position of Rabbi (Yossy)
Goldman - to be sure we can argue,
sometimes overheatedly - but ultimately
I suppose the difference between us is
that for me Judaism is a system of love
not hate!
Dennis Davis
Cape Town
YOM HA’ATZMAUT CELEBRATED IN KLERKSDORP
IN KEEPING with the rest of the world,
Klerksdorp celebrated Yom Ha’atzmaut in
a grand fashion. The Israeli flag was lowered and raised by Mannie Shall who
fought in the War of Independence; bagpipes were played while lowering the flag,
the Hazkarah was recited by Sam Kramer
and a flame was lit on a 60 that was suspended outside.
Hatikvah was played by Michael Kotzen
and his teacher on a saxophone. Everyone
moved inside where the Declaration of
Independence was read in both Hebrew
and English.
The young children did a playlet, more
music was played on the saxophones, a
choir, consisting of some of the oldies,
sang a few favourite songs and the piéce de
rèsistance was the “Dance of the Swans”
done by the Battered Dor Group.
A power point presentation on the State
of Israel was shown and an Israeli supper
was enjoyed by all. The vibe was electric
and the spirit of the State of Israel was
brought into our small hall in Klerksdorp.
Marlene Waks
Klerksdorp
15
The Editor, Suite 175, Postnet X10039, Randburg, 2125 email: carro@global.co.za
EL AL PUTS TICKETS OUT OF REACH
I KNOW that this issue has been raised in
the past, but it is something I would like to
bring up again, as it is now something that
is affecting me personally.
At the end of last year, my family and I
decided to make aliyah; it was something
we certainly did by choice, and among
other reasons, we want our children to be
brought up in Israel.
While this was not an easy decision to
reach as the majority of our family including elderly grandparents all continue to
live in South Africa, so when we left South
Africa, we knew that we had to plan for an
annual visit to South Africa to see family
and friends.
While the aliyah department encourages
us to make aliyah and helps us in many
aspects, we are very disappointed by El Al
and the high prices that they ask for tickets
from South Africa to Israel and vice versa.
While we would like to support them for
obvious reasons, they are simply making
the prices of their tickets out of reach.
While enquiring last week for tickets to
South Africa later in the year, they are
quoting in excess of US$1 800 per ticket for
adults and children under the age of 12 pay
approximately US$200 less than that.
This means for a family of four, who
have recently made aliyah and are starting
to get their lives going in Israel, an inexplicable amount needs to be paid to El Al for a
trip to South Africa.
While I would have loved to have supported El Al, I cannot justify spending this
amount on tickets for my family and
although we are still hoping to visit South
Africa later this year, we will be finding an
alternative means of travelling there.
While we will need to go via another
country, and spend an extra eight hours
travelling, a saving of over US$2 000 is a
huge amount.
Marc Hummel
Modi’in
Israel
FAMILY GRIEF NOT ‘EXPLOITED’
WHAT MAX Joseph (Jewish Report, May 9
2008) wants is to receive, free of charge and on
demand, rabbinic services for which those
who (unlike him) affiliated to a synagogue,
otherwise have to pay. There is no reason why
he should be gratified in this wish, however
regrettable the circumstances.
Mervyn Dendy
Parkhurst, Johannesburg
SO MANY PEOPLE TO THANK FOR EVENT
WHILE I agree with the article by Lionel
Slier about the Yom Ha’atzmaut function
and of course many thanks to the SA
Zionist Federation under whose auspices
the function was held, I think there are
many other people involved in this wonderful event.
For instance a young lady by the name of
Marlene Miller who is the functions coordinator, whose contributions are never
recognised, yet she is the one who
arranged this magnificent event and due
to her countless hours and tireless efforts
the numbers have increased from the hundreds to a few thousand. Kol Ha kavod
Marlene! (May I add with pride she is my
niece!)
We also forget to thank the CSO and the
police who year after year ensure our safety and last but not least, the workers who
clean up after the event. Kol Ha Kavod to
you all and thanks once again.
Roslyn Edelman
Sydenham
Johannesburg
Advertorial
Real estate outlook in Israel looks rosy
LIONEL SLIER
PHOTOGRAPHS: SHELLEY ELK
REAL ESTATE was booming in Israel with
the shekel one of the five fastest growing
currencies in the world, Shlomo Grofman,
on one of his regular visits to South Africa,
said in an interview last week.
Grofman was invited to give a talk on the
Israeli economy and specifically its real
estate at this time. He was accompanied by
his company’s international sales manager,
Oved Zangi and also Alan Heyman, the
representative from the Jawitz Group, the
South African company with whom they are
associated. The Jawitz Group has had a
clear footprint in Israel for years now.
For the last five years Grofman has been
the acting active chairman of “Faire Fund”
Real Estate Company. “Faire” is an
acronym for First American Israeli Real
Estate. He founded the company with
Zalman Shoval former Israel ambassador to
the US.
He has an impressive CV, having inter
alia been chairman of the well-known
Howard Johnson chain of hotels in Israel
and acting chairman of an air flight company, “Open Sky”.
He was chairman and MD of Africa Israel
Investments, a position he has held for the
last 15 years. It is one of the largest companies in Israel with interests in real estate,
insurance, hotels and industry.
“When I took over the company in 1982
its value on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange
was US$12 million; when I resigned in
1997 its value was US$1,38 billion.”
This is Grofman’s 61st visit to South
Africa. He would come four times a year to
address investors in Johannesburg, Durban
and Cape Town. Bilateral agreements
allowed South Africans to invest in Israel in
shares, debentures, convertible shares, flats
and other financial arrangements.
“They made a fortune. There are two reasons. One was investments via ‘Faire Fund’
and the second is that real estate is booming in Israel, especially in flats.” Israel was
immune to the current First World crisis in
real estate, he believed.
Grofman told about an article in “The
New York Times” which had a headline:
“Not many more Hamptons in Tel Aviv”,
telling Americans that there were no longer
any prime properties available in Tel Aviv,
The Hamptons being rich, desirable real
estate near New York City.
Then Forbes Magazine had an article,
which said that people investing in Israel
today would double their money. “I think
about those who invested in ‘Faire Fund’
two to three years ago,” Grofman added.
“There has been a 20 to 30 per cent appreciation.” The shekel was one of the five
fastest growing currencies in the world
today.
Grofman spoke about their strategy: “We
believe in the three ‘Ms’. Middle class,
Middle Israel and Middle price. We do not
invest in Tel Aviv itself, but in the suburbs
such as Holon. Property prices in Tel Aviv
itself are the same as in London and New
York.
“We look for new zones in established
towns that already have an infrastructure
with schools, hospitals and its people
already in jobs, such as Petach Tikva.”
From left, Alan
Heyman (Jawitz
Group), Shlomo
Grofman, chairman of “Faire
Fund” Real Estate
Company, Israel,
and Oved Zangi,
sales manager of
“Faire Fund” Real
Esate Company,
Israel.
On Israel he said: “I have confidence in
the future of Israel. I served in the Six Day
and the Yom Kippur Wars and now we are
celebrating the 60th anniversary. To quote
President Shimon Peres, one cannot live in
Israel unless one is an optimist.”
Grofman agreed with an article in the
English magazine The Spectator by
Melanie Phillips, who wrote: “Given the
current internal appeasement of Islamism,
the West may go down anyway. At least
Israel knows it has to fight to survive. As a
result, in 60 years’ time it will still be there.
Can the same be said for Britain and
Europe?”
In an interview last year, Alan Heyman of
Jawitz Properties International Sales, said it
was hardly a secret that in recent years foreign investors were rapidly purchasing
apartments in Israel. Real estate prices had
soared, mainly due to demand, with foreign investments reaching an all-time high
of US$1,7 billion in 2007.
Heyman had said that factors such as
strong economic growth, low consumer
Shlomo Grofman, chairman of “Faire
Fund” Real Estate Company, Israel
price index, downward interest rates, a
growing population, a low supply of built
apartments, shortage of land and ever
growing interest by foreign buyers, should
see Israeli real estate prices rising by double digits in the coming year (2008).
• For further information on investing in
Israel, call Heyman on +27(0)11 8803550/alanh@jawitz.co.za
16
SA JEWISH REPORT
23 - 30 May 2008
Brilliant warts and all approach
to South African Jewish saga
REVIEWED BY DAVID SAKS
THE DIFFICULTY this reviewer
had with The Jews in South
Africa, the first full history of
the South African Jewish community to appear in over half a
century and the first pictorial
history yet attempted, was in
identifying a few of its shortcomings to qualify his praise of it.
Reviewers feel a certain need to
nit-pick, balancing due commendations with at least a few (even if
they be token) reservations.
When I reached the end - and,
unusually for me, I made a point
of reading every word of this
attractive and compelling new
book - I was forced to admit that
the authors, Professors Milton
Shain and Richard Mendelsohn,
had defeated me.
Theirs has been a remarkable
three-fold accomplishment of
producing an overview that is
accurate and scholarly, inclusive
of every important aspect of the
extensive subject being tackled
and (perhaps most impressive of
all given the dry, guarded nature
of so many communal histories)
thoroughly readable from beginning to end.
The distinguished authors are
to be commended on their outstanding achievement. Warm
praise is also due to picture
researcher Adrienne Folb, who
has put her unerring eye and
characteristic thoroughness to
the best possible use in selecting
images that vividly invoke the
South African Jewish zeitgeist in
all its varied manifestations.
At a little over 200 pages, of
which a substantial portion is
taken up with photographs and
documents (the latter being of
exceptional interest), The Jews
in South Africa is not a long
book. This makes all the more
remarkable the amount of
ground it manages to cover.
Particularly compelling are the
authors’ views on the changing
face of South African historiography, and of how previous histories of South African Jewry were
severely constrained by the perceived need to construct a
“usable past” that would not
compromise the self-image and
public perception of the Jewish
community.
An example was The Jews in
South Africa: A History ,
edited by Gustav Saron and
Louis Hotz, which appeared
in 1955. Such texts, the
authors write, had presented an image of “an industrious, upwardly mobile, respectable, classless, civicminded, loyal and uniformly Zionist community, contributing energetically to
the commonweal, and generally welcomed by the host
society”.
Written out or minimised
were, among other things,
Jewish criminality, antiSemitism, non- and antiZionism and class struggles
within the Jewish community. Obviously, the country’s racial problems and
the Jewish role in this
would not have featured
either.
The book certainly does
not denigrate the work of
earlier historians, and
indeed acknowledges the
important pioneering contributions they made in the writing of South African Jewish history. It does, however, show how
those earlier works were very
much reflective and a product of
the times in which they were
written, when Jews felt considerably less secure of their place in
society and perceived a need to
assure their gentile compatriots
of their loyalty and usefulness.
Given that special legislation
had been passed to drastically
restrict Jewish immigration
after 1930, not to mention the
alarming upsurge of anti-Semitic
activity during that decade, these
fears were understandable. The
same can surely be said about
the failure of the Jewish establishment to publicly speak out
against the evils of apartheid.
This is much more than a standard institutional history. There
are, naturally, detailed focuses
on aspects of the mainstream
communal infrastructure, relating to religion, education, economic activity, Zionism and welfare, among others.
All the expected “big names” Barney Barnato, Saul Solomon,
Sammy Marks and many others also feature, as does antiSemitism as it manifested in
South Africa and the steps taken
to combat it.
In all cases, however, it is not a
case of rehashing the wellknown facts, but in addition of
giving the subjects a refreshing
new interpretation in light of all
the accumulated research.
Proportionate attention is also
given to previously ignored, or at
best marginalised, aspects of
Jewish cultural, economic and
political life.
The Jewish left, for example, is
no longer confined to the sidelines. This does not only mean
dealing with the disproportionate role played by Jews in the
trade unions and anti-apartheid
movement, but also recording
the influential activities of such
organisations as the Jewish
Workers’ Club in Johannesburg
and Ruth Schechter’s circle in
Cape Town.
This time, there is no shying
away from the many controversies and divisions that occurred,
both within the community and
in its relation to the wider society. Among the vexed issues dealt
with - always in a balanced, judicious way - are class and cultural
divisions between the AngloGerman establishment and the
East European newcomers, the
sensitive military service ques-
tion during the First World
War, the struggle between
Yiddishists and Hebraists,
Orthodox-Reform tensions,
differing approaches to the
agonising strategic and
moral dilemmas posed by
apartheid and ideological
splits within the Zionist
movement.
The phenomenon of the
Jewish criminal underworld, first documented in
general historical works by
Charles van Onselen, also
finally finds its due place in
a specifically Jewish communal history.
Contemporary controversies, such as the present-day
schism between the mainstream community and the
small but vocal “Not in my
name” grouping that publicly denounces Israeli policies, also feature. A précis of
the lively exchange that
took place two years ago
between then Leader of the
Opposition Tony Leon and
SAJBD
Chairman
Michael
Bagraim, piquantly illustrates
the kind of choices the Jewish
leadership have to make in representing the interests of their constituents to government.
The “warts and all” approach
to the subject is what gives The
Jews in South Africa its particular appeal. By dealing honestly
with the community’s problems
and failings, it boosts rather than
diminishes its myriad achievements.
In the final analysis, the story
of South African Jewry has truly
been a successful one, both in
terms of fostering a vibrant and
cohesive Jewish culture and in
its meaningful participation
within the country as a whole.
Steadfast and passionate in its
Zionist loyalties, deeply respectful of its religious heritage,
proudly identifying with its roots
and culture while at the same
time participating fully and constructively as South African citizens, it is not for nothing that it
has come to be regarded as a
model Diaspora community.
In their landmark opus,
Richard Mendelsohn and Milton
Shain have admirably succeeded
in depicting the unfolding of this
remarkable saga.
A most inclusive history of South African Jewry
DAVID SAKS
THE JEWS in South Africa, the
first complete history of SA
Jewry to have appeared in more
than half a century, has broken
new ground in a variety of ways,
both in terms of content and ideological approach.
Co-authors University of Cape
Town Professors Milton Shain
and Richard Mendelsohn, in
response to various questions
put to them by the Jewish
Report, explained their approach
to the project, how they believe
their book both builds on and differs from previous histories of
the community and how it is
reflective of the way the community’s view of itself has changed
over the years.
Where the history perhaps differs most from its predecessors,
the authors say, is that it is “far
more inclusive and less a focus
on what scholars refer to as ‘con-
tributionism’”. In other words,
rather than dwelling on the
details of what Jews have contributed to South Africa, it dealt
more with the social history of
the community, together with
such areas as politics, business,
religious life and education.
The Jews in South Africa also
looked “much more critically at
issues within the Jewish community and within the relationship between Jews and the wider
society”. These included such
sensitive areas (played down or
ignored altogether in previous
accounts), as early 20th century
anti-alienism, Jewish involvement in the criminal underworld
in the 1890s, the ‘Jewish
Question’ and anti-Semitism in
the 1930s and early 1940s and
attitudes and responses to
apartheid”.
Shain and Mendelsohn believe
that the “willingness to deal
honestly with its own past,
warts and all”, is reflective of the
greater sense of maturity and
self-confidence in the Jewish
community today. In this regard,
they comment: “The angst of
earlier generations has evaporated.
“As Jewish South Africans living in a tolerant multi-cultural
society, we feel comfortable shining the torch into areas hardly
examined previously in South
African Jewish historiography.”
The social history of the
Jewish community is identified
by the authors as one area where
there is particular scope for further research. This would
include such aspects as the place
and role of women, the role of
ethnicity in business and the
growth in religious observance.
Jews as a group have up until
now featured very little in general histories of South Africa. The
authors believe this to have been
a result of South African histori-
ography previously having been
“obsessed with colour and the
battles between Boer and Brit”,
as well as later being informed
by class analysis in which white
ethnic histories were of little
concern.
However, this could change in
a new multi-cultural South
Africa, where diversity was celebrated.
The authors concur with the
view that, taken as a whole, the
saga of South African Jewry has
essentially been a “success
story”. From humble beginnings
the community had advanced in
many areas, something that had
not come easily given its internal divisions and obstacles from
without. Ultimately, the community’s strength was “the large
measure of cohesion” it had
achieved historically and the
“enviable communal infrastructure” it had built to underpin its
growth and development.
AROUND
THE
WORLD
NEWS IN BRIEF
ISRAEL IS TALKING TO HAMAS,
SAYS MINISTER
JERUSALEM - Israel's vice
prime minister says his government is violating its ban on talking to Hamas.
Haim Ramon said on Monday
that Israel was negotiating with
Hamas, the first time a government minister has acknowledged
that talks are underway. The
talks appear to be taking place
through Egyptian intelligence
chief Omar Suleiman, acting as a
mediator, who met with Israel's
Defence Minister Ehud Barak in
Sharm-al-Sheik on Monday.
Ramon made his comments at
a Kadima faction meeting during
a discussion on Gaza policy.
Also on Monday, a retired
French diplomat told Le Figaro
newspaper that he had met top
Hamas leaders recently to hear
their views on a ceasefire with
Israel and reconciliation with
Palestinian Authority President
Mahmoud Abbas.
The report prompted French
Foreign
Minister
Bernard
Kouchner to admit the contacts
were at Paris' behest, though the
government was firm on insisting Hamas recognise the Jewish
state and foreswear terrorism
before it can be formally
engaged.
"Having contacts is necessary,"
Kouchner told Europe 1 radio on
Monday. "They are not relations,
they are contacts."
Israeli officials said they had
been reassured by France there
is no change in its policies toward
Hamas.
Until now relations between
France and Hamas have been
limited to intelligence services.
French president Nicolas
Sarkozy has repeatedly said that
he would not meet with terrorists
or "people who assassinate". The
US and the European Union consider Hamas a terrorist organisation.
Yves Aubin de La Messuziere
from France met with Ismail
Haniyeh and Mahmoud Zahar of
Hamas approximately one month
ago, according to the article
which broke the story. (JTA)
BIN LADEN: BREAK GAZA
BLOCKADE
CAIRO - A recorded message purportedly from Osama bin Laden
is calling on Muslims to break
the Israeli-led embargo on Gaza.
"Each one of us is responsible
for the deaths of our oppressed
people in Gaza, and dozens upon
dozens have died due to this
oppressive blockade," a voice that
sounds like the fugitive Al-Qaida
leader said in a message posted
last Sunday on Islamist websites.
He added that Egypt, a US ally
which has helped Israel put pressure on Palestinians in Gaza
since Hamas took over the territory last year, should break the
embargo "as they are the only
ones on the border".
Al-Qaida appears to have
stepped up its public appeals to
help the Palestinians in parallel
with President George W Bush's
recent visit to Israel.
"There is no way to reach
Palestine except by fighting the
governments and parties that are
close to the Jews and move
between them and us," bin Laden
said in the new recording. He
said Israel was "very weak" and
"full of holes". (JTA)
23 - 30 May 2008
SA JEWISH REPORT
17
COMMUNITY COLUMNS
ABOVE
BOARD
Zev Krengel,
National Chairman
A column of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies
DURING THE early 1990s, I was active in
the Peace Accord, an organisation formed
in response to the internecine violence
then so tragically prevalent in the Rand
townships.
Our aim, to the best of our ability, was to
calm tensions and promote dialogue
between the various warring factions.
Only through their talking and understanding one another’s grievances and
fears, would it be possible to address the
climate of suspicion, anger and misinformation that was having such deadly consequences.
Part of the miracle of our country’s subsequent transition to a multiracial democracy was how, virtually overnight, violence
between South Africans ceased. Over the
next 14 years, this remarkable transition to
a society where - barring a few sporadic
incidents - people lived in peace with one
another regardless of ethnicity or political
belief, continued to hold firm.
Last week, however, this happy equilibrium was confronted with perhaps its first
serious threat when underlying feelings of
hostility against foreign migrants in
Alexandra township, and subsequently
elsewhere, erupted into what can only be
described as a xenophobic pogrom.
The resulting violence and dislocation
has been both a humanitarian and a
human rights concern. The Board took the
initiative in urging the Jewish community
to assist the thousands of people left homeless and destitute. In our letter, we alluded
to the noble Torah principle of dealing justly and kindly with strangers, and further
Helping the
stranger
drew parallels between what was happening now and with the historical experiences of Jews as victims of orchestrated mob violence.
I would like to thank the Union of
Jewish Women, SA Union of Progressive
Judaism, King David Schools and Yeshiva
College for so readily coming on board in
this regard. Thus far, there has been an
encouraging response from the community. Donations of clothing, blankets,
hygiene packs and foodstuffs, in addition
to financial contributions, are enabling
us to assist our fellow human beings to
rebuild their shattered lives.
The extent of the problem is daunting,
however, and your ongoing support is
vital. For further information, contact
the SAJBD on (011) 645-2523.
Media initiatives
As predicted, Israel’s 60th anniversary
has seen an upsurge in anti-Israel sentiment in the media, and on our streets and
some of our university campuses. In the
latter case, we are working closely with
SAUJS in dealing with a rash of blatantly anti-Semitic graffiti that has appeared
on Wits campus as a direct result of the
intemperate and provocative manner in
which Israel is being attacked.
We are continuing to monitor the
media, responding to the more egregious
cases of anti-Israel bias and usually succeeding in having these alternative viewpoints published. Ideally, of course, we
would prefer the media not to publish
overtly biased articles in the first place,
but the reality of the situation is that this
is not going to happen and we must adapt
ourselves accordingly.
FED FOCUS
Avrom Krengel
Chairman
A column of the South African Zionist Federation
TO THE thousands of community members
who attended the SAZF Yom Ha’atzmaut celebrations held at the Wanderers Cricket Stadium
two weeks ago, a most appreciative thank you!
This was truly an outstanding function and a
great success, thanks in no small measure to
the tireless efforts of the SAZF staff in ensuring
that it ran smoothly and according to plan.
Thank you, too, to the functions co-ordinators,
artists and performers, the hundreds of schoolchildren who participated, the caterers and
stallholders, and the CSO and the police who
were on high alert throughout the proceedings.
Israel’s Channel 2 television, having heard
how exciting the South African celebration
always is, contacted us for a clip which was featured on its news reports.
We anticipated that there would be some sort
of anti-Israel demonstration and as expected, it
happened. It was, however, so insignificant as to
be barely noticeable, with a few people gathering some way away from the grounds.
Despite having been given permission on condition that it was a silent demonstration, some
of those present insisted on using loudspeakers
to protest against the celebrations, to call for
the destruction of Israel and generally to be
abusive and hostile.
One or two radio stations included it as an
item on their news bulletins early in the afternoon, but a quick response from the SAZF on
those stations assuring people that there would
be ample police and CSO protection, resulted in
a superb and most successful event.
Our next Israel@60 celebration will be the
“60 Km Cycle Ride for Israel” which takes place
on June 22. There has been enormous interest
Joyous Yom
Ha’atzmaut
in the ride and accompanying the local cyclists
will be some from Beit Shemesh who are coming
to SA specifically to participate. Bookings and
payment can be done on our website www.sazionfed.co.za - or through our offices on
(011) 645-2512. Registration is at 07:00 on the
morning of the event, and the R60 entrance fee
will go towards “Victims of Terror”.
During the week of July 5 - 13, we are holding
an exhibition of “60 Years of Zionism in South
Africa” at the RCHCC. The history of all the
Zionist organisations in South Africa will be
comprehensively detailed in photographs,
posters and text. Anyone who has been involved
in Zionist activities over the past 60 years, or
who had family members involved before that,
is bound to recognise people and functions from
years back as well as the present.
In the week beginning 7 September, we are
hosting an art exhibition of works by local
Jewish artists commemorating Israel’s 60th
anniversary. There is an enormous amount of
untapped and excellent talent within the Jewish
community and our aim is to give exposure to
all the artists through the medium of this exhibition. The display will include paintings, sculpture, mosaics, glasswork and much more, and
various works will be on sale.
On a less pleasant note, a disgusting full-page
advert appeared in the Mail & Guardian and
The Citizen this week protesting the celebrations. It was headed: “We fought apartheid: we
see no reason to celebrate it in Israel now!” It
was signed by both individuals and representatives of a number of organisations including
Ronnie Kasrils, Steven Friedman, the Nelson
Mandela Foundation, Cosatu, the SA Council of
Churches, the SACP, the International Olympic
Committee, Not in my Name, Jewish Voices and
all the pro-Palestinian bodies.
The SAZF has secured a right of reply from
the editor of The Citizen in order to counter the
venom in the advert.
18
SA JEWISH REPORT
23 - 30 May 2008
YOUTH TALK
Shelley Elk jewishreport@yahoo.com
Jews well-represented
among mini-councillors
JOSHUA BROOK AND GABRIELLA GEFFEN
PHOTOGRAPH: YAEL GORDON
Ilan Strauss, deputy secretary general of Habonim, Adam Sack, secretary general of
Habonim, with Wendy Kahn national director of the SAJBD preparing for delivery to
one of the police stations. (PHOTOGRAPH: SHELLEY ELK)
Jewish youth heed to
call to help refugees
SHELLEY ELK AND OWN
CORRESPONDENTS
AN APPEAL by the SAJBD to the Jewish
community to help displaced victims of
the recent xenophobic attacks in Gauteng,
has generated an overwhelming response.
Earlier this week Wendy Kahn, national
director of the SAJBD organised a “drop
off” at various police stations for victims.
Jewish organisations, schools, shuls and
youth movements have “stepped up to the
plate” to collect food, clothing, blankets,
and basic necessities for people, many
stripped of their belongings and now living in compounds under police protection.
“Churches, various faith groups,
Doctors without Borders, the Red Cross,
Lawyers without Borders, and some 30 or
more other organisations are participating in the relief efforts and earlier this
week met to discuss issues including victims’ security, basic needs and health,”
said Adam Sack, secretary general of
Habonim.
Displaced people estimates were around
8 000 in the Johannesburg area and another 11 000 and more, on the East Rand.
Kahn said “King David Schools, in
Sandton, Linksfield and Victory Park,
Yeshiva College, Torah Academy, Yiddish
Folk, Union of Jewish Women, Jewish
Women’s Benevolent, Orthodox and
Progressive communities, the United
Sisterhood, and many more, some anonymous, have collected and donated money,
tinned food, mealie meal, baby formulae,
bottles, toothbrushes and much more.
“Everyone has been amazing, so many
Jewish organisations have come forward;
we are proud of the community; it has
been an incredibly heart-warming week,
to witness the response of the community,
no matter how awful the situation is,” said
Kahn.
The main concern was to ensure that
the storeroom did not become a warehouse.
“Necessities must come in and go out to
those in need, in a constant stream,” said
Kahn, adding that “four or five deliveries
had already gone out to Bramley,
Cleveland, and Jeppe.
“It is hard to see where this (situation) is
going; what is going to happen to them
(the refugees), without their needs, dignity
and support being met - the list is endless.
We have to do our best. We know what
xenophobia is, as a people. We can lead the
way, adopt one, two or three stations and
look after them,” said Sack.
“SAUJS, in conjunction with the Wits
SRC spearheaded a collection for the
refugees and will undertake a march for
peace,” said Chaya Laya Singer national
chairman, who with other youth movements delivered necessities to compounds
and witnessed victims’ hopelessness.
They were sitting there doing nothing,
she said, asking to just have a job and be
able to work, or for R50 to get home, or not
knowing what to do, what point was there
in going back home with nothing, no job.
Dini Groner, a supervisor at Torah
Academy Nursery School said: “The
response (of the community) has been
phenomenal. Blankets, perishables, etc
were collected a day after the SAJBD
appeal was sent out. “It is part of the
ethos of the Jewish people to be a light
unto the nations, especially in times of
need.”
Clothes, blankets and food had been collected at King David Victory Park, and the
first load had already been sent to a collection point, Jess Cooperman told Jewish
Report.
“Blankets, pots and pans are necessary
now. People need to know they can help in
different ways; everyone can play a role,”
said Kahn, itemising some immediate
needs. “We need bakkies for delivery, people to find out what is needed and, we need
to mobilise doctors to help with health
issues.”
The Jewish youth and other organisations have not been found wanting when
the SOS was sent out.
Children from Torah
Academy Primary
School pack the
third batch of donations for victims of
the xenophobic
attacks in Alexandra
township north of
Johannesburg after
the SA Jewish Board
of Deputies’ appeal
for help to parents
and children from
the school. (PHOTOGRAPH: SUZANNE
BELLING)
LAST WEEK Wednesday Jewish learners
from King David Linksfield and Victory
Park, Yeshiva College, and Crawford
Sandton, were among 80 other learners in
Johannesburg
inducted
into
the
Johannesburg Junior Council at a ceremony hosted by King David Victory Park
High School.
The Johannesburg Junior Council, a
non-profit organisation, consisting of 80
learners from 40 different schools, inducted its new executive, management and
councilors for 2008/2009. These councillors have as a purpose the social upliftment within the greater Johannesburg
community.
The induction ceremony marked the
transition from the old council to the new.
Sizwe-Sihle Dlamini, from King Edward
VII, was inducted as the new junior
mayor. The new executive committee consists of the deputy junior mayor, Andrea
de Silver; speaker of the house, Emma
Berkenfeld (King David Linksfield); chief
whip, Sean Jamieson; public relations
officer, Joshua Brook (King David Victory
Park); and secretary, Lesedi Kgaka.
The management committee, formed by
the chairmen of each committee, include:
Joshua Greenberg (Crawford Sandton),
chairman of contact; Gabriella Geffen
(King David Victory Park), chairman of
welfare; David Subel (King David
Linksfield), chairman of youth awareness; and Takara Lubner (Crawford
Sandton), deputy chairman of youth
awareness.
The Johannesburg Junior Council
looks forward to a year of truly making a
profound difference.
As the new council motto states: “The
heart of a nation is the greatness of its
youth.”
Ross Michel (Yeshiva College), Dalya Rosen (Yeshiva College), Takara Lubner (Crawford
Sandton), Joshua Greenberg (Crawford Sandton), Joshua Brook (King David Victory
Park) David Subel (King David Linksfield), Gabriella Geffen (King David Victory Park)
and Emma Berkenfeld (King David Linksfield).
Top (mini) posts for
three Jewish kids
OWN CORRESPONDENT AND
MICHELLE KAPLAN
GABI ZOLLMAN has been elected mayor
of the Gauteng Mini Council 2008/9 and
Andrew Bernstein as deputy mayor. Both
Gabi and Andrew are grade 7 pupils at
King David Primary Schools, Sandton and
Linksfield respectively.
The Johannesburg Mini Council, run
under the auspices of Avril Rebeck, has
80 councillors representing 40 schools in
the Johannesburg area. It is a wonderful
achievement for both Andrew and Gabi to
have been elected to the top two positions,
by their fellow Councillors.
The induction ceremony took place in
March at Highveld Primary School.
The mini councillors have already been
involved in the collection of nearly 220 000
Easter eggs and their distribution to charity organisations. They are currently collecting blankets and blanket squares for
distribution to less privileged communities, in time for winter.
The councillors have many other projects planned during their term of office,
all for the benefit of underprivileged communities.
In her article Michelle Kaplan said
“Well done, we know you will serve the
greater Johannesburg community well
and bring pride and honour to your
schools and the Jewish community.”
Two mini councillors from King David
Primary Schools. Gabi Zollman, mini
mayor, from King David Sandton Primary
School, and on the left, Andrew Bernstein,
deputy mini mayor, from King David
Linksfield Primary. (PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY
OF JONATHON PRIOR, EXECUTIVE MEMBER OF
COUNCIL BODY)
Read the Jewish Report
e-paper on our website: www.sajewishreport.co.za
23 - 30 May 2008
SA JEWISH REPORT
YOUTH TALK
19
Shelley Elk jewishreport@yahoo.com
Feeling delighted and emotional
MELISSA CHIPKIN AND
HILARY SEGAL
PHOTOGRAPH: MELISSA
CHIPKIN
AS PART of the Emunah
Ladies Beit Midrash
Batmitzvah Programme,
girls from Zenzeleni
School in Alexandra
township were invited to
join in a special session of
the batmitzvah course.
The girls all came to
Yeshiva College in a
joint activity where they
were divided into groups
and shared experiences,
thoughts and aspirations for an ideal world.
They were then treated
to a supper and all left
feeling very enlightened
and quite emotional.
New-look Minnie Outreach the Yeshiva College way
Bersohn thrills the
young ones
OWN CORRESPONDENT
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY
MANDI DEFRIES
PRINCIPAL, MINNIE BERSOHN
WHEN MINNIE Bersohn Nursery
School merged with the South
African Board of Jewish Education
in January 2007, both parties envisaged brand new playgrounds for
the children to play, learn and
enjoy.
After many months of dust and
dirt, the patience of the parents,
teachers and children, was duly
rewarded.
The renovation was a lengthy
process as all the grounds were
flattened, new grass planted and
gardens laid out, bicycle tracks
established and custom made jungle gyms and tree-houses erected.
The children have been overwhelmed with their new playgrounds and have gained a great
deal from this amazing outdoor
experience.
Seeing the positive impact this
was having on their children, the
Minnie Bersohn parents raised further funds to re-do every classroom. Brand new shelving for toys,
cupboards, bookshelves and lockers were installed in each classroom at the beginning of the year.
This coupled with the extensive
range of new toys, puzzles, games
and books, makes this school an
ideal place to stimulate young
minds.
During this renovation our children were reminded that not all are
as fortunate and privileged as they
are and the unused playground
equipment, jungle gyms and several other items, were donated to the
Sizwe Hospital School in Edenvale,
Minnie Bersohn’s sister school.
The school was officially reopened in March by Rabbi Craig
Kacev, general director of the
SABJE and SABJE Chairman
Adrian Gore and the many parents
and members of the South African
Board of Jewish Education braved
the cold and rainy weather to
attend.
Rabbi Craig Kacev and Adrian Gore with some of the grade R children, from left: Chad Horwitz, Danielle Ogus and Gabriella Morein.
FOR THE first time the Yeshiva
College Boys High School has
begun an official chesed (outreach) programme.
Our first project was collecting
monies for groceries for families
in need. The groceries were delivered directly to those families by
the boys involved.
It was a great experience for the
learners, as they realised that
there are people out there in need.
May this be the first of very
many more successful chesed programmes.
Shane Solomon (teacher heading the chesed programme),
Rafi Stein, Daniel Stein, Ariel
Sobel (chairman of the chesed
committee) and Rabbi Avraham
Tanzer, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva
College.
CAC visits Our Parents Home
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPH BY MERLE COHEN
The Civic Awareness Council at King David Sandton which has recently been very active in the community, visited Our Parents Home recently. With Marion Segal from Left, are: Chelsea Fisher, Lexi
Cahn, Jenna Hertz, Jason Cohen and Ricky Smith.
20
SA JEWISH REPORT
23 - 30 May 2008
WHAT’S ON
NOTE: Deadline for all entries is 12:00 on the Friday prior
to publication.
Key to organisations, venues, contact details and cost:
• The Jewish National Fund (JNF) Choir, Beyachad, 2
Elray St, Raedene. Contact Crystal Kaplan. 083-3765999.
• The Jewish Women’s Benevolent Society (JWBS) Sandringham Gardens, 85 George Avenue
Sandringham 2192. Contact Carolyn Sabbagh. (011)
485-5232.
• The Jewish Outlook Team. Contact Ryan Cane, Support
line: 27 76 215 8600; e-mail info@jewishoutlook.org.za; website http://www.jewishoutlook.org.za
• Nechama Bereavement Counselling Centre - Room
A304, 3rd Floor, hospital wing, Sandringham Gardens,
85 George Avenue, Sandringham, 2192. Contact (011)
640-1322.
• New Friendship Ladies Group - A group for single
women - contact Lucille (011) 791-5226 or 082-9275786.
• ORT and ORTJET South Africa - 44 Central Street, Cnr
10th Ave, Houghton. Contact (011) 728-7154.
• Rabbi Cyril Harris Community Centre (RCHCC) and
Great Park Shul, Johannesburg. Contact Hazel, (011)
728-8088 or Rene Sidley (011) 728-8378. Cost usually
R50, including refreshments.
• Second Innings, Johannesburg - Jewish Community
Services - Donald Gordon Centre, 85 George Avenue
Sandringham. Contact Grecia Gabriel, (011) 532-9616.
• The Israel Centre. Contact Debbie (011) 645-2560.
• The Simcha Friendship and Cultural Circle (SFCC),
Johannesburg - Sandton Shul. Contact Sylvia Shull,
(011) 783-5600.
• The United Sisterhood, 38 Oxford Road Parktown.
Contact Helen (011) 646-2409. website:http://www.unitedsisterhood.co.za
• Society of Israel Philately (SIP) - daniels@wbx.oc.za.
Contact Maurice (011) 485-2293.
• South African Zionist Federation (SAZF), Johannesburg
- Beyachad, 2 Elray Street, Raedene. Contact Froma,
(011) 645-2505.
• South African Jewish Board of Deputies (Jhb) Beyachad, 2 Elray Street, Raedene. Contact (011) 6452500 or (011) 645-2523.
• United Zionist Luncheon Club (UZLC), Johannesburg Our Parents Home. Contact Gloria, (011) 485-4851 or
072-127-9421.
• Union of Jewish Women (UJW), Johannesburg - 1 Oak
Street Houghton. Contact (011) 648-1053. Cost R10
for the Friendship Luncheon Club.
• Union of Jewish Women (UJW), Cape Town - (021)
434-9555, e-mail: ujwwescape@new.co.za
• WIZO Johannesburg - Beyachad, 2 Elray Street
Raedene. Contact Joyce Chodos (011) 645-2548 or
Sandy Kramer (011) 645-2515.
• Bikkur Cholim - Jewish Society for Visiting the Sick, 7A
Chester Road, Greenside East, Johannesburg. Joy
Gafin (011) 447-6689.
• Tiyulim (Jewish Outdoor Club) - Contact Greg 082-9599026 or Martin 082-965-7419.
• King David Schools’ Foundation. King David Alumni
info@kdsf.org (011) 480-4723.
• CAJE - College of Adult Jewish Education, Sydenham
Highlands North Shul (011) 640-5021.
• JAFFA - Jewish Accomodation for Fellow Aged. (012)
346-2007/8.
• SAIJE - Sandton Adult Institute of Jewish Education,
Sandton Shul (011) 883-4210. E-mail: saije@sandtonshul.co.za.
Tuesday (May 27)
• Art Forum is hosting Daphne Kuhn - “30 years in
show biz” at 09:30 for 10:00 in the courtyard,
Slome Auditorium, Temple Emanuel, 38 Oxford
Road, Parktown. Cost R20 members, R25 nonmembers. Call Lilithea Singer (011) 646-2668.
• Tiyulim will be going on 702’s Walk the Talk on July 27.
Booking is open until June 18 at (011) 270-2702.
www.702.co.za or contact Greg 082-959-9026.
• WIZO Fortnightly Forum, hosts Dr Linda Friedland,
author, public speaker, media personality, and regular guest on “3 talk” who will discuss her latest
book “Having it all”. Booking essential.
Monday May 19 to Sunday May 25
Wednesday (May 28)
• Aliyah Expo hosted by Israel Centre, with a host of
experts discussing all relevant aliyah topics.
• JWB, Parktown is having a booksale at Balfour
Park.
Today, Friday (May 23)
• SFCC is having Israeli dancing lessons with Ora at
10:00 in the games room at the Sandton Shul. All
welcome.
• UZLC is hosting Darrin Wolberg, from Jewish
Community Services, talking on “The schools project
and bereavement project” at Our Parents Home.
Saturday evening (May 24)
• Larry Benjamin and Culinary Productions will be hosting a team quiz and winter dinner buffet event at
Culinary Productions Studio, 199 Oxford Road Dunkeld.
Early booking essential. Cost R165 per person. Larry
082-888-5355.
• UJW Johannesburg, is hosting “The novels of Jane
Austin continued” at 09:30 to 11:30 “Family relations and their implications in Sense and
Sensibility”.
• WIZO Meier Szold branch invites you to “The
Russia that was”, a talk by travel agent Rhoda Levy,
at Beyachad, at 09:30. R25 includes tea and
refreshments.
Sunday (May 25)
Thursday (May 29)
• Second Innings hosts Victor Gordon, chairman of
Pretoria Council’s Jewish Board of Deputies - “Jonathan
Pollard a miscarriage of justice” at 10:00 for 10:30 at
the Gerald Horwitz Lounge, Golden Acres.
• UJW, Cape Town executive AGM Sea Point Shul
hall 09:30 for 10:00.
• Second Innings is going to see “Chess - the musical” at
Montecasino at 15:00. Cost R100 plus R20 (bus).
Departing from the Oxford Shul parking at 13:30. Ros
(011) 880-6864 before 18:00, for bookings.
• RCHCC presents a documentary - “Isaac in America”dramatic scenes from Isaac Bashevis Singer’s short
story “A Day in Coney Island” at 19:30. Donation R50.
• Italo Bernicchi Preview Theatre in Bagleyston will
screen “An affair to remember” with Cary Grant and
Deborah Kerr. Bookings (011) 640-1061.
• WIZO Bramley branch booksale at Balfour Park
from 09:30.
• Shalom Bayit invites you to a seminar “Look me in
the eyes”. Speakers Caryl Wyatt, an abused woman
and author of “Look me in the Eye”; Bearnard
O’Riain a reformed abuser and founder member of
“Men Understanding Respect and Love”, and Sheri
Hanson, social worker.09:15 for 09:30 - 12:00. Tea
will be served. Donation R50.00. Barbara (011)
645-2591.
Friday (May 30)
• Tiyulim will be going on a 3-hour walk on a 440ha
Meyerton farm. View small animals, bird life, and iron
age ruins. Meet at 08:30 at Balfour near the carwash.
R20 members, R30 non-members. Greg 082-9599026.
• JWB, Greenside is having a booksale outside
Clicks, Rosebank.
• Sandton Shul Youth Vibe is having a breakfast minyan
at 09:15 for males and females approximately 18 years
and older, and is hosting Justin Cohen who will talk
about the “Psychology of success” from 10:15. Cost
R50. Contact Roseen (011) 884-4554, or 082-6849236.
Sunday (June 1)
Monday (May 26)
• UJW Johannesburg will host David Shapiro who will
talk on “Can South Africa grow without power?” at
09:30.
THE BRIDGE LOUNGE by Jeff Sapire
THE SUBJECT of which card to lead
from three or four small ones is
worth a good look, because the choice
will often have a major impact on
how things develop.
From three small, 752, leading the 5
followed by the 7 then 2, known as
MUD (Middle-Up-Down) works well.
And from four small, 8632, the 6 followed by the 3, known as Roman
MUD (or 2nd highest from four small)
is standard expert practice. However,
if the suit contains the 10, treat it as
an honour, and lead normally.
So what is the reason for this?
Experts figured out that when leading from a bad long suit it was more
important to tell partner about the
quality of the suit rather than show
you had four or more cards. Say you
are on lead with S6542 and DAQ3 you lead the S5, and if partner wins
or later gets the lead, he can almost
always figure out that this was not
4th highest of your longest and
strongest (using the Rule of 11) and
here with something like DKxxx he
can consider looking for tricks in this
suit.
It's not 100 per cent foolproof, as
witness the situation below after the
lead of the 7. It went J,K,A and later
North played 10,Q,4,2.
Now North remained with the 6,
East had 85, and South 93. When
North got in again and played the 6 it
went 6,8,9 and now East's 5 beat
South's 3.
If South had led the 3 he would
Shelley Elk carro@global.co.za
• UZLC is hosting Zara Jackson talking about “Seeds
of wheat”.
• Second Innings is hosting Clem Sunter, chairman
of Anglo American Chairman’s Fund, talking on
“China’s game - the dragon in Africa” at 10:00 for
10:30 at the Gerald Horwitz Lounge, Golden Acres.
• WIZO Aviv Reshet, is hosting a fundraising “No
limit Texax Hold ‘em” poker tournament, at
10:00 at the HOD. Donation: R800 before
May 10, R1 000 thereafter. Bookings e-mail wizopoker@yahoo.com or Martine De’Agular 082-
• King David Schools’ Foundation and the Samantha
Amy Brest endowment fund are hosting an inspirational mom and daughter brunch with guest speaker Judy Alter, 10:00 for 10:30 at 38B Adrienne Str
Sandown. R150 pp donation. Proceeds assisting
deserving matric girls at the King David High
Schools in their preparations for their matric dance.
Contact Felicitè Brest on 082 333 7961. Great prizes
to be won.
• Jaffa morning market from 09:00 to 12:00. Stalls,
bric-a-brac, mini-tombola, raffle, arts and crafts,
deli, Judaica and more.
• Action in Motherhood (AIM) features Mashi Lipskar
“Spiritual antenatal classes”- including Jewish customs of pregnancy and labour, choosing a name,
bris and pidyon haben from 09:30 to 12:00 at
Chabad House of Savoy. Cost R100. Bookings Esti
084-623-6554.
Monday (June 2)
• SIP - New issues and quiz, courtesy of South African
Agent of Israel Philatelic Services, at 19:30 Waverley
Shul boardroom. Entry free. Refreshments.
• UJW is hosting Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein at
09:30.
Tuesday (June 3)
• UJW is hosting Estelle Sher, presenting “A taste of
Rachmaninov” at 09:45 for 10:00. Cost R20.
Wednesday (June 4)
• SFCC is hosting Professor Franco Guidozzi on
“Dilemma of de ladies”, weight control, menopause,
hormone replacement? At 10:00 at the Sandton
Shul.
Friday (June 6)
• UZLC hosts Jack Shapiro talking about “Highlights
of the Sinai Campaign - 1956”.
Sunday (June 8)
• Second Innings is hosting Marion West - “A tour
through the universe using radio astronomy” at
10:00 for 10:30 at the Gerald Horwitz Lounge,
Golden Acres.
• JWB is hosting Dr David Lipschitz, geriatrician from
Arkansas, US talking on “A prescription for a long,
happy and independent life”, 09:30 for 10:00 at
Beyachad. Limited seating. Cost R100 includes tea.
Jennifer (011) 883-2440/082-445-8850 June (011)
880-4102
Wednesday (June 11)
• SFCC is hosting Rabbi Michael Katz who will speak
on a subject of topical interest at 10:00 at the
Sandton Shul.
CROSSWORD NO 71
NORTH
S K106
WEST
J2
880-2090 or Ruth Shapiro-Lewis 082-885-8423.
For corporate sponsorships contact Jackie (011)
384-8000.
BY LEAH SIMON
EAST
AQ85
SOUTH
9743
have had the 97 poised over East's
85, for 2 tricks instead.
But the example above is the very
occasional loss that results from
leading 2nd highest from four
small. Overall it's a big winner and
I can tell you that this concept has
made defence much more accurate,
and it has eliminated a lot of guesswork.
When you play this way, the
knowledge that partner has an honour makes life so much easier. Eg
Partner leads a low card, dummy
has xxx and you have KQ10x - if it's
a suit contract you know for sure
Partner has the jack, and in NT it
has to be the jack or the ace.
When you do elect to lead 2nd
highest from four small, your follow-up card should be the one
directly below it, not the bottom
one. From 7632 lead the 6 and then
follow with the 3. People often ask:
"Won't Partner think I have led
from a doubleton?"
Yes, on rare occasions, but the
bidding and the number of cards in
this suit in your hand and dummy
will almost always clarify matters.
ACROSS:
1. Ethnic competition? (4)
3. Take notes - twice - for American jail (4, 4)
8. —— facto (4)
9. Lacking limits - or springs! (2, 4)
11. Preparatory steps for the arsonist? (5, 3, 4)
13. Give Oz man a turn for South American river
(6)
14. Fish in position, we hear (6)
17. How the boys get their kicks - again? (6, 6)
20. Eat it - and somehow it’s achieved (8)
21. Footwear in Shoeshoe decor (4)
2
22. A bit of cheek from the spinal sur- 1
geon? (8)
23. Being twisted, exist for Bible (4)
DOWN:
1. Does it help us make tracks? (8)
2. Two girls get Italian dessert (7)
4. One ruse, one cent - it’s legendary (6)
5. Not bad guys, even if they’re mobsters (10)
6. Interior hidden in spinners (5)
7. Georgia, be quiet - that’s a deep, ugly
cut! (4)
10. Is he in love with an old flame - or
seeking a match? (10)
12. Ten years of the Bible - that’s pretty
debauched! (8)
15. Russian garden implement gets
novel by Sir Walter Scott (7)
16. Favoured by the shooting party?
We’ll see (6)
18. Mischievous trick that’s very old,
we hear (5)
19. Here’s looking at you, kid! (4)
SOLUTION TO CROSSWORD NO 70
ACROSS:
1. Fads; 3. Barbaric; 8. Each; 9. Parabats; 11. For
Pete’s sake; 13. La mode; 14. Entail; 17. Man overboard; 20. Pandemic; 21. Harm; 22 Maladies; 23.
Star.
DOWN:
1. Free fall; 2. Decorum; 4. Agates; 5. Brass knobs;
6. Ruark; 7. Cast; 10. Head to head; 12. Vladimir;
15. Adamant; 16. Cerise; 18. Annul; 19. Spam.
3
8
5
4
6
7
9
10
11
12
13
15
14
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
23 - 30 May 2008
SA JEWISH REPORT
First round of Bible
Quiz has come and gone
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPH BY
RITA LEWIS
THE INITIAL round of this year’s
Bible Quiz took place at Beyachad
some days ago when the 16 contestants wrote out their answers to the
first written test set for them by
the adjudicators.
The questions asked included
information on various texts on
the Tanach - all of which had to be
answered within 45 minutes.
The questions covered verses in
Bereishit (Genesis), Yehoshua
(Joshua), Shoftim (Judges) and
Melachim a’ (Kings 1).
Each of the questions asked gave
a choice of four answers and contestants had to decide which
answer was correct. Each question
was worth five points.
The 16 contestants (10 girls and
six boys) who consisted of learners
from Yeshiva Girls High, King
David Linksfield and Torah
Academy Girls, had around two
months in which to learn their
work. There was only one boy from
Yeshiva College Boys, no entrants
from King David Victory Park and
no boys from Torah Academy.
After the first round, the two
organisers of the event, Eli
Rudolph, national director of
Partnership 2000 and Yifat
Twersky of the Israel Centre, said
they were very happy with the
enthusiasm shown by the contest-
ants and the level of interest.
They had had meetings with various teachers and it had been decided that the breakdown of the quiz
would be that the first round was to
be a written one with the next two
rounds being made up of both written and oral questions and answers.
The second round of the quiz will
be held in South Africa with the
finals to be held around September
time in Bet Shemesh/Matei
Yehudah, Israel where the five
South African finalists will be
taken for the contest. The event in
Israel will be held under the auspices of Partnership 2000 in Bet
Shemesh and Washington DC. Last
year, the finalists from Bet
Shemesh were brought out to South
Africa for the finals and this year it
will be South Africa’s turn to reciprocate.
The contestants hard at work on their written questions, with the two organisers of this year’s Bible Quiz, Eli Rudolph, national director of
Partnership 2000 and Yifat Twersky of the Israel Centre, standing at the back.
21
AROUND
THE
WORLD
NEWS IN BRIEF
JEWISH CULTURE AWARDS
ANNOUNCED
JERUSALEM - An Israeli choreographer and an American
professor of performance studies
will receive Jewish Cultural
Achievement Awards.
The Foundation for Jewish
Culture will honour Ohad
Naharin and Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett at a June 12
awards ceremony. Naharin is the
renowned Israeli choreographer
and artistic director of the internationally acclaimed Batsheva
Dance Company.
Kirshenblatt-Gimblett is a university professor and professor of
performance studies at New York
University.
The foundation will also present a special citation for service
to Macy Hart, president and
founder of the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern
Jewish Life, for his service as
past chairman of the Council of
American Jewish Museums.
Since 1985, the Jewish Cultural
Achievement Awards honour a
select group of scholars, artists
and patrons who have developed
and sustained Jewish culture and
who have created a significant
and influential body of work and
demonstrated excellence in their
field. (JTA)
22
23 - 30 May 2008
SA JEWISH REPORT
Tel (011) 886-0162 • Fax (011) 886-4202 • email: brittl@global.co.za
HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED ADVERT:
1. Only adverts sent via email to brittl@global.co.za will be accepted. 2. You will be advised on cost & payment details. 3. Payment is prior to the advert appearing. 4. DEADLINE for BOOKING and PAYMENT is Tuesday 12pm. If deadline is missed the
advert will appear (when payment is received) in the next edition. Our banking details: SA Jewish Report, Nedbank Randburg, Account Number: 1984 514 865, Branch Code: 198405
NOTICES
CONSECRATIONS
COMMUNITY NOTICES
PERSONAL
LIFTS
LIFTS
MISCELLANEOUS
CHORISTERS
needed for
Oxford Shul.
Please phone
(011) 646-6020
SINGLE MINGLE
presents “Speed Dating”, Over
30s, Rosebank Bowling Club,
15 Hume Road, Dunkeld,
June 1 2008, 18:30pm, kosher
snacks, cash bar, R110, booking
essential. Fun evening, come
mingle with singles.
contact
Lisa 083-233-1021 or
Kiki 083-692-6399
A-TAXI
SERVICE
Let Warren Pogorelsky chauffer
you to your destination in
Jo’burg and back only R100
round trip.
Tel: 082-399-6187
IRENE'S SCHLEP SERVICE
I will take you anywhere. Shops,
Friends, Doctor, Airport,
Appointments. I schlep Parcels,
People, Shopping, Documents,
Courier service. Honest,
Trustworthy.
Schlepped by Irene.
072-356-0282
PROFESSIONAL
PAINTING, PAINT
TECHNIQUES,
murals.
Michele
083-290-0967
PERSONAL
SOULMATES
Successful singles seeking
matches:
• Surgeon, handsome - 58yr.
• Handsome lecturer - 29yr
• CAs - 29, 35, 48, 56 etc.
• Designer pretty - 32yr
• Producer elegant widow - 55yr
• Execs & Grads – 23, 28, 35,
38, 41, 46, 62 etc etc
• Pharmacist brunette pretty - 26
ATTRACTIVE SINGLES WANT
2 MEET U!
011485-4034
082-357-3616
SERVICES
AIRPORT SHUTTLE
JHB
Reliable,
Reasonable Rates!
Contact Arnold,
082-447-0185
011-454-1193
CAPE TOWN SHUTTLE
Coming to Cape Town?
Affordable rates. Airport
transfers from R160
Phone Andy
082-336-9780
DIAL-A-LIFT
Reliable safe transport, door to
door, airport transfers, etc.
Phone Pip Friedman
(011) 728-3998
cell: 083-267-3281
LIFTS
ARTHUR’S SCHLEPPING
SERVICE
The original schlepper
We will schlep you wherever
you want to go. Supermarkets,
hairdressers airport etc. etc.
We work very early. We work
very late. But please don't ask
us on a Shabbos date!
083-788-2509
011-440-5455
EVETTE AT
YOUR SERVICE
You name it, I take you with a
smile, day or night. Airport,
shops, appointments for doctors, dentists and hairdressers
and any long distance
Please telephone me
082 851 6608 or
(011) 786-2250
Extension 7322
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
www.michelecreatives.co.za
TUITION & EDUCATION
PROFESSIONAL TUTOR
Computer training on your
premises.
Michele
083-290-0967
www.futuretrends.co.za
SMILE-LEE'S LIFTS
A reliable lift service.
Specialising in lifts to and from
airports,shops,appointments,
casinos and courier.
Call Charna 083-391-6612
VISITING CT?
On business/holiday/simcha let
me meet you at the airport and
take care of your road transport
arrangements etc. Vehicle,
passenger liability insurance &
permits. Vehicle max.
4 passengers
Phone Malcolm Lee.
Registered Tour Guide
Mobile: 082-907-4790 /
www.capefocustours.co.za.
ZAIDA’S TAXI SERVICE
We specialise in transport,
house-to-destination, school
service, old age homes
and airport trips.
Call Zaida
(011) 646-5265 or
083-751-4229 or
082-921-1090
MISCELLANEOUS
PLUMBERS
FOR SALE
SPEECH THERAPIST
Speech therapy locum required
from end July 2008.
Sandringham and Orchards.
Call Kerry on
0833091703.
MISCELLANEOUS
MAD ABOUT
MUIZENBERG?
Order your branded
souvenirs now!
082 429 5539
muizlogostore@iafrica.com
HEALTH & BEAUTY
KOSHER THERAPIST
ON THE RUN
Do you suffer from muscle tension or stiffness or want to lose
some weight?
Give me a call at any time for
personal training, massage or
rehabilitation.
The best you can get!
Call Raphael
073-145-1119
ORIGINAL JEWISH ART ACRYLIC PAINTINGS &
SILK PAINTINGS
The ideal gift to enhance your
home.
Lereen Zaidel:
083-375-3458
lereen@webmail.co.za
HOME SERVICES
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
MARX
PROFESSIONAL
SFORIM
Precious out-of-print Sforim by
HaRav HaGaon HaGadol
Moses Romm Z"L.
Rabbi Dr Romm was acclaimed
by many Gedolim including
Chief Rabbi Kook and
The Lubavitcher Rebbe Z"L.
Tel Nolan:
083-350-1000
HOME
MAINTENANCE
AND
HANDYMAN
SERVICES
082-556-7314
MISCELLANEOUS
EMIGRATING ?
RELOCATING ?
Specialists in contents
of home sales.
Gary Kartun
082 962 8995
gary@movingon.co.za
www.movingon.co.za
HOME
INSPECTION
SERVICES
BUY YOUR NEW HOME
WITH CONFIDENCE.
OBJECTIVE
PROFESSIONAL VISUAL
INSPECTION OF HOMES
FROM ROOF TO
FOUNDATION
COMPLETE REPORT
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SUPPORT AND
REMEDIAL
RECOMMENDATIONS
ON COMPLETION OF
INSPECTION
BE SURE BEFORE YOU
BUY!!
MARK NATHAN
CONSULTING
082-556-7314
O11 786-9639
PROPERTY TO LET
ACCOMMODATION TO LET /
SHARE
CHELTONDALE
House to let, short/ long term.
4 beds. 2 bath, maids etc.
R8 000 p.m. excl.
W&E
CONTACT: MICHAEL
082-856-9914
23 - 30 May 2008
ACCOMMODATION TO LET /
SHARE
CHELTONDALE
Modern 2 bed apartment in
secure complex Chelton Oaks.
Please call
076 975 8258.
SA JEWISH REPORT
Szyk Haggadah under Freinkel has opened up
the world of the book
wraps for 40 years
RITA LEWIS
SUNNINGHILL
Short-term rental.
The KANYIN complex 24 hr
security and access controlled.
BRAND new.
Modern.Minimalistic.
Fully-furnished apartment. Top
of range finishes, Caesar stone
Kitchen, washing machine and
tumble drier LCD TV, gym and
crèche In complex.
Just bring Your clothes everything provided, includes maid &
DSTV. Avail for 5/6 month
Rental From June or July.
R13 000/month
Ideal for corporate.
082-822-6829
TIMESHARE TO LET
UMHLANGA TIMESHARE
July 5 – July 12
Breakers Hotel
4 sleeper
R5 000 neg
Call Janice
083-306-4499
WAMTED TO LET
ACCOMMODATION
REQUIRED
Respectable single mature lady
seeks accommodation to rent on
a shared cost basis. Must be on
or near a bus route.
Tel: 011 646 9880
or 082-414-7876
VACANCIES
AVAILABLE/WANTED
EMPLOYMENT
AVAILABLE
JOB OPPORTUNITY
available, looking for fulltime employment on a 8hr or
12hr hour roster, Mon - Thurs
or Fri - Sun. Persons must be
Jewish, responsible &
dedicated employees. Job
requires good communication
skills, working under pressure
and quick learning.
For more information
email CV and or
contact details to
anthonyamuller@gmail.com
VEHICLES
FOR SALE
2006 FORD KA
34 000 km
R58.500
Call 078-800-5640
VW BEETLE
2004 VW beetle convertible
60 000km. silver/blue
Very good condition. 1 owner.
Heated seats. Mags, electric
roof & windows, a/c, tinted windows.
R160 000 neg
082-822-6829
WANTED
23
Harold Shapiro shows the Haggadah that has caused a stir.
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPH
BY MOIRA SCHNEIDER
CAPE TOWN
NOBODY COULD have been more
surprised than Muizenberg resident
Harold Shapiro when he opened up
the Passover edition of the Jewish
Report and saw a story on the 1940
Szyk Haggadah that is about to be
republished. For the 83-year-old
accountant has the identical one that
he was given as a gift over 40 years
ago by a grateful client and, until
now, had no idea of its potential
worth.
“It’s been lying in my wardrobe in
the original box and the paper it was
bound in,” he laughed. “We’ve never
used it because we use the ordinary
Haggadahs from the supermarket.
“It’s only when I saw this article
that I suddenly remembered about
it.”
Shapiro has “no idea” what the gift
cost. In the light of the fact that the
new edition will reportedly be on the
market for $15 000, would he consider
selling his?
“Whether one sells gifts or not, I
don’t know, but I suppose if I got a
decent offer for it, I might consider it.
I’m not saying I’m going to do it,” he
adds, as he notices his wife Freda
shaking her head vigorously in disapproval.
“My one daughter has already
asked me if I can let her have it,” he
explains.
According to the title page, the
Haggadah is edited by Cecil Roth,
apparently an established figure in
Jewish circles in his time and “executed” by artist Arthur Szyk. It is
encased in an ornate silver cover.
The JTA report that appeared in
the Jewish Report describes Szyk as
one of the first anti-Hitler cartoonists
on whose head the Nazi allegedly put
a price.
The person who gave Shapiro the
Haggadah also gave him a painting of
a Jerusalem scene by artist Ben
Chaim. An Internet search has not
turned up any information on the
artist, he says, and he would appreciate assistance from readers in this
regard.
Who knows? Shapiro could be on a
winning streak and the painting
could prove to be as valuable, if not
more so, than the Haggadah!
EDNA FREINKEL is no stranger to
receiving awards, for she has devoted her life to helping others obtain
skills to which they would otherwise
have had no access.
Despite this, she said she was especially surprised to have been selected
last week to receive the Ekhuruleni
Metropolitan Municipality Achievement award for her "hard work in the
libraries and information category"
when she won the "Contribution
towards Cognitive Skills Development award".
Her name had been on the list of
nominees last year as well, but she
had not been included in the final
listings.
Freinkel's work has been mostly
in the field of education where
through the Readucate Trust - of
which she is founder and trustee she has brought the gift of reading to
so many previously uneducated people - a skill, which in today's world, is
an absolute necessity, and often
taken for granted.
She said she felt truly honoured to
have been nominated for the
Mayoral Awards and far more so for
having been awarded one.
Her work has been lauded by
many organisations and people in
many diverse areas of accomplishment - including by Standard Bank
who, knowing that they were having
to vacate their premises without
having found something either suitable or affordable, recently offered
Readucate free offices for their use
in perpetuity.
Freinkel said she was thrilled with
the bank's generosity and was
arranging to hold a Readucate
Reading course from June 30 to July
9. Anyone with some reading skills
was welcome to attend.
Her work was also acknowledged
in a letter sent to her by the director
general of the Department of
Education, Duncan Hindle in which
he said the department appreciated
the work of her organisation, "particularly in prisons, rural areas and
empowerment of women through
skills development programmes.
"Your work is in line with the call
by government to focus on the development of skills as part of poverty
alleviation."
Freinkel was the co-author (with
her mother Rebecca Ostrowiak) of
the book series, "Teach Any Child or
Adult to Read". She was also the
principal of the Rebecca Ostrowiak
School of Reading in Germiston
from 1969 to 2004.
Edna Freinkel receiving her
award from Councillor Isaac
Bangilizwe.
Some of the awards won by Edna Freinkel for various achievements
with the latest one in the centre being the Ekhuruleni Metropolitan
Municipality Achievement award which was given to her last week for
her contribution towards cognitive skills development. The award displayed at the back was given to all nominees. On the left: South
Africa's most influential women 2007/8 with the other being the
Annual Community Safety Offender Reintegration award for her contribution to a safer 2003.
Potential treatment for prostate cancer
HAIFA - Ground-breaking research at
the University of Haifa has revealed
that active compounds has been found
in Ganoderma lucidum fungus, with
the potential to treat prostate cancer.
The University of Haifa said in a
media release that recent research
had discovered that molecules found
in the common fungus, Ganoderma
lucidum, aided in suppressing some of
the mechanisms involved in the progression of prostate cancer.
The main action of the fungus is disrupting androgen receptor activity
and impeding the proliferation of cancerous cells.
Over the past three to four decades,
much scientific research has dealt
with the medicinal properties of different fungi. One of the important
characteristics of fungi is the ability
to fight cancer in a number of ways.
However, most of the research has
been concentrated on how fungi affect
the immune system.
In this research, conducted by Dr
Ben-Zion Zaidman, under the direction of Prof Eviatar Nevo and Prof
Solomon Wasser from the Institute of
Evolution at the University of Haifa,
and Dr Jamal Mahajna from the Migal
Galilee Technology Centre, the
researchers examined how fungi fight
cancer from within cells.
"Up to now, research has been based
on enhancing the immune system
with high-molecular-weight polysaccharides that act through specific
receptors in cell membranes. We concentrated our research on low-molecular-weight secondary metabolites
that can penetrate the cells and act at
the molecular level from within the
cell itself," explained Dr Zaidman.
He says prostate cancer, one of the
most common cancers found among
men in the Western World, is controlled by the androgen receptor, especially at the initial stages of development of the disease. Therefore, all of
the current medications used to treat
prostate cancer work to reduce the
production of androgens or to interfere with their function via the androgen receptor.
At the first stage of the research,
201 organic extracts from 68 types of
fungi were produced with solvents
such as ether, ethyl acetate and
ethanol. These solvents are used to
select molecules that are small
enough to act from within the cells.
Of the 201 extracts, 11 were found to
deter androgen receptor activity by
more than 40 per cent. In further testing, 169 extracts were tested for cancer cell growth inhibition. In this
study, 14 extracts were found to be
active in inhibiting prostate cancer
cells.
From among the active extracts,
those from Ganoderma lucidum were
found to be the most effective in
inhibiting the function of the androgen receptor and controlling vital
development of cancerous cells.
"The results of this research are
particularly interesting from a commercial aspect. Potential possibilities
exist to establish research and development of bioactive metabolites from
Ganoderma lucidum that could yield
an anti-prostate cancer drug,"
remarked Dr Zaidman.
24
SA JEWISH REPORT
23 - 30 May 2008
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Another milestone Maccabiah squash trials
for Marcus brothers
JACK MILNER
JACK MILNER
“AFTER WINNING in Dubai,
the fairytale continues. I just
thank G-d. It’s unbelievable!”
That is how South African
jockey Anton Marcus described his victory on Jay Peg in
the
Singapore
Airlines
International Cup at Kranji
Racecourse last Sunday.
When Jay Peg left South
African shores, he had won
eight of his 13 races and R1,4
million in stake money.
Trainer Basil Marcus and
Basil Marcus and brother Selwyn celebrate Jay Peg’s
owners
Selwyn
Marcus,
Marsh Shirtliff, Paul Loomes victory in the Singapore Airlines International Cup
and Etienne Braun, decided to last Sunday.
ship him off to Dubai for the
World Cup Carnival Season
race, which unnerved me a little bit. But
under the watchful eye of trainer
Anton rode another really good race on
Herman Brown Junior.
him. He got him into a great position and
After Sunday, with just two more wins
the pace was on. I felt pretty confident
under his belt, Jay Peg has boosted his
coming into the straight when he got a bit
earnings to a remarkable R45,75 million!
of a break on the rest of the field because
Following two warm-up runs, Jay Peg
I know he’s a horse who never gives in. He
was sent out a 50-1 outsider for the richfought them off. It was a great win and a
est race on turf, the $5 million dollar
great ride.”
Dubai Duty Free. Ridden by Anton
Anton was pinching himself; he had
Marcus, who was having his first ride at
delivered the goods again in another forNad Al Sheba Racecourse, Jay Peg
eign land. “I always thought they would
defied the odds and under a brilliant
have to come back to me. I was feeling a
showing from Anton, who had to conlittle exhausted at the furlong but the
tend with a slipped saddle, which almost
horse was still going strong,” he said.
saw him fall off just after the post, won
“This is hard to gauge where it sits in
an impressive race after making most of
importance. It was a great feeling to win
the pace.
in Dubai and equally as important
At Kranji Racecourse in Singapore
tonight.
last Sunday, Jay Peg started 2-1
“You can put Jay Peg anywhere in a
favourite for the Singapore Airlines
race. He’s not just one-dimensional. He’s
International Cup over 2000m, a race
not a horse with a great turn of foot but
worth $3 million.
he’s a real fighter.”
Although he looked a picture in the
Another Marcus who was feeling on top
parade ring, Jay Peg sweated up badly
of the world was elder brother, Basil, forbefore the start, which worried his
mer seven-time Hong Kong champion
trainer enormously. His rider, however,
jockey and now trainer in his own right.
was unfazed by his mount’s reaction to
“We thought he was good enough for the
the excitement, knowing what a profesworld stage. He was a great three-yearsional Jay Peg really is.
old,” said Basil, who trained Jay Peg
Marcus had no qualms about sending
before handing over to Brown.
his mount straight to the front as the
“I’ve always had a great association
gates opened. Jay Peg disputed the early
with the Brown family, firstly with
lead with Chevron and Sir Slick for a
Herman senior and now his son. I sent Jay
few strides before the South African ace
Peg to Herman as he had the infrastrucallowed Chevron to take over at the
ture set up in Dubai.
head of affairs. He sat quietly on the son
“We communicate regularly about the
of Camden Park, some six lengths off
horse. I’m over the moon for the owners as
the leader, with Sir Slick and Trigger
I bought him as a baby for R130 000. I’ve
Express on the rail disputing third
loved him from the time I started working
place.
with him.”
Jay Peg had taken much closer order
South Africans did well at the meeting.
at the field cornered at the 400m marker
Locally trained jockeys Barend Vorster,
and it was a matter of strides before he
who is based in Singapore, Robbie Fradd,
took command. He kept on relentlessly
Weichong Marwing and Marcus rode at
and crossed the line nearly two lengths
the meeting, while Patrick Shaw and Mike
clear of his nearest rival.
Clements saddled a few well-performed
Local contender Recast, ridden by
runners.
Australian Noel Callow (the leading
Marwing also won a race - the R95 000
jockey in Singapore), burst through the
Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy aboard
pack to take second prize with wellZizou for Shaw, who has made his home in
backed second favourite Balius flying on
Singapore - and racked up two second
the outside for third.
placings.
Said an ecstatic Brown: “If you come
He finished second behind Piercing
off a high like the Duty Free, you believe
aboard August Moon for Zimbabwe-born
it’ll be hard to get the horse back into
Clements in Race 2 and the trainer and
that sort of position. Everything went
jockey teamed up again in Race 6 when
fantastically here during the week.
they finished second with Raphael.
Thanks very much to the Singapore Turf
Vorster recorded three seconds, two
Club. They really looked after us well.
thirds and a fourth, while Fradd went
“The horse was sweating before the
home with two third-place stake cheques.
MACCABI Junior squash trials will take
place at Killarney Country Club on
Sunday, June 1 at 10:00.
Trials are for those born in 1991 to 1994
only.
For more information contact Glenn
Lazarus on 083-273-6926 or glenn@ats.co.za
Squash for Open, Senior and Master,
both men and women, who would like to
play in the Maccabi Games next year,
should contact Selwyn on 082-568-7732 or
SelwynK@biovac.co.za
Maccabi soccer trials coming up
JACK MILNER
THE FINAL trials for the under-16 soccer
team that will participate in next year’s
Maccabi Games in Israel, will take place at
13:30 on Sunday, May 25, at Balfour Park.
These will also incorporate national trials, as contenders from other parts of the
country will be participating. These trials
are for players born in 1993 and 1994.
Please note that those who have not yet
paid their R180 Maccabi registration fee,
will need to do so before the start of the trials in order to take part.
For further information please call Mike
Grevler on 072-341-3697 or (011) 887-1956.
Read the Jewish Report
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