June

Peter Golding 082 825 5561 | Mike Morey 082 820 0429
Office: 021 426 4440
VOLUME 32 No 5 JUNE 2015
www.cjc.org.za
Heights, camera, action!
Y
om Ha’atzmaut 2015 was a
unique day in the history of the
United Herzlia Schools as the school
used the opportunity to assemble
all their pupils and staff, from Grade
1 – 12, at the Van Riebeeck Field in
Highlands. The purpose was twofold; to celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut
and to film the closing sequence of
the 75th anniversary video, which
will feature children from pre-primary
to matric performing a brand new
version of the Herzlia school song.
“It was certainly no easy feat
co-ordinating a shoot with over
1400 pupils and 200 staff from five
different campuses. We arranged
for the Middle and High School
pupils to buddy with the primary
schools and escort them to their
place on the field. We had marked
out the '75' and checked the
dimensions with a drone. In the end
it was a wonderful morning,” said
Geoff Cohen, Director of Education
for UHS.
The filming by producers and
directors Aron Turest-Swartz and
Shawn Levin was undertaken with
two drones and a crane for the aerial
shots and a stills photographer on a
cherry picker.
H
www.pamgolding.co.za/on-main
Pupils and staff from five Herzlia campuses gather to create a huge ‘75’ on the Van Riebeeck Field in HIghlands for the 75th anniversary video.
Yom Ha'atzmaut at Ratanga Junction
abonim, Netzer and Bnei Akiva members
together with the community Shalich, Hagai
Dagan celebrated Israel’s independence. Yom
Ha’atzmaut commemorates the day in 1948 that
David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister,
publicly read Israel’s Declaration of Independence.
Israel’s flag is often the most prominent symbol seen
at Yom Ha’atzmaut celebrations, and the whole of
Ratanga Junction was a sea of kachol v’lavan on 23
April.
Our youth movements unite to show their love of Israel at the Yom Ha'atzmaut celebrations.
F
A land of Milk&Honey
eaturing five bands and two
DJs, Milk&Honey brought
to Gardens a selection of the
best Jewish musicians from
the tip of Africa. Hosted by Nik
Rabinowitz, guests enjoyed a
music festival with a difference.
The atmosphere was fantastic
under the huge Bedouin tent,
and a delightful picnic supper
was served. Guests were treated
to the musical likes of ‘Jews For
Techno’ (who don't play techno),
‘MaOriginal’ (of the Balkanology
Beanstalk Nu World Parties
fame), Russ Nerwich and his
band, hot new act ‘Red Tape
Riot’, songwriter extraordinaire
Lance Herman, talented singer
songwriter
Laurie
Levine
performing with Lionel Bastos,
and the extraordinarily hip ‘The
Plastics’. Music continued well
into the night and all the blankets
used to keep comfy were later
donated to charity.
Revellers enjoy the electric atmosphere at the Milk&Honey event held in
Gardens in May
2
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
news & views
Amanda Zar appointed manager for
the Herzlia Foundation Trust
Community Noticeboard
The Herzlia Foundation Trust is delighted to announce
the fulltime appointment of Amanda Zar as its new
manager.
SINAI INDABA
A
manda grew up in Johannesburg and matriculated
at King David Victory Park. She has a creative and
entrepreneurial background with a strong passion for the
NGO and Development sector. For the past four years
she has run her own business offering clients in the NGO
sector a focused, professional and innovative approach to
ensure sustainability for their organisation utilising diverse
fundraising and marketing strategies.
Prior to running her own business Amanda headed up
Afrika Tikkun’s Western Cape Development Team securing
funding for this very successful and impactful National
based NGO. Amanda is the proud mother of three sons who all attend Herzlia Constantia
and she is looking forward to being part of the Herzlia Foundation Team.
Herzlia Bids Farewell to Rabbi Ryan
A
fter serving as Director of Jewish Life and Learning, Rabbi Ryan Basserabie leaves
Herzlia in order to pursue other endeavours.
We would like to take this opportunity of thanking Rabbi Basserabie for his contribution
to Jewish Life at Herzlia and the role he has played in ensuring the continuity of a strong
Judaic culture on all our campuses.
We wish him every success in his future ventures.
Shabbat and Yom Tov Times
Date
5 June/18 Sivan
12 June/25 Sivan
19 June/2 Tammuz
26 June/9 Tammuz
Portion
Behaalot’cha
Shelach L’cha
Korach
Chukkat
Candle lighting
5.26pm
5.27pm
5.26pm
5.28pm
Ends
6.19pm
6.20pm
6.21pm
6.23pm
N.B. Please note that the times indicated are the earliest times for candle lighting.
Please consult your Rabbi for further information.
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David Rubinger —
Photographic
exhibition, June —
July.
See page 12
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news & views
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
Lindy with a why
Why should we talk about
the death penalty?
In a trial that lasted 10 weeks and a
deliberation that took just 14 hours,
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was sentenced
to death for planting the bomb that
killed two people near the finish line
of the Boston Marathon in 2013.
N
o cameras were allowed into
Tsarnaev’s trial but CNN’s reporter,
Ann O’Neill was present at the courthouse
every day. Known as the 13th Juror, her
reporting allowed us a unique insight into
the logistics and legal repercussions of
such a crime.
O’Neill explains in her 13th Juror column
“…it feels like we have been attending
a funeral since March. At last it is time to
pack up and leave this sadness. And no
one who witnessed what happened in the
courtroom will ever be the same.”
Even after sentencing, the atmosphere
was not one of vindication and victory it
was one of immense sadness.
The parents of the 8-year-old victim,
Martin Richard, said they would have
preferred that Tsarnaev spend the rest
of his life in prison with no chance of
appeal — an opinion shared by John
Odom who had the arteries in his legs
severed by shrapnel. Newlyweds Jessica
Kensky and Patrick Downes who each
lost a limb in the explosion agreed that a
lifetime in prison was a better outcome.
Jennifer Lemmerman, whose brother was
the police officer murdered by Tsarnaev
and his brother a few nights after the
attack explained that she never believed
in the death penalty and even after the
very personal loss she experienced, her
views against the death penalty has only
strengthened.
Liz Norden, whose sons each lost a
leg in the bombing supported the death
penalty, as did Kevin Corcoran, whose wife
lost both legs and whose daughter was
seriously injured.
The worry many share is that his death
could make him a martyr, where a life
sentence would in time perhaps relegate
him to the footnotes of history. Others,
including Islamic leaders disagree,
explaining that Tsarnaev had a low profile
and was unknown to al-Qaida or other
terror organisations.
It will take years, possibly decades, of
appeals before Tsarnaev is executed.
When Tsarnaev is finally put to death it
is possible that they will be executing
someone who has very little in common
with the person who participated in the
horrific attacks at the Boston Marathon
finish line — someone who is not a current
or immediate threat.
So how do we feel about the death penalty
in South Africa? Capital punishment
was abolished here in 1995 as it went
against the newly-founded Constitution.
According to Amnesty International, there
is no evidence that the death penalty is
any more effective in reducing crime than
a prison sentence is: “The death penalty is
a symptom of a culture of violence, not a
solution to it.”
The United Nations agrees that there is no
conclusive evidence of the deterrent value
of the death penalty. It removes the chance
for rehabilitation; it doesn’t allow for a shift
in thought or a change of heart and like the
death of the victim that started off the chain
of events, it just ends another life without
considering what might have been.
Evil is all around us and within us. It is a
part of our society and our country. It is not
the bogey-man that commits crime, it's a
brother, a father, a wife, a friend. How can
we expect people to act like humans when
their right to be treated as such is taken
away? Is it our job to punish, an eye for an
eye, to make an example of, or try to find
a place of understanding, of responsibility
for those around us?
In South Africa, human rights are for
everyone and no matter what we do,
according to our constitution we do not
lose our right to be treated with dignity
and fairness — which can be a bitter pill to
swallow when floating in what seems like a
never ending sea of crime. The rights to life
and dignity are paramount and this must
be shown in everything we do, even in the
way we treat criminals.
In the recent DA leadership battle, Wilmot
James and Mmusi Maimane debated DA
policy and Maimane raised many eyebrows
by saying he supported a referendum on
the death penalty — he later clarified that
in this case he meant 'referendum' as a
non-binding opinion poll, not a forum to go
about reinstating the death penalty.
How do you feel about the Tsarnaev
sentence? And about a referendum on the
death sentence in South Africa?
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4
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
Contents
VOLUME 32 No 5 JUNE 2015
In this Issue
Page 6
Page 14 Page 16-17
Page 20
Page 22
Page 28
Page 29
Page 31 Page 35
Page 36
Page 37
Page 38-39 Page 45
Opinion – Kol Isha
Letters
Sinai Indaba
Earthquake Report
Fuel-up Nation
March of the Living 2015
Milk&Honey musical showcase
Yom Hashoah in Cape Town
Xenophobia Vigil
The Nakba comes to Washington
Mensch of the month: Gilad Lang
Bat Mitzvah Book Review
Yom Ha’atzmaut at Ratanga Junction
Cl
a
i re
Gr
ee
ns
pa
n,
N il
ly B
a ru
ch , L
e e Ra
e l a n d J u d i th B e
, pa
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rm a n , O r
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Every Issue
Mi
lk&
Ho n
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usical s
howcase, page 29
Please note The Cape Jewish
Chronicle’s NEW banking details:
Standard Bank — Branch: Thibault Square; Branch
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The Cape Jewish Chronicle Trust; Acc type: Current
Page 8-9 Page 10
Page 11
Page 12
Page 13
Page 18 Page 21
Pages 23-25
Page 26
Page 27
Page 30
Page 32-34
Page 40-41 Page 42 Page 43
Page 46
Page 47
Cape Jewish Board of Deputies
Ortjet
Israel Centre and Telfed
SA Zionist Federation Cape Council
David Rubinger at the SA Jewish Museum
Likud
United Orthodox Synagogues
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Gitlin Library
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6
OPINION
The Streisand Effect
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
By Beverley May
Kol isha (the voice of a woman)
refers to a religious prohibition on
men hearing the singing voice of a
women since it is classified as ervah
(“nakedness”).
A
t some community events in South
Africa women are not permitted to sing
for this reason. I question whether there is
evidence of ‘The Streisand Effect’ at work
in this matter.
The Streisand Effect has been described
as the internet era’s defining example of
the law of unintended consequences. In
2003 Barbra Streisand unsuccessfully
sued photographer Kenneth Adelman
and Pictopia.com for violation of privacy.
Pictures of her Malibu home had been
taken as part of a project to document
the Californian coastline for conservation
purposes. Before Streisand filed her
lawsuit, the photograph of her house had
been downloaded from Adelman’s website
only six times; two of those downloads were
by her attorneys. In the month following the
lawsuit 420 000 people viewed the image.
The question of why kol isha has become
such a hot political issue is one unintended
consequence of banning women from
singing. Dr Chaya Herman observed
that the South African Jewish community
shifted towards being less open post
1994 - “South Africa’s transformation to
democracy has not seemed to open up
the community to new possibilities, but has
instead made it more inward-looking and
insular” and that “homogeneity has been
maintained by advancing exclusion and
seclusion”(2006).
Yom Ha’Shoa memorial services have
reflected the changes described by Dr
Herman. Rabbonim from diverse streams
have sometimes shared the podium and at
which he made the point that this was
other times not been able to find common much ado about nothing since he would
ground. In 2000 some religious leaders
simply leave the venue if he was given
boycotted the Yom Hashoah memorial in
enough warning that women were going to
Cape Town, because a Progressive Rabbi
sing. Mr Saks also made the valuable point
was to be the guest speaker (SA Jewish
that “it is not controversy that is draining
Report, 8 June 2000). As a result Rabbis
the life out of Diaspora communities,
no longer participate. They do, however,
but simple, numbing indifference” and
attend the memorial.
although he was critical of the SACRED
A lack of consistency is another video, he acknowledged that this group
unintended consequence. In the South
had “shown themselves to care enough
African Jewish community there is no
about their Jewishness to stand up and
uniform application of the prohibition make a noise for what they believe in.”
and many Jewish
Responses
to
organisations regularly
the article honed
host choirs which
in on the indelicate
At (Yom Hashoah) above all
include
women.
tone of the article.
other events, we should be
There is also no
Judge
Dennis
united. Antisemitism has
consistent application
Davis and Jeremy
of Halacha. There
Gordin,
veteran
never made the distinctions
are other religious
journalist
and
that
we
do.
requirements
that
founding member
could be implemented
of the Wits Justice
at community events. Married women Project, both responded (Jewish Report,
could be asked to cover their hair, for
18 May 2012) to defend women’s rights to
example.
protest without being denigrated and their
Further evidence of the Streisand Effect,
right to sing at a community event.
is a colourful history of community reaction
The prohibition on women singing at Yom
to the debate. In 2012 a DVD produced
Ha’atzmaut celebrations in Johannesburg
by SACRED (South African Centre
was subsequently withdrawn on that
for Religious Equality and Diversity),
occasion.
protesting the ban on women singing at
The fallout continued when Ha’Aretz
Yom Ha’aztmaut in Johannesburg, elicited
published an article, Welcome to
some scurrilous correspondence.
No Johannesburg, Where Women are
doubt an unintended consequence and a
Cheeseburgers (6 May, 2012). Allison
reminder of the passion on both sides of
Kaplan Sommer reported that Darren
this debate. The video is still available on
Sevitz (the Executive Director of the UOS at
line and features Jewish women across the
the time) “offered a reaction dripping with
spectrum of religious ideologies.
sarcasm: ‘I’ve decided to form a group
Amongst the responses to the video
called South African’s Who Like to Eat Pork
protest, was an article written by David
and Other Non-Kosher Products at All
Saks (Jewish Report, 11 May 2012) in
Public Events and Even at Home Because
That’s Our Right.” On this occasion, Mr
Sevitz used two arguments that are not
apposite since providing kosher food at an
event is not discriminatory.
That we have shown that we are unable
or unwilling to reach an equitable solution
is also an unintended consequence.
Since the halachic intention of kol isha is
to prevent men from hearing the singing
voice of a woman and not a prohibition
on women singing, it is possible to ensure
that there is no gender discrimination while
also supporting the religious requirement.
This compromise includes hosting mixed
choirs only and assisting anyone wishing
to be out of hearing distance of women’s
singing voices by, inter alia, placing
singing items at the end of a programme or
giving enough notice that women are due
to sing (as per Mr Saks’ suggestion). This
solution was supported by Judge Dennis
Davis, “there is scope to apply it (the laws
pertaining to kol isha) in a way which is
both sensible and accords with the moral
convictions of a community located within
a modern constitutional world” (SA Jewish
Report, May 2012).
This compromise is an opportunity to be
a united community and to prove those
wrong who say that it cannot be done. Yom
Hashoah is especially significant in this
respect. At this memorial, above all others,
we should be united. Antisemitism has
never made the distinctions that we do.
David Saks’ point about apathy and
indifference though, is where the Streisand
Effect is truly at work. The fact that we are
still debating gender-based discrimination
at a community event in 2015 highlights that
that the majority of us do not care whether
women are allowed to sing or not. The
most notable unintended consequence.
A Holy People
By Rabbi Matthew Liebenberg
An issue that has stirred much
controversy lately is that of “kol isha”
the prohibition for men to listen to a
woman singing.
S
ome of those who object strongly to this
halacha have chosen Yom Hashoah as
a battleground upon which to wage their
war. They demand that female vocalists
be allowed to perform at the ceremony and
that refusal to do so amounts to gender
discrimination. In one instance a group
arranged their own Holocaust memorial at
which they would not be subject to such
a “ban”.
To fully comprehend this law, which to
the modern mind is completely politically
incorrect, one must be aware that kol isha
is but a single component of a much larger
world-view. That world-view is the Torah’s
approach to sexuality, which stands in
stark contrast to the Western outlook on
this subject. In Judaism kedusha, holiness
or sanctity, and sexuality are intertwined.
One example of this is Rashi’s comment
on the opening verse of Parshat Kedoshim
(Vayikrah 19:2), “You shall be holy, for holy
am I, Hashem, your God.” – “[This means]
that you must abstain from forbidden
relationships and from sin, for wherever
you find safeguards (literally “fences”)
against sexual immorality, that is where
you will find holiness.”
The Torah’s measure of a society’s
holiness is its sexual ethic. Does the society
promote the sanctity of marriage and
sexual fidelity or does it allow promiscuity
action, a Jew may not touch, hug or kiss a
and permissiveness? (See Koren Yom
member of the opposite sex who is not his
Kippur Machzor by Rabbi Lord Jonathan
spouse, parent or child. Neither may one
Sacks, pages 992-996) The Sages referred
be alone with a member of the opposite
to marriage as kiddushin, sanctity. When
sex (yichud) without the presence of a
the Jewish people conduct themselves in chaperone. If the wisdom of this safeguard
a way that is conducive to this sanctity, were appreciated and heeded, many
they merit God’s Presence, but when affairs would never have begun and many
they behave immorally, they cause Him marriages would not have ended.
to depart. The sexual urge is a powerful
A Jew may not view explicit material or
force in a person and it can bring one to
stare at a member of the opposite sex
utter destruction. Moreover, the more one
for sexual gratification. A Jew may not
feeds the urge, the more
listen to sexually explicit
it craves (Succah 52b).
conversations or, in the
kol yisrael arevim
It is for this reason that
case of a man, to a woman
the Torah and the sages
singing for “the singing
zeh bazeh; all of
erected “fences” and
voice of a woman is an
Israel is responsible
safeguards to ensure
erotic stimulus.”
for one another.
that people not easily
The
Sages
warned
come to sin in this area.
against “promiscuity of the
These prohibitions apply
mouth”, which includes
equally to men and women. Let us use
sexually suggestive comments (Shabbat
adultery as an example: Very few people
33a). Regarding one’s thoughts the
set out to have an affair. The relationship
Sages said (Yoma 29a) “thoughts of
does not start with an intimate act on day
committing immoral acts can be worse
one. Rather it begins with an “innocent”
than the acts themselves” for they sully the
comment here and a flirtatious remark
most elevated part of man - his intellect.
there. Then there is a “casual” peck on the
Who carries the responsibility to ensure
cheek and, as time goes on, they begin
that Jews do not engage in forbidden
to spend more time together alone until
relationships? The answer is the Talmudic
finally, their relationship is “consummated”.
dictum (Sanhedrin 27b) kol yisrael arevim
Jewish Law is unequivocal: one must
zeh bazeh; all of Israel is responsible for
take steps to ensure that the relationship
one another. This is not some vague notion
never begins and the only way to do so is
of Jews “watching each other’s backs” but
to follow the safeguards. They apply to all
rather a principle that requires every Jew to
of one’s faculties and senses: action, sight, ensure that his fellow (i) fulfill mitzvoth and
speech, hearing and thought. Concerning
(ii) not transgress prohibitions. If a Jew
stands by idly while his fellow commits a
crime, he too is held partially responsible,
if he had the wherewithal to restrain him or
protest his actions.
Thus every Jew, male or female, is
responsible to ensure that he or she does
not act in a way that would entice another
to sin, be it in this area or other prohibitions.
I am not naïve to think that all Jews will
identify with this, in fact most will not, as
this episode demonstrates: Some years
ago, when the issue of kol isha was doing
the rounds in Cape Town, a communal
leader accosted me and declared, “Rabbi,
I don’t see what all the fuss is about. I am
not at all titillated [his own word] by the
voice of a lady singing.” He was taken offguard when I replied that he was correct.
I explained: in our society where sexuality
is “in your face”; where billboards feature
half-naked women; where pornography
is readily available; where adultery is not
a crime and where couples cohabit before
marriage (or don’t marry at all) the voice
of a lady singing pales into insignificance
in the presence of this sheer onslaught of
sexual imagery.
We are desensitised to the subtleties
of sexuality that a generation ago would
have “titillated” our forebears. But we are
not better or stronger than them. We still
possess a sexual drive and to deny this is
simply “whistling past the graveside.” Our
community needs to rebuild the type of
holy society that Jews were renowned for
throughout their history. It will take all of us
to achieve that goal.
7
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
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8
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
CAPE
SA JEWISH BOARD
OF DEPUTIES
TALKING TACHLIS
The end of
an era
The long talk to freedom
With sincere apologies to Lewis Carol
‫ןָמְז תֵעְו לָכְל ץֶפֵח תַחַּת םִיָמָּׁשַה‬
‫לֹּכַל‬
Everything has an appointed
season, and there is a time for
every matter under the heaven.
Kohelet Chapter 2
A
fter nearly eight years at the
helm of the Cape SA Jewish
Board of Deputies, Executive
Director, David Jacobson has
decided it is time to move on.
David comments: “After a
lot of soul searching and in
consultation with my wife,
and after discussion with my
Executive, I have realised that
I need to seek new challenges
and chart a new path. In
addition, it is always healthy for
an organisation to bring a fresh
perspective and I want to pave
the way for new leadership to
take the Cape Board into the
next decade. It has been my
privilege to be able to work
with a remarkable community
and play some small part in
helping guide my beloved
Jewish community over these
last years. The challenges
have been vast but the rewards
even greater. I count myself
fortunate to have been given
this opportunity and I wish
my successor much luck in
continuing the proud 111 year
legacy of the Cape Board.”
During his tenure as Executive
Director, Mr Jacobson brought
a multitude of innovations to
the Cape Board and the staff
complement of the Cape
Board has doubled with a new
breed of young, ambitious and
educated Jewish professionals
employed.
“Although we are sad to see
David go”, said Chairman, Eric
Marx, “we know that he has left
the Cape Board in excellent
shape and look forward to
working with David over the
next months to ensure the
smooth succession to new
leadership. I know the entire
Cape Board and the Cape Town
Jewish community join me in
wishing David all the success
for his future and we know that
whatever he chooses to do, he
will bring the same passion,
integrity and innovation that he
brought to the Cape SA Jewish
Board of Deputies. ”
David will officially vacate his
post at the end of June 2015.
By David Jacobson, Executive Director, Cape Jewish Board of Duputies
“The time has come,” the Walrus said,
“To talk of many things:
Of Jews and views and BDS
Of naches and tachlis,
And how we argue all the time
Yet love each other nonetheless.”
bridges
within
our
community first or how
can we hope to build them
without? We should actively encourage
different perspectives and not be afraid that
our identity will dissolve if we swallow what is
being said. If we allow people more space
inside our tent, there will be less need to step
or nearly eight years, I have been ‘talking
out.
tachlis’ within the hallowed borders of
And I have talked this talk with a remarkable
these pages. I have also taken this ‘tachlis’
and diverse group of human beings over
beyond the borders of the Chronicle, Cape
the past years. I have had the privilege of
Town and South Africa to as many Jewish
working with some truly awesome, or what
(and non-Jewish) spaces as I could reach.
I term ‘Jewsome’ people. These include
It is now time for me to walk my talk into new
Holocaust survivors, seasoned communal
spaces.
professionals, community elders, the
I have talked tachlis about the extraordinary
remarkable youth movements and so many
Jewish community we have here in Cape
more. I have worked very closely with former
Town. A community that is historically proud,
Cape Board chairmen and chairwomen —
firmly bound to identity and destiny and
community stalwarts and thinkers, who have
organised in a skilful manner that is the envy
helped shape the future of the community.
of all communities around the world and is
I have not always agreed with them, and
a testimony to the vision of the elders of our
our engagements have often been robust,
community. I have contended that we must
exchanging our ideas, but always ‘b’shem
ensure that our unique Cape ethos and
I have tried to suggest that
shamayim’ (for the sake of heaven) and
autonomy, advocated so powerfully by the
we should not become
always with deep respect, acknowledging
first President of the Cape SA Jewish Board
‘agents of fear but rather
our shared love and commitment to our
of Deputies, advocate Morris Alexander,
people and our community.
‘agents of faith’
continue to feed into the larger South African
It has been a journey of epic proportions
Jewish community. Our long-standing liberal
and I am not the same man that entered this
and inclusive perspective is sorely needed.
democratic South Africa. They hold out hope
office in September of 2007. I have been
I have talked tachlis about our numerous
where others feel hopeless and helpless. We
immeasurably transformed by everyone with
challenges. About confused Jewish identity,
need get a glimpse of the future through their
whom I have worked, by the ideas that I have
rampant secularism and growing apathy.
eyes — they have a vision beyond the scope encountered and by the challenges I have
I have paid particular attention to the
of the more jaded and atrophied synapses of
had to tackle. I have learned to see with a
increasing bitterness that we heap upon each
the older brain. The launch of GenerationNext wide-ranging vision that attempts to see
other that cause me such pain — vilification
was one of my proudest moments.
what others see and feel what others feel. I
leads inexorably towards discrimination. We
I have talked tachlis about the need to not
embrace the beauty of Klal Yisrael with every
must not become the villains in our own story.
only accept the diversity of our community, breath I take.
I have talked tachlis about the alarming
but to actively champion it. We are made up
I have had the privilege of employing
growth in Antisemitism that is linked in a
of all sorts, and like the lulav, that diversity and working alongside some outstanding,
distorted way to distaste for Zionist ideology
and that difference only strengthens us. We
ambitious and highly intelligent young
and Israel. The vicious attacks upon our
professionals who have helped transform the
community, upon our identity and upon our must stand up for those in our community
with whom we disagree. We must build
Cape SA Jewish Board of Deputies into an
history in South Africa have to be challenged
innovative, proactive, imaginative and
and challenged forcefully,
uniquely Jewish space. I owe them
but
always
challenged
so much and I thank them from the
intelligently and strategically.
bottom of this Jewish heart.
I have tried to suggest,
And perhaps most important of all, I
nonetheless, that we should
have had the privilege of engaging with
not become ‘agents of fear
you — my beloved Jewish community.
but rather ‘agents of faith’;
On paper and in person. Your warmth,
how fear paralyses our
support and encouragement have
ability to see beyond the
given me the confidence to explore my
ghetto walls in our minds
own Jewish journey and helped me
and inhibits our ability to be
guide the community in some small
creative; how fear reduces
way where I was able.
our remarkable traditions to
Die untershte sheereh is that it is now
mere shadows of their selves
time for me to take my talk to other
and we become the people of
spaces and other places.
perspiration (fear) and not the
But in the immortal words of General
people of inspiration (faith) —
a role that that we have been "Mission to Washington DC for Jewish and Muslim Leaders from the Douglas MacArthur, later adopted and
playing for millennia.
Southern Hemisphere". Featured in the picture taken at the residence adapted by Arnold Schwarzenegger
I have talked tachlis of the former SA Ambassador to the USA, Ebrahim Rasool, are David as follows, ‘I will be back.’ And that is
about
our
responsibility Jacobson, His excellency Ambassador Rasool and Dr. Sayyid Syeed, my final word. Tachlis.
national director of the Islamic Society of North America
F
w w w.capebod.org.za
to be agents of positive change in South
Africa and how the best strategy to combat
Antisemitism is to increase our involvement
in our country and not curtail it; how
programmes conceived and created by the
Cape Board, like B-JEN and Mensch are
not only initiatives that do good, but they are
good — good for us; the only way to break
down prejudice is to break down barriers and
the more we get out there and engage, the
better we can advocate and lobby for our
community and for the State of Israel. We
have to react to incidents of Antisemitism,
but as Israel advocate expert, David Olesker
put it so sharply, ‘if you are only putting out
the fires, eventually the arsonists own the
forest.’ A proactive strategy will always prove
more effective than a reactive one.
I have talked tachlis about the importance
of empowering our youth — they are most
able to adapt to the brave new world of a
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
2015 CAPE CONFERENCE
2015 is a voting year for the Cape Board. Voting takes place in two forms:
1. 3 new members by public ballot (see ad below).
2. 12 members at the Conference on Sunday 18 October.
The public ballot is open to all members of the community and is voted by all members of the
community. Voting at Conference is for delegates only. Exercise your democratic right. Make a change.
WE’VE GOT THE
fACTOR
The Cape Board’s
electronic voting platform explained:
ELECTIONS2015
MAKE A CHANGE
5 EaSy STEpS
3 NEw mEmBERS
1.
Exercise your democratic
right and vote new members
onto the Cape SA Jewish
Board of Deputies
Register to vote online: www.capebod.org.za/elections2015
You must register in order to vote. Registration will run from 1 June until 10 August 2015.
Registration is confidential and simple. Just do it!
2.
Encourage other friends to register.
The more people who register, the greater the democracy.
3.
Stand for the Cape Board.
4.
Vote via our electronic platform during September.
Anyone on the communal register is eligible to stand for election*. Make sure your views
on Judaism, community and Zionism have represention on the Cape Board.(*voters must be over 18)
The link to the online voting site will be released towards the end of August. All those who
registered will receive an anonymous, unique voting number which will enable you to cast
your vote. Voting will take place during the month of September. Results will be
announced at the Cape Conference on Sunday 18 October.
5.
Those who still wish to utilise a postal
ballot will be allowed to do so.
9
10
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
Ort Jet 2015 Eureka Entrepreneurial Competition
The Eureka Entrepreneurial Competition will
give entrants access to training, knowledge
and expertise from the best minds in business.
“A
competition of this nature is the best way
to encourage business entrepreneurship,
something so topical in South Africa, where more
than 70 per cent of businesses are classified
as small business”, said Paul Bacher, Executive
Chairman of ORT JET. Expert mentors, judges and
trainers will guide the competition process and help
entrepreneurs actualise their business dreams.
Robert Sussman, Joint CEO of Integr8 entertained
the audience, sharing with them his journey “from
zero to billion”. Future entrepreneurs and business
owners were exhilarated by Rob’s story. ORT JET
has obtained sponsorship from Liberty for this
year’s competition.
Steven Braudo, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer
of Liberty Holdings Ltd, says, “It is a great privilege
for Liberty to sponsor this event and to be involved
in the Eureka Entrepreneurial Competition.”
Prizes include interest-free loans, office furniture,
laptops, iPads, free training, ORT JET mentoring
and much more.
Entries for the Eureka competition are now open.
Sign up www.ortjet.org.za or email businessplan@
ortjet.org.za.
Ort Jet launches mentor enrichment sessions
Lisa Sandler, Nilly Baruch, Tami
Sussman, Rob Sussman and
Brenna Frankel
Launch of 2015
Deloitte / ORT JET
mentor enrichment
sessions presented by
Dave Wilson, Deloitte
SA Clients & Industries
Chief Operating
Officer.
Lance Katz, Roy Silver and Ariel Sumeruk
Eric Edelstein, Lee Rael, Ryan Dogon and Dave Wilson
ORT JET and Deloitte Cape Town continue to partner on mentor and business training with an exciting series of talks
scheduled for 2015.
Cara Saven and Taryn Cantor
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
Telfed Tidings
Inauguration of newly-refurbished apartments for Olim
With much joy and
celebration, Telfed
inaugurated
its
newly-refurbished
building in Raanana.
T
he
centrallylocated
building
houses 28 apartments
specifically reserved
for Southern African
immigrants.
The
provision of affordable
housing for Olim has
long been a priority for
Telfed and something
which makes Telfed
stand out from all other
Olim
organisations.
Telfed Aliyah and Klita
Advisor, Susan Sharon,
said that “new Olim
often report finding
affordable
housing Isrentco Chairman Joe Hallis, Telfed Chairman Dave Bloom, CEO
in
an
appropriate Dorron Kline and Raanana Mayor Zeev Bielski
location as one the
earthquake damage. Following the recent
primary stressors when embarking on
disaster in Nepal, Israeli experts have
Aliyah”. Telfed’s purpose-built buildings in warned that a significant earthquake in
Tel Aviv and Raanana, offer Olim a “softer
Israel is “just a matter of time”. Israel has
landing” with competitive rental rates, experienced a serious quake every 100
encouraging a more successful Aliyah.
years or so, the last major one having
“My family and I love living in the Telfed
occurred in July 1927. “The only way for us
Building” stated a resident “with so many
to prevent a disaster is to build properly”
South Africans in the building, it feels like
advises Seismologist, Dr. Avi Shapira.
home away from home.”
Telfed’s history of providing housing
Thirty five percent of rental income is used to Olim goes back to 1952 when the first
to cover building maintenance and running
Telfed hostel was built in Tel Aviv. The
costs. The remaining 65% of income is
Raanana building went up in the 1970’s
allocated to Keren Telfed, a self-help fund
followed shortly by the second Givataim
“of the community, by the community, for project. “Olim are primarily concerned with
the community”. Keren Telfed supports
housing and employment” said Telfed CEO
Telfed’s numerous charitable projects
Dorron Kline.
focused on enhancing the welfare
At the inauguration ceremony, Raanana
of members of the Southern African
Mayor, Zeev Bielski, praised Telfed for its
community in Israel. Telfed’s services forethought, saying that he is frequently
include, amongst others, providing
asked by other Olim organisations “how
immigration, absorption and employment can we be more like Telfed?” to which he
guidance, study bursaries for Southern
usually replies “to be more like Telfed, you
African youth, social welfare assistance to
need to have the kind of people and vision
vulnerable families and encouragement of
Telfed has”. Telfed planned ahead and
social projects.
saved funds for this renovation for over
The extensive renovation included the
a decade, finally being able to provide a
addition of eight new apartments as well safer and more durable building for all its
as reinforcing the building against potential
residents.
Yom Hazikaron in Cape Town
The lesson to be
taken
from
Yom
Hazikaron is unity and
appreciation, not only
in Israel but in Jewish Communities
around the world.
O
Also taking part
in the ceremony
were the Youth
Movements,
namely
Bnei
Akiva, Habonim
Dror and Netzer,
the South African
Union of Jewish
Students,
the
Herzlia
Vocal
Ensemble
and Moshe Ziberski of the
Tikvot
Organisation
Herzlia pupils.
gives a moving address
In Israel, Yom at the Yom hazikaron
Hazikaron is a ceremony
very unique and
special day where the entire population
of Israel comes to a standstill, rising for
a minute of silence at the sound of the
nationwide siren. Symbolically following
the siren disputes and politics are put
aside, there is less violence and fewer
car accidents as Israelis acknowledge the
importance of commemorating the dead
over day-to-day activities. “In their deaths
they bade us to live” not only to appreciate
our physical life but to give meaning to that
physical life. Community, Tikkun Olam,
care, fellowship and tolerance embody this
meaning.
n the evening of Yom Hazikaron the
Israel Centre in conjunction with the
South African Zionist Federation Cape
Council held a ceremony and presented
an exhibition commemorating Israeli fallen
soldiers and victims of terror at the Herzlia
High School Hall.
The exhibition not only informed viewers
but connected with them on an emotional
level through the deeply personal stories of
individual soldiers who gave their lives in
defence of Israel and the tragic losses of
Israeli citizens to terror attacks.
The Yom Hazikaron ceremony began
with Machalniks (South Africans who
volunteered for the Israeli Defence Force)
from the War of Independence being
honoured to light the memorial candles
for the fallen soldiers and victims of
terror, thereby connecting the past to the
present. The keynote speaker during the
ceremony was Moshe Ziberski of the Tikvot
Organisation. The Tikvot Organisation
enables
severely
injured
soldiers to compete in sport
as part of their rehabilitation.
The delegation was in Cape
Town to compete in the World
Triathlon
Series.
Moshe
not only has a significant
injury himself but joined the
Mourners of Israel with the
tragic loss of his nephew in
the Second Lebanon War. He
told his personal story and
elaborated on the meaning of
Yom Hazikaron for him. Both
of them provided inspiration
though, and appreciation of, Machalniks Morris Galp, Albert Shorkend and Leslie Marcus
their service and sacrifice. light memorial candles for fallen soldiers and victims of
terror
Congratulations!
Hagai
Dagan,
Community
Shaliach, and Machalnik Leslie
Marcus
Exhibition of fallen soldiers
Philip and Michele Krawitz, Alison Katzeff Berk and Eliot and Myra Osrin together with Telfed
management
T
elfed congratulates Philip Krawitz
(Chairman of the Board of Trustees
of the United Jewish Campaign), on his
nomination to receive the 2015 Yakir Award
from Keren Hayesod. The Yakir Award
pays tribute to exceptional members of the
community, who — through their leadership
— are devoted to alleviating the challenges
faced by the Jewish people in Israel and
the Diaspora, and who serve as a shining
example of benevolence and selfless
service. Previous recipients of this award
from South Africa include Sheila and Eric
Samson (2012) and Stanley J. Seeff (2004).
11
The audience at the Yom Hazikaron Ceremony held at Herzlia High School
12
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
View from the Chair
Eyewitness to History
60 Years of Israeli Photojournalism
By Ben Levitas, Chairman, SAZF Cape Council
As we celebrate 21 years of freedom,
in the “Rainbow nation” the born
free children seem to have little to
celebrate.
A
s the “Rainbow” fades, so do the
dreams of our children. In particular,
our education system has failed our youth.
More than half are jobless, and the prospect
of ever finding work is less than 50%. Half
our people are living below the poverty line.
Waves of populism are sweeping away our
history, both the good and the bad, and the
authorities seem powerless to resist.
What is more concerning than the
statues being removed, are the human
lives being lost and disrupted by the
xenophobic attacks. Our inability to accept
and absorb those considered ‘foreign’ is
a blight on our human rights record, and
represents a failure of our value systems
due to a breakdown in formal and informal
education.
Post-Apartheid South Africa, has failed
through education and social support
systems to deal with the damage and
legacy of our brutal past and that brutality
manifests continuously in our lack of regard
for human life.
When youth like Mcebo Dlamini, the SRC
President of Wits University, unashamedly
extols the virtues of Hitler as an example
of a great leader for African youth, the
abject failure of our education system
becomes all too apparent. When SRC
leaders at UCT paste posters of Hitler
and Swastikas on the pillars of Jameson
Hall, completely oblivious of the hurt and
harm they cause, then we have reason
to be downcast. Dlamini and his ilk are
unrepentant, viewing history only through a
racial lens. Their perverted
logic argues that if whites
find Hitler despicable, then
why should blacks believe
the white propaganda?
It is extremely concerning
that these deluded and
deranged opinions have
gained traction amongst
the future leaders of South Africa, and
speaks of an abysmal failure of our
education system. It needs to be noted,
that while Adam Habib, to his credit,
condemned Dlamini and the Academic
leadership of UCT have to their great
discredit, (yet) failed to condemn the use
of these Nazi symbols. These failures
and omissions to condemn outright
these hateful symbols by our academic
leaders, merely adds fuel to the populist
avalanche, to sweep aside all that we hold
as sacrosanct.
Similarly, the ANC Youth League (ANCYL)
and COSAS (Congress of South African
students) have consistently denounced
Israel and Zionism and called for boycotts of
Israel and of businesses that have any links
with Israel. The singing of the Resistance
song, ‘kill the Jew” on University campuses
and the display of provocative posters,
calling for the expulsion of Jews and even
“death to Jews” provide an insight into
the lack of historical comprehension and
xenophobia widespread in our student
population.
One can’t entirely blame the youth for their
waywardness, when the Minister of Higher
Education, Blade Nzimande, pursues
convoluted and discredited historical
fallacies and pursues a dubious agenda to
destroy and undermine our beloved Israel.
Israel Independence Day: Flags,
Falafel and Flying
Israel’s 67th Independence Day was
celebrated this year, and as in all other
years was celebrated with fairy lights
and fireworks — not an unusual thing
for a national celebration.
H
is famous photograph,
of
three
Israeli
paratroopers shortly after
the recapture of the Western
Wall in the Six-Day War,
has become the defining
image of that conflict.
In mid-May this year, this
internationally acclaimed
photographer
will
be
arriving in South Africa
to promote an exhibition
of some of his most
famous photographs. The
exhibition will be taking
place at the South African
Jewish Museum in Cape
Town. Rubinger was born in
Austria in 1924. When he
was in high school, Nazi
Germany annexed Austria
in the Anschluss and with the help of Youth
Aliyah, he escaped to Palestine via Italy
and settled in a Jordan Valley kibbutz. His
father had already fled to England, but his
mother died in the Holocaust. He served
with the Jewish Brigade of the British Army
in World War II. While on leave in Paris, a
French girlfriend gave him a camera as a
present, and he discovered he enjoyed
photography. He took his first professional
photo of Jewish youths climbing a British
tank to celebrate the United Nations
Partition Plan for Palestine, thereby creating
Flag Corps, whose formations celebrated
Israeli inventions from Waze, flash memory
and drip irrigation to UAVs, the Uzi and the
Iron Dome.
No Israel Independence Day would be
complete without a picnic or barbecue, a
traffic jam getting to said meal and gazing
up at the Israel Air Force air show. You
can’t feel more Israeli than when you’re
munching on a pita stuffed with hummus
to the buzz of four fighter jets flying in
formation.
www.facebook.com/pages/SA-Zionist-Federation-Cape-Council
the Israeli state.
Rubinger, who will be 91 in June this year,
had the unique distinction of being present
at most of the epochal moments in the
Middle – East during the latter half of the
20th century. As such, his images, more
than any other, shaped our perceptions of
this era.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to
view this unique exhibition of photographs.
The exhibition will run from the 18th of May
to the end of July. The public is invited to
come and enjoy this unique exhibition.
Eagerly awaiting Eshkol Nevo
“We were good together. Not in
retrospect, not out of nostalgia. Not in
anticipation. But here and now good.
Very good.” Eshkol Nevo, Homesick
T
B
ut then there are the ceremonies,
gadgets and trappings that are unique
to Israel. These include the squeaky
hammers — dubbed “the hammer of
sovereignty” by the legendary comedic
trio HaGashash HaHiver — which are used
to hit strangers on the head while walking
through the streets.
Flags draped on everything from public
buildings to balconies and cars. Baked
goods and other delicacies decorated with
flags — or like flags!
The flag theme is continued at the official
state torch lighting ceremony, held on
Mt. Herzl in Jerusalem in the presence
of the prime minister, the president and
invited dignitaries. This year’s ceremony
honoured 14 Israelis who have contributed
to Israeli innovation and excellence, and
opened with a demonstration by the IDF
As Time magazine’s
primary photographer
for the Middle-East for
over 50 years, David
Rubinger covered all of
Israel’s wars.
he South African Zionist Federation
(Cape Council) is looking forward to
hosting Nevo Eshkol — a well-known
Israeli writer — on 14 May.
Eshkol has published novels, short stories
and non-fiction. His novels have all been
bestsellers and have been very successful
outside of Israel as well. He has received
the Book Publishers Association’s Gold
and Platinum Prizes (2005; 2008; 2011), the
FFI-Raymond Wallier Prize (Paris, 2008),
the ADEI-WIZO Prize (Italy, 2011) and the
Steimatsky Prize for Neuland (2012).
Homesick was a finalist for the prestigious
Independent Foreign Fiction Prize (UK,
2009), and World Cup Wishes was a finalist
for the Kritikerpreis der Jury der Jungen
Kritiker (Austria, 2011). Neuland was also
included in The Independent’s list of Books
of the Year in Translation (2014)
Eshkol grew up in Jerusalem, Haifa, and
Detroit. He is the grandson of Levi Eshkol,
the late third
prime minister
of
Israel.
He
studied
copywriting
at the Tirza
Granot School
of psychology
at Tel Aviv
U n i v e r s i t y.
Today, Eshkol
owns and comanages the
largest private
c r e a t i v e
writing school in Israel and is considered
the “godfather” of many upcoming young
Israeli writers. Eshkol also teaches creative
writing and thinking at the Bezalel Academy
of Art and Design at Tel Aviv University,
Sapir College and the Open University of
Israel.
We are looking forward to meeting with
Eshkol and for a successful event with
our community and all book and literature
lovers.
@SazfC
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
13
14
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
lETTERS TO THE eDITOR
PO Box 4176 Cape Town 8000 or e-mail: editor@ctjc.co.za
T
OBTAIN LITHUANIAN CITIZENSHIP
THROUGH IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS
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• Unrestricted right to visit, live and work in European Union (including UK)
• Visa-free travel to US, Canada and Australia
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00878_EisenbergDeSaude_11x156_October_JewishChronicle.indd 1
2013/10/15
here appeared two articles in the May
CJC under the title “Thoughts on the
Israeli elections”.
Unfortunately the authors have not been
disclosed but they are from the content
obviously written to express the pro-Bibi
Netanyahu and the anti-Bibi Netanyahu
point of view. It is not my intention to deal
with the pro-Bibi view but to respond to the
anti-Bibi view.
First a few words about the election.
Here was a fantastic opportunity for
the left to win an election for the first
time since 1996 when Ehud Barak beat
Netanyahu. Netanyahu had served six
years as Prime Minister and the press
were deprecating him at every turn. They
were highlighting the high cost of living,
unaffordable high cost of property and a
score of inappropriate actions by the high
living Netanyahus. The invective of these
newspapers was unbelievable! They also
engaged PR men from President Obama’s
election team. There were rumours about
illegal funding for left-wing parties provided
by the grouping known as V15
But voters were not prepared to allow
the Zionist Union led by Isaac Herzog
and Tsipi Livni to lead them as the next
government. Netanyahu was accused of
racist scaremongering by stating that large
number of Arab voters were to be bussed
in. Was it racist? Although Netanyahu has
since apologised I believe that it was a
legitimate call in that the Arabs had formed
a joint list and a high turnout would reduce
the number of seats available to the other
parties.
Now to the anti-Bibi article. The author
states that Bibi is living in a bubble and is
disconnected from the real issues faced by
the Israeli public and that they were looking
5:18 PM
for a change. This vague statement is not
reflected in reality and the truth is that the
voters increased Likud’s representation
from 18 to 30 seats, a two thirds increase.
The author then goes on to criticise
Netanyahu’s handling of the war against
Hamas. Many Israelis would have liked
to see Hamas destroyed so that Israel
(not only the South) would be free from
rocket attacks. Unfortunately this was not
possible because of the potential number
of casualties to Israeli soldiers and the
diplomatic uproar that would follow. For the
first time in years there was no international
criticism by governments of Israel handling
of the conduct of the war. Yes there were
plenty of anti-Israel demonstrations but
world opinion was with Israel. Netanyahu
acted responsibly and deserves credit for
the handling of the war.
The author highlights the poor
relationship that Netanyahu has with
President Obama and which has placed
a strain on the Israel/USA relationship.
This is not the first time when this has
happened - not too long ago Begin never
got along with Carter nor Bush Senior with
Shamir. The greater picture is that Israel
and America are natural allies and that in
about 20 months time there will be a new
US President and matters will improve.
Polls show that a large percentage of the
American population support Israel.
The author's style is similar to the
legion of Israel armchair critics such
as organisations such as JStreet and
Ameinu in the USA and individuals such as
journalist Peter Beinart who these days has
a regular column in Haaretz newspaper.
The author makes unsubstantiated claims
such as “The failure of our Prime Minster
during his prolonged term of office has
caused significant damage to Israels
security” but doesn't state how! Another
unsubstantiated statement is “….is his
ability to see and seize the opportunities
created by years of regional upheavals”
. What are these opportunities? To reach
a deal with the Palestinians? I don’t see
this happening in the near future. The PA
want to have Israel withdraw to the 1967
borders with land swaps. I have still not
read that they have recognised Israel and
have they abandoned their demand for the
return of the Arab refugees. What about
the security for Israel citizens if they had to
withdraw to what Abba Eban (a real dove)
the then Israeli Foreign Minister referred
to as the Auschwitz borders. And what
about the turmoil that the author refers to
which has bought the Islamist extremists
to the very borders of Israel. What deal do
Hamas have on the table other than the
destruction of Israel?
Israel’s future is no more uncertain than
it was the day before the election. Israel
has many problems to solve. Not least the
high cost of living and the unaffordable
high property prices but the economy is
doing well and unemployment is relatively
modest. The one thing that is certain is that
Netanyahu will be strong on security and
the citizens of Israel support that. Even the
Zionist Union avoided making the peace
process in this election. The reason for
this was obvious the voters placed more
emphasis on Iran, the cost of living, and
housing than the peace process.
Aubrey Katzeff
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COMMUNITY & CULTURE
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
RABBI
GROSSMAN
Heir
to a
famous
Chassidic
dynasty,
Rabbi Yitzchak
David Grossman
became Chief Rabbi
of Migdal HaEmek, an
impoverished industrial
northern Israeli town at
23. He immediately embarked
on a one-man mission to uplift
his city’s disadvantaged youth,
showing up at nightclubs and
on street corners, becoming
affectionately known across
Israel as “The Disco Rabbi”.
A trailblazing leader and social
activist, Rabbi Grossman went
on to found Migdal Ohr which
encompasses a vast network
of schools, youth clubs and
vocational centres across the
country, transforming the lives
of tens of thousands at-risk
Israeli youths.
He has built a city, mediated a
skirmish in a New York Knicks
game at Madison Square
Garden, hosted an entire
brigade of IDF paratroopers in
the midst of the Lebanon war,
and set up a unique criminal
rehabilitation programme that
has revolutionised Israel’s
prison system.
He is the recipient of numerous
national and international
awards, including The
Israel Prize, International
Humanitarian of the Year and the
Presidential Medal of Distinction.
Rabbi Grossman is a true Israeli
legend – leading with love and
inspiring connection between
religious and secular, young
and old.
A Unity Project of The Office
of the Chief Rabbi
AMBASSADOR
DORE GOLD
RABBI
TAUB
Rabbi Shais Taub has been
hailed as “a phenomenon” by
the New York Times, and “an
expert in Jewish mysticism
and the 12 Steps” by National
Public Radio.
SAUL
BLINKOFF
Saul Blinkoff is a legendary
Disney animator and director,
whose exploits as an observant
Jew in Hollywood are as
animated as the cartoons he
creates. He began his career at
Walt Disney Studios working
on the hit films, Pocahontas,
The Hunchback of Notre Dame,
Mulan and Tarzan. He made
his directorial debut in 2000
with the hip action-adventure
series Spy Groove for MTV,
before re-joining Disney,
directing the films Winnie the
Pooh: Springtime with Roo
(look out for the mezuzah on
Piglet’s front door) and Disney’s
groundbreaking new show,
Doc McStuffins, which has
won acclaim for confronting
racial stereotypes.
In addition to his work in
feature films and television,
Blinkoff has directed highprofile TV commercials for
brands such as Best Buy,
Dunkin’ Donuts and Subway, as
well as the first-ever animated
spots for Mercedes Benz and
EA Sports. In recent years,
his passion has been to put his
maverick animation and
visual-media skills in service
of Jewish education.
Skilfully combining
psychological and Kabbalistic
insights into unique
and practical personal
development tools and
techniques, his major work,
G-d of Our Understanding:
Jewish Spirituality and
Recovery from Addiction is
Amazon’s best-selling Jewish
book and has been praised
by Publishers Weekly as “a
singular resource for those
in need”.
After serving as Foreign
Policy Adviser to Netanyahu,
Ambassador Dore Gold became
Israel’s ambassador to the
United Nations. In 2013, he
reunited with Netanyahu, with
a mandate to cover Israel’s
relations with the United
States and the UN, as well
as Iran policy.
Ambassador Gold holds a PhD
in Political Science and Middle
Eastern Studies from Columbia
University. He has appeared
regularly on US network
television programs such as
The Today Show and CNN’s
Late Edition, has written
for leading international
newspapers and journals, and
is the author of three New York
Times bestsellers, including
most recently, The Rise of
Nuclear Iran: How Tehran
Defies the West.
He is an authority on the major
philosophical work Tanya,
for which he composed the
groundbreaking teaching
tool Map of Tanya, and the
founding director of Conscious
Contact, an organisation
providing a forum for Jewish
prayer, meditation and
spiritual elevation.
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COMMUNITY & CULTURE
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
ALEX
CLARE
Rabbi
Doniel Katz
translates the
Torah’s deepest
Kabbalistic wisdom
into the “language of
experience”. A former
award-winning Australian
filmmaker and theatre director,
he has emerged as one of
the most charismatic Torah
speakers today – holding
overflow audiences spellbound
during his legendary three-hour
“Jerusalem Marathons”.
His hit single “Too Close” soared
into the pop chart stratosphere
selling over seven million copies
and clocking over 58 million
YouTube views.
RABBI
KATZ
He takes his famed “Elevation
Seminars” to audiences around
the world, drawing on deep
Torah models of consciousness
and psychology to teach
people how to attain selfactualisation and mindfulness
through meditation.
Hear the tale of Clare’s
search for meaning and its
extraordinary consequences,
as well as a live music
collaboration with Sinai Indaba
favourite Yonatan Razel.
REBBETZIN
HELLER
Seven widely acclaimed
books, countless essays and
articles and thousands of
students across the world;
Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller is a
consummate scholar, educator
and internationally renowned
speaker. She combines her
formidable intelligence, deep
insight into human nature and
great reserves of compassion
and understanding to mentor
and guide.
RABBI
BECHER
When terror struck Har Nof
in November last year, it was
Rebbetzin Heller’s voice that
emerged most forcefully from
the ruins – clear, courageous
and compelling, beckoning us
to rebuild.
Rabbi Mordechai Becher is a
master lecturer and professor
of Jewish history and thought
at Yeshiva University. He’s also
the Rabbi on the popular “Ask
the Rabbi” website, having
fielded thousands of questions
from Jews across the
spectrum over many years.
With his deep grasp of the
practical and philosophical
fundamentals of Judaism
and his innate ability to put
them across with clarity, wit
and wisdom, Rabbi Becher
is the author of Gateway to
Judaism: The What, How and
Why of Jewish Life. He has
served as a chaplain in the IDF,
lectured at Jerusalem’s leading
English-speaking yeshivot and
captivated audiences around
the world.
Alex Clare is a bona fide British
rock star. He’s hit four on the
UK Singles Chart, seven on the
US Billboard Hot 100, been
nominated for five World Music
Awards and counts Beyoncé
and Adele among his fans. But
it is his voice that, above all,
stamps him as a superstar –
strong, rich and soulful.
RABBI
DR WEINREB
A renowned psychotherapist
and scholar, Rabbi Dr Tzvi
Hersh Weinreb has the unique
ability to combine his vast Torah
knowledge with key practical
psychological tools and insights.
He has served as Chief
Psychologist of the Potomac
Foundation for Mental Health as
well as Executive Vice President
of the OU, one of the most
important Jewish institutions in
North America today.
For the past few years, Rabbi Dr
Weinreb has devoted himself to
writing, contributing to a wide
variety of publications. He is
Editor-in-Chief of the new Koren
Talmud Bavli Steinsaltz edition.
CHIEF
RABBI LAU
Chief Rabbi David Lau is the
current Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi
of Israel. As the youngest
person ever elected, he has
brought accessibility, vitality
and innovation to the position.
His appointment was the
culmination of a distinguished
leadership career, serving as
Chief Rabbi of the cities of
Shoham and Modi’in, where he
spearheaded successful citywide education programmes,
bringing Torah learning to
new demographics. He also
pioneered an online “Ask the
Rabbi” service, becoming the
first rabbi in Israel to give
responsa over the internet.
Son of illustrious Chief
Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, he is
a graduate of a number of
prominent yeshivas, and is
a reserve major in the IDF
Intelligence Corps. He appears
regularly on national radio
programs, is widely published,
and is the author of Maskil
LeDavid in which he explores
hot-button issues such as
genealogy, conversion and
military law.
17
18
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
Likud SA: Growing and Protecting
South African Zionism
Likud election victory recalls Jabotinsky's
lasting impact on Jewish history
Likud's inspiring
e l e c t o r a l
achievement
truly exhilarates
To join Likud SA and
motivates
(Cape
Region) LikudSA
to
contact David Abel:
david@sazionism. c o n t i n u e
the
co.za or 0823496018 carrying
Jabotinsky
legacy forward into the future —
David Abel.
W
riting in the "Jerusalem Post" of 25
March 2015, Daniel Tauber, director
of Likud Anglos (English-speaking
Likudniks in Israel) highlighted a similar
theme, declaring that "Jabotinsky's legacy
gets a boost every now and then with the
election of a Likud prime minister or the
death of a Revisionist Zionist figure like
Benzion Netanyahu (Benjamin's father
who was Jabotinsky's organiser in the
USA) — but the occasional spatter of
articles do not do justice to the lasting
impact of Jabotinsky's words and deeds
on Jewish history".
He was called the next Herzl, the next
Dostoyevsky, the Jewish Garibaldi, the
Jewish Churchill, the Prisoner of Acre,
the Defender of Jerusalem, the Father
of the Revolt, and the Father of the IDF.
He wrote books, poems and articles.
He founded armies and organizations.
He was the voice of the downtrodden
and was considered by some to be a
modern day prophet, travelling around the
world warning the people of impending
destruction but never doubting their
ultimate redemption. Yet, most Jews don’t
know much about him or understand his
impact on Jewish history.
In much of the Zionist literature, Ze’ev
Jabotinsky and his Revisionist-Zionist
movement are treated as an afterthought.
Where discussed at all, they are often
mentioned as a fringe faction, which
happened to be correct on a number
of issues. In Walter Laquer’s History of
Zionism, Jabotinsky gets one chapter.
In Howard Sachar’s tome, Jabotinsky is
mentioned in a few scattered instances.
True, Jabotinsky’s legacy gets a boost
every now and then with the election
of a Likud prime minister or the death
of a Revisionist-Zionist figure, such as
Benzion Netanyahu or Yitzhak Shamir.
But the occasional spatter of articles do
not do justice to the lasting impact of
Jabotinsky’s words and deeds.
Jabotinsky wasn’t just the head of a
fringe faction, an influence on two or three
prime ministers, or the spiritual father of
the leading party in Israel. Every chapter
of Zionist history after Herzl’s death was
colored by Jabotinsky’s personality. He
stands among Herzl, Ben-Gurion and
Weizmann as one of the founding fathers
of the Jewish State.
Jabotinsky founded the Jewish Legion
and the Haganah and renewed the Jewish
military tradition which was and remains
essential to Jewish statehood. His concept
of the Iron Wall, with its implications for
Jewish military strength, defeating violent
Arab opposition to Zionism and achieving
peace with our neighbours, has become
embedded in Israeli society.
He
fathered
and
fostered
the
organisations and philosophy which
expelled the British from the country,
without which the state would not have
been founded. (Even Lehi, which split
from the Irgun after Jabotinsky’s death,
was composed of former members of
Betar and the Irgun).
He led the effort for illegal immigration,
saving thousands of Jews from the
Holocaust.
Despite active opposition from the
Zionist leadership, the Betar and Irgun
saved at least 24,000 Jews, in what they
called Af Al Pi (despite it all) immigration,
which was the forerunner to Aliya Bet.
Until his death, Jabotinsky was the
primary Zionist leader who carried the
torch of Jewish statehood, while both
Weizmann and Ben-Gurion shamefully
denied that a Jewish majority and Jewish
statehood were the goals of the Zionist
movement.
This is not to mention his contribution
to the revival of the Hebrew language, his
founding of Jewish self-defense groups,
his propaganda (hasbarah) and fundraising work for various Zionist causes,
or his inspiring thousands to come to
Israel and help build the Jewish state.
His Zionist propaganda for the Jewish
Legion in Britain has been said by many,
including Chaim Weizmann, to deserve
half the credit for the Balfour Declaration.
Nor is this to mention Jabotinsky’s
failures, which also speak to his greatness
as well as to the shortsightedness of
his opponents. He failed to convince
the Zionist leadership, the world, even
European Jewry itself to evacuate
Europe (his warnings were cast down as
"SA is Likud Country"
Results of the "mock Israel election" organised by the Israel Embassy in South Africa:
Likud 62%; Bayit Hayehudi (Bennet) 15%; Labour/Zionist Union 12%; all other parties
minor single digits. Indeed, SA certainly is Likud country!
Gideon Kaufmann and David Lazarus
Pierre de Jager, Esta Levitas and David Abel
fear-mongering).
He died before he could convince the
Allies to establish a Jewish army to fight
in World War II, which would have created
a sizable Jewish military force, enabled
Jews to fight the Nazis on their own terms,
and strengthened their claim to statehood
after the war.
(Several years after his death, a less
politically useful Jewish Brigade was
formed which provided military training to
thousands of Palestinian Jews). He also
died before he could prevent the partition
of the already diminished territory of
Palestine.
It’s no wonder that multiple Israeli
political parties now say they follow in
his tradition, that more streets and public
places in Israel are named after him than
any other figure, or that Israeli legislators
debate what he would say about this or
that bill or policy.
Unfortunately, out of ignorance and
political bias of various shades, our
historians, intellectuals and educators
have relegated Jabotinsky to the sidelines
of Jewish history, especially in the
Diaspora.
The result is a monolithic history
in which our leaders were in general
agreement and made essentially the best
choices they could have made given the
circumstances. It was the United Nations
which founded the State of Israel; and our
leaders never risked our security in fear of
international opinion.
The true history is one of a
minimalist-lef tist
coalition (Weizmann,
Ben-Gurion and the
socialist
factions)
rejecting the policies Ze’ev Jabotinsky
of
Jabotinsky’s
maximalist-rightist
movement with disastrous consequences
for the Jewish nation. Partition was
criticized severely; it was Jewish arms
which founded the state; and the
leadership was cautious of international
opinion to the point of being suicidal.
The danger of that historical cover-up
is not merely the denial of a great man
his place in history, but the prevention of
generations of Jews from learning from
the failed decisions of the past.
A Jew who is denied the opportunity
to read Jabotinsky’s testimony before
the Peel Commission, his article the Iron
Wall, his warnings of the “Churban’, or
the plethora of other classic writings and
speeches he produced is robbed of the
realization that the issues we face today
are essentially those we have faced for
almost a century.
He is denied Jabotinsky’s eternal,
prophetic and awe-inspiring message: we
are not consigned to our fate; we need not
concede our national interests in search
of the ever-elusive moral high ground.
Our cause is indeed just and if we have
the courage, even in the 11th hour, we can
redeem ourselves.
The writer’s grandfather, Jack Tauber, was
personal secretary to Jabotinsky — whose
72nd yahrzeit was on 2 April 2015.
LikudSA Cape presented certificates
of appreciation outside parliament
Likud SA Cape paid tribute
to Jewish and Christian
Zionists who have been
standing with Israel in front
of Parliament every Friday
— come rain or sunshine —
for the past 15 years.
B
en Levitas, Chairman of
the SAZF CC, brought a
Message of Support; Cantor
Gideon Kaufmann of the
Claremont Shul, sang the Prayer
for Israel, David Abel presented
the certificates on behalf of Back: Pierre de Jager, Rev Albert Mabenga and Jackie
LikudSA and David Lazarus, Sachar. Front: Jane Verster Cohen, Kate Jacobs, Kay van
Vice-Chairman LikudSA Cape, Schalkwyk and Sheryl Goodson
was the Master of Ceremonies.
presented at the Likud election victory
All the photos were taken by
meeting next month to those recipients
Marie van Wyk, LikudSA Cape general
who were absent.
organiser. A further six certificates will be
Pierre de Klerk and Shane Botha
David Abel and Ben Levitas
19
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
Dad’s
the
man
Finding a special gift
for your Dad
is easy at Mambo’s
nuts
about
youDad
xxx
Visit your nearest store for more great gift ideas
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20
A
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
Round-up of the Nepalese earthquake disaster
Israeli victim of Nepal earthquake laid to rest in Israel
Israel sends aid to Nepal
fter a devastating earthquake measuring
7.9 on the Richter scale hit the impoverished
mountainous country of Nepal, Israeli and
Jewish humanitarian and governmental
organisations have assumed their traditional
role on the frontline of relief efforts for a natural
disaster.
The 260-member Israeli government mission
to Nepal includes an Israel Defense Forces
(IDF) field hospital, a trained rescue team,
and a security team, with the objectives of
assisting the Nepalese people and evacuating
Israeli citizens who are stranded in the country.
Paul Hirschson, an Israeli Foreign Ministry
spokesman, told JNS.org that the conditions
on the ground in Nepal have been “very
difficult.”
“You are being sent on an important
mission,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu said, addressing the Israeli relief
team, headed by IDF Col. Yoram Laredo. “This
is the true face of Israel—a country that offers
aid over any distance at such moments.”
(Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org)
T
housands gathered in the Lehavim cemetery in
southern Israel on 6 May to pay their respects
to 22-year-old Or Asraf, the sole Israeli victim of the
devastating earthquake in Nepal.
“Death took you when you were happiest,
enjoying every moment traveling through nature,”
Asraf’s father, Patrick, said in his eulogy.
Asraf’s body was found on 3 May by his comrades
from the IDF’s elite Egoz Reconnaissance Unit
in the Langtang Nature Park in Nepal after an
arduous search in difficult terrain.
“Your friends from the Egoz unit and IsraLife rescued you in a complicated mission that
put their own lives at risk. We managed to bring you home from the mountain. We know
that dozens of trekkers will never make it back down. We reached the end of the journey.
You are home,” said Patrick.
Magen David Adom's Ravit Martinez (in
center wearing baseball cap) helps treat
a wounded Nepalese citizen at a military
hospital. Credit: Magen David Adom.
C
apetonian born Israeli Keren
Futeran was in Katmandu
volunteering with Tvel B’Tzedek
when the first earthquake hit Nepal.
Keren had explained before
the quake “I am in a woman
empowerment program. We are
going to do activities on health,
nutrition, birth control and human
rights.”
Keren's
volunteering
came
to an abrupt halt after the first
earthquake struck and she ended
up volunteering in the IDF Field
hospital in Katmandu during the
massive relief efforts.
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
Keren with a patient in the IDF field hospital.
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
21
22
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
Fuel-up nation: Israel has robust presence
at major oil and gas trade show
by JNS.org
Given
Israel’s
well-documented
penchant for innovation, it was only
a matter of time before the “startup nation” established a robust
presence at the Offshore Technology
Conference (OTC), one of the world’s
largest annual trade shows for the oil
and gas industry.
(such as desalination and purification),
telecommunication,
and
security.
Israel eventually saw that its existing
technological expertise had “a very strong
connection” to the oil and gas industry,
she said, making the OTC a natural fit for
the Jewish state—especially given Israel’s
discovery of offshore gas fields in 2009
and 2010.
“Eventually,
we
he
people
We have today over 100
saw that the interests
in Israel are
of
the
American
entrepreneurs
in
Israeli companies working
companies in the
their souls, so as
on unique technologies
Israeli technology was
soon as they see
that
can give solutions to
very high, as well as
an opportunity, they
the satisfaction of the
the oil and gas industry.
take it,” said Michal
Israeli
companies
Niddam-Wachsman,
to be able to reach
head of the Israeli
government’s Economic Mission in the U.S. those companies and penetrate this huge
market,” Niddam-Wachsman told JNS.org.
Southern Region. “When we discovered
“Here, you can find the connections
the natural gas [in the Tamar and Leviathan
between the needs of the American
fields off Israel’s coast], they immediately
saw the opportunity of developing the companies and what Israel can provide,”
she added.
technology that would be related to the
Eric Peterson, director of industrial/
natural gas and the oil market. We have
municipal sales for Amiad Water
today over 100 Israeli companies working
Systems—which is based in Israel but has
on unique technologies that can give
10 subsidiary offices around the world—
said the company took a few years off
from attending the OTC before returning
last year as part of the Israeli delegation.
He said that exhibiting with the Israeli
Economic Mission’s group is no small
benefit, considering that the waiting list
for companies seeking to present at the
OTC is seven years long for those trying to
enter on their own, without being part of a
delegation.
Haim
Greenberg,
vice
president
for product and co-founder of Harbo
Haim Greenberg of Harbo Technologies
Technologies, which works to prevent the
demostrates the Israeli company's oilhazardous consequences of oil spills,
spill response technology at the Offshore
Technology Conference in Houston. Credit
said the company’s goal at the OTC
Jacob Kamaras.
was “to raise funds for the next stage
of our business plan,” and to look for
solutions to the oil and gas industry.”
Fourteen of those companies were “distributors from around the world” as well
as “seasoned experts to join our advisory
on display in Houston from May 4-7 at
the OTC, which was attended by 94,700 board.”
At the trade show, Greenberg said
people from 130 countries. It was the
Israeli Ministry of Economy’s third year Harbo received interest from companies
with a pavilion at the trade show. U.S. Rep. in Holland, Norway, Spain, Nigeria, Brazil,
Mexico, America, Canada, Singapore,
Randy Weber (R-Texas)—who represents
a district with five ports, more than any India—and even Saudi Arabia.
“The truth is, a lot of business is being
other district in Congress—visited with the
done between Israel
Israeli companies.
and Saudi Arabia or
“Energy is huge in
other Arab countries,
our area,” Weber told
‘It’s hard to power a tank
but it’s under the
JNS.org. “It’s what
with a solar panel.’ So
radar,” Greenberg told
drives America, it’s
oil and gas are huge for
JNS.org.
what makes America
Israel, for America. We’ve
Asked if the Saudi
great. It’s what’s going
interest
in
doing
to help drive Israel.
got the technology over
business with Israeli
It not only will make
here. Israel is arguably
companies signaled
Israel stronger and
our
best, strongest ally,
a general thawing
more prosperous, but
of relations between
safer. … Israel is under
anywhere—especially in
those two countries,
attack from all around,
the Middle East.
Greenberg said, “I’m
and they need that
not too sure about that,
energy. As I tell people,
but business is business, that’s the truth.
‘It’s hard to power a tank with a solar
And because of our uniqueness, because
panel.’ So oil and gas are huge for Israel,
for America. We’ve got the technology over we have the only and the first immediate
oil-spill response solution, everybody’s
here. Israel is arguably our best, strongest
interested in this.”
ally, anywhere—especially in the Middle
Roni Levy, marketing manager for Tel
East. We want them to be safe, secure,
Aviv-based Hop Engineering Ltd., said his
prosperous. … To do anything less, in my
company has existing export relationships
opinion, is unfathomable.”
in Asia, South Africa, and Europe, and is
Niddam-Wachsman
explained
that
before having a presence at the OTC, now trying to break into the U.S. market.
“We think that if we can get contact
Israel was already a significant player
with some small or medium American
in areas of technology including water
“T
U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (on right) addresses Israeli companies at the Offshore Technology
Conference on May 6 in Houston. Pictured in centre is Michal Niddam-Wachsman, head of the
Israeli government's Economic Mission in the U.S. Southern Region. Credit: Jacob Kamaras.
companies, it can be a very good platform
publications. I took all of them and I plan
for us… We have installed oil fields in
to sit down once I’m done with the show
Indonesia and Azerbaijan, but we think
here and go over it, and see how we would
if we could make good contacts here [in
meld with the potential of doing business
the U.S.] and do a good job, it will help
with the Israeli oil and gas community.”
us a lot in the local market as well as the
The casual observer of the U.S.-Israel
international market,” Levy told JNS.org.
energy relationship might know that
Gilad Norman, marketing and sales
Noble Energy, which is based in Houston,
manager for Egmo, an Israeli producer of
operates both of Israel’s offshore gas
stainless steel fittings and flow products,
fields. But Noble is currently the only
called the American oil and gas industry “a
foreign company that drills in the Jewish
huge market, a very sophisticated market, state, and “there is a need for more oil and
dealing with end-users, engineering
gas companies to come and work in Israel,”
c o m p a n i e s ,
said the Ministry of
e q u i p m e n t
Economy’s NiddamEnergy is huge in our area.
manufacturers,
and
Wachsman. The OTC
It’s what drives America.
the supply chains…
should help solve
and all of them are
that need, as Israeli
It’s what’s going to help
here [at the OTC].”
companies had more
drive Israel.
“It’s quite nice to
than 400 meetings
see all these players
with major oil and gas
in the market, in one
companies at and
location,” Norman said.
around the trade show last year, NiddamBill Hardy—sales manager of government
Wachsman said.
accounts for Texas-based Thrustmaster,
Recalling that he has been through two
a producer of marine propulsion thruster oil crises in his lifetime, in 1973 and 1981machines—was impressed by what he
82, Congressman Weber described the
saw at the Israeli pavilion.
OTC as an indispensable networking
“It was interesting to see that you had opportunity for the companies in
a host of individuals that are both in the
attendance.
[oil and gas] industry and manufacture
“The fact that these companies are here
different products,” Hardy told JNS.
and focused on this is huge,” Weber said.
org. “We were able to see that, it was
“These are the innovators, these are the
well-presented, and [the companies]
job-creators. They’re committed for the
were forthcoming with all kinds of good long-haul.”
A list of the 14 Israeli companies that had a presence at the Offshore Technology Conference
in Houston from May 4-7. Credit Jacob Kamaras.
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
New look for our
30th Anniversary
C
JSA is celebrating its 30th anniversary.
The first meeting was held in August
1985 at the Marais Road Shul Hall and 30
years down the line we are now looking at
rebranding the organization as well as giving
our newsletter a new look. Change is always
difficult and not easy to accept, but apart
from the fact that we feel that the newsletter
will reach a greater audience being part of
the chronicle and not as an insert, there will
also be a significant saving with the new
format. We hope that you are happy with the
way in which it is presented and look forward
to positive comments from members as well
as the community as a whole.
I am sure that most members are not aware
of the amount of time that it takes to complete
the monthly newsletter from inception until it
is posted . Each edition takes approximately
three weeks to plan the calendar of events
for each branch, write the editorial, compile
the social and personal column as well as
the collecting and choosing of suitable,
appropriate photos to insert into each
edition. We have taken pride in saying that
CJSA is “for the seniors, by the seniors” —
meaning that it is important for everyone to
feel that the organisation belongs to you. It
also means that the guest speakers and all
outings should be enjoyed by every member
and therefore it is most necessary for each
and every member to take an interest in
the programme before it is compiled. We
continually request input as to the type of
outings that can be enjoyed and the sort of
guest speakers you would like to hear.
In order to plan a varied and interesting
programme, the professional team and
I really stretch ourselves to ensure that
each month the programme is one that will
encourage attendance but sadly, in many
instances, we are finding disinterest, apathy
and lack of attendance.
Outings that have been carefully booked
have to be cancelled due to lack of
interest and, to put it plainly , is causing
embarrassment and sadness to the planning
team. In the past few months we really feel
that our careful planning is not appreciated
or particularly wanted. Therefore members
are asked to ensure that they book for and
attend as many activities as possible in
order to ensure that the guest speakers feel
appreciated and that the outings are well
attended.
It is so important to get your input, as well
as your constructive feedback.
Diana Sochen Director.
Edie Busch, Muriel Levin, Charlotte Berson and
Barbara Newman listening to Dennis Davis at the
April Twlight Supper
Judge Dennis Davis addressing
members at the April Twilight
Supper
Pessie Maesroch, Kaelie Gross, Edie
Schnieder and Joan Knopp enjoying tea at
Starke Ayres
30th Anniversary Events to
Diarise
16th July
CJSA Biannual Seminar
Transform your age – its
how YOU play the game
Eleanor Farber, Eve Alperstein, guest
speaker Desre Buirski and Rhita Blum in
Tableview
Milnerton Birthday celebrations with Louis
Jaffe, Freda Tucker, Phoebe Chernotsky
and Fay Shagom.
Albow Centre, Hatfield Street
R350 per person
Keynote Speaker:
Pieter Dirk Uys
The emphasis will be on healthy aging
and how to make your retirement years
work for you in every way. Our Keynote
speaker, Pieter Dirk Uys (Tannie Evita)
personifies how one can live your best
life, no matter what your age.
16th August
Musical Fundraiser
Sea Point members enjoy mosaics with artist Yvette Polovin
Highlighting our 30th Anniversary will
be the musical Le Misrabbis. Cantor
Ivor Joffe is the Musical Director and
Irma Kesler will be the Stage Director for
the production. This adapted version of
Le Miserables with a special twist will
certainly be a hit and a must to see.
Bookings Open 1st June 2015
SOCIAL AND PERSONAL
Winnie Zick, Estelle Manoim at Mariners Yamina Oliver, Francis Daus, Lynette Hardy
and Harold Friedman enjoying the Sunday
Wharf
Market in Hout Bay
Maureen Lurie, Jane Arelitsky at Mariners
Wharf
Michelle Pietersen, Harry Epstein and driver
Emanuel Siboma at Mariners Wharf
Age is a quality of mind
If you have left your dreams behind,
If hope is cold,
If you no longer look ahead,
If your ambitions’ fires are dead –
Then you are old.
But if from life you take the best
And if in life you keep the jest
If, love you hold
No matter how the years go by
No matter how the birthdays fly
You are not old.
23
Guest Speaker Eric Peltz with Malka Galoon, Miriam Kleineibst, Sorrel Levy, Sid Nakan,
Marcia Samakosky, Adelaide Gochin and Gita Finkenstein
Births
Schwartz,Esther — great grandson,
Borkowf, Selwyn and Leah — grandson
Birthdays
Samakosky, Marcia
Todres, Philip
Barmitzvah
Ackerman, Mr and Mrs — grandsons
Braun, Lester and Dinky — grandson
Engagements
Broll, Jonathan and Ida — son
Lichtenstein, Ros — daughter
Sevitz, Alan and Pauline — son
Valkin, Balfour and Connie — daughter
Marriage
Levitas, Ben and Esta — son
We extend our sincere best wishes
to our members who have not been
well:
Baskir, Paula
Casper, Janie
Freedberg, Hannah
Lonstein, Bessie
Rozen, Thelma
Sacks, Iona
We extend our sincere condolences
to members who have lost loved
ones:
Freda Sacks — husband, Roy
Social Workers: Sea Point: Monique
Nieuwenhuys 021 434 9691; Milnerton:
Hajiera Safidien–Maloon 021 555 1736;
Southern Suburbs: Yvonne Reynolds 021 671
4957; West Coast: Melanie van Emmenes 074
405 5186. Admin: Sea Point 021 434 9691;
Milnerton 021 555 1736; Southern Suburbs
021 671 4957; Tableview (c) 074 405 5186;
email: admin@cjsa.org.za; website: www.
cjsa.org.za
24
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
Cape Jewish Seniors even
Wed
Delicious biscuits
available at R35.00
per packet
Wine – 30th Anniversary
Special Edition Wine
available
Milner
Clarem
Mon 6th July
Tues 7th July
Wed
Talking Point with Marcia – R5
Beginners Kalooki with Roz Korrodetz– R5
Bridge – R5
Reminiscing with Hazel – R5
Bingo Morning with residents of Noah Home
– R5 donation (Car pool to the home and back
to Milnerton)
Claremont 10.00 Outing – R20 transport. Tea for own account
2.00 Yiddish mit Rhita – R5
Sea Point
Birthday morning with special entertainment by Zola Shuman – R10
Art Classes– R5
Yoga with Leina Sank – R5
Lifts to Highlands House – R20
Milnerton
Outing to Franschhoek Motor Museum – R80 including transport.
Tea for own account
1.00 Bridge with set tables – R5
1.45 Line Dancing – R5
Claremont 9.30 Bridge new members very welcome – R5
10.00 Kalooki – R5
2.00 Knitting Group – R5
West Coast 9.00 Outing and tour to the State President’s Residence – R70 per person.
Includes entrance and transport. ID essential with booking.
Sea Po
Sea Point 10.00
10.00
2.00
2.00
Milnerton 10.00
Mon 13th July
Sea Point 10.00
10.00
2.00
2.00
Milnerton 10.00
12.15
Claremont 10.00
Talking Point with Marcia – R5
Beginners Kalooki with Roz Korrodetz– R5
Bridge– R5
Reminiscing with Hazel R5
Bnoth Zion
Milnerton Committee Meeting.
Wellness programme with Rehana – R5
Mon 20th July
Mon 27th July
Clarem
Wed
Sea Po
Tues 21st July
Wed
Milner
Clarem
Pop In Aaron Turist - Schwartz (Founder of Freshly Ground Music Group) Sea Po
talks on ‘Music changes everything’. True stories and original music R5
1.30 Art Classes– R15
Milner
2.00 Yoga with Leina – R5
9.15 Outing to the Clay Café where you decorate and fire your own article and Clarem
enjoy tea for R80. Transport R30
1.00 Bridge with set tables – R5
1.45 Line Dancing R5
9.30 Bridge new members very welcome – R5
10.00 Kalooki – R5.
2.00 Charity knitting group – R5
10.00
Tues 28th July
Talking Point with Marcia – R5
Sea Point
Beginners Kalooki with Roz Korrodetz– R5
Bridge – R5
Reminiscing with Hazel – R5
Birthday Pop In – Winter lunch and social – Milnerton
special edition – R30
2.00 Yiddish mit Joe – R5
10.00 Wellness programme with Rehana – R5
Claremont
10.00
10.00
2.00
2.00
12.00
Milner
Sea Point 10.00 Guest speaker, Tiny Jones – The American Crisis – Obama or Bust?
– R5
2.00 Mosaics with Yvette – R20
2.00 Yoga with Leina Sank – R5
Milnerton 10.00 Outing and tour of Parliament.
NB When booking please provide ID – R20. Tea for own account.
1.00 Bridge with set tables – R5
1.45 Line Dancing – R5
Claremont 9.30 Bridge new members very welcome – R5
10.00 Kalooki – R5
2.00 Charity knitting group – R5
Talking Point with Roni – R5
Sea Point
Beginners Kalooki with Roz Korrodetz – R5
Bridge – R5
Reminiscing with Hazel – R5
Talking Point with Hajiera. Bring along any Milnerton
topic or special memento for discussion – R5
Claremont 10.00 Outing – R20 transport. Tea for own account.
1.00 Visit to Highlands House – R15
2.00 Yddish mit Rhita – R5
Claremont
Sea Point
Sea Point
12.30
Sunday Lunch in Sea Point
– Booking Essential by
Thursday morning – R35 Milnerton
plus transport
Milnerton
12.30
Claremont
Movie and afternoon tea
– R25
10.00
1.30
2.00
2.00
9.15
Tue 14th July
Sea Point 10.00
10.00
2.00
2.00
Milnerton 10.00
Sunday 26th July
Sea Po
Wed
10.00 Brenda Allan from Braingain speaks on “Ways to help with healthy brain Sea Po
aging” – R5
2.00 Yoga with Leina Sank – R5
1.45 Art – R15
10.00 Café Bio “Love is all you need”. R5 West Coast
Milner
1.00 Bridge with set tables – R5
1.45 Line Dancing – R5
Clarem
9.30 Bridge new members very welcome – R5
10.00 Kalooki – R5
2.00 Charity knitting group – R5
PLEASE NOTE: DUE TO UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCE
THE CAPE JEWISH CHRONICLE RECORDS ITS APPRECIATION of the
Rubi and Anne
Chaitman
Foundation
Meyer Hirsch
Goldschmidt
Foundation
With Compliments
With compliments
from Ben Rabinowitz in
memory of Shirley
FREDDY AND
AGGIE HIRSCH
THE HAROLD AND
BEATRICE KRAMER
FOUNDATION
Paul Arieli
Goldschmidt
Family Trust
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
25
nts calendar for July 2015
1st July
Thurs 2nd July
oint 10.00 Outing and tour to the State President’s
Residence – R70 per person.
ID essential with booking.
14.00 Bridge and Kalooki – R5
rton 10.00 – Art with Karen Cohen – R25
2.00 Ageless Grace – R20
mont 10.00 – Pamper morning with Sara John– R5
1.45 – Line Dancing with Tracy – R10
8th July
Sea Point 10.00
11.30
1.45
Milnerton 9.30
Claremont 10.45
12.00
1.30
West Coast 11.30
Thurs 9th July
oint 10.00 Outing and tour of Parliament.
NB When booking please provide ID – R20
Tea for own account.
1.45 Bridge and Kalooki – R5
rton 10.00 Art with Karen Cohen – R25
2.00 Ageless Grace – R20.00
mont 10.00 Bnoth Zion Meets R5
10.00 Pamper morning with Sara John– R5
1.45 Line Dancing with Tracy – R10
15th July
22nd July
10.00
11.30
1.45
9.30
10.45
1.45
rton 10.00
2.00
mont 10.00
1.45
Shopping with Malcolm – R20
Fri 17th July
CJSA SEMINAR
Sea Point 9.30
Shopping with Malcolm – R20
At the Albow Center
R350.00 includes tea and lunch prepared by Merle Rubin
Keynote Speaker Pieter Dirk Uys
Booking Essential.
Thurs 23rd July
oint 10.00 Special Craft morning with Judi – R15
Sea Point 10.00
1.45 Bridge and Kalooki – R5
11.30
1.30
rton 9.15 Kalooki – R5
Milnerton 6.30
2.00 Ageless Grace – R20
mont 10.30 Men’s Schmooze Group with – Rabbi Richard
Newman “The Shofar in the culture and history of the Claremont 10.45
Jews” R10
1.00
10.00 Pamper morning with Sara John – R5
1.30
1.45 Line Dancing with Tracy – R10
West Coast 10.30
29th July
Shopping with Malcolm – R20
Men’s Schmooze Group with –
Rabbi Richard Newman “The
Shofar in the culture and history
of the Jews” – R10
Fri 10th July
Yiddish mit Veronica– R5
Sea Point 9.30
Quiz with Monique – R5
Kalooki and Bridge – R5
Milnerton
Kalooki – R5
Claremont
Birthday Pop In Ben Sadman entertains with Marie
Salkow on the piano – R10
West Coast 10.30 Brenda Allan from Braingain speaks on “Ways to help
with healthy brain aging” – R5
Sea Point
Thur 16th July
oint 10.00 Outing to Franschhoek Motor Museum – R80
including transport. Tea for own account
1.45 Bridge and Kalooki – R5
rton 10.00 Art with Karen Cohen – R25
2.00 Ageless Grace – R20
mont 10.00 Outing and tour to the State President’s
Residence. ID essential with booking. R70 per
person.
10.00 Pamper morning with Sara John– R5
1.45 Line Dancing with Tracy – R10
oint 10.00
Fri 3rd July
Yiddish mit Veronica– R5
Sea Point 9.30
Exercises with Irene – R5
Milnerton 10.30
Kalooki and Bridge – R5
Kalooki – R5
Marlene Silbert speaks on the interfaith cultural twinning
exchange – R5
Reina’s Card Project.
Kalooki & Bridge R5
Brian Kirsch speaks on his recent trip to the Camino De
Santiago Pilgrim’s trail in France and Spain – R5
Fri 24th July
Yiddish mit Veronica– R5
Sea Point 9.30
Exercises with Irene R5
Social Bridge & Kalooki– R5
Twilight Supper – Channukah in July – A special evening
with Shuli on the piano and Ivor on the drums – R45
A morning with Dr Dietrichs as he addresses the way to
prevent falls and injuries as we age – R5
Reina’s card project – R5
Kalooki & Bridge R5
Birthday Pop in Adrienne Judes speaks on commemorating
70 years of the evacuation of Jews of Rhodes – R5
Thurs 30th July
Outing to the Clay Café where you decorate Sea Point
and fire your own article and enjoy tea for
R80. Transport R20
Kalooki and Bridge – R5
Milnerton
Claremont
Art with Karen Cohen – R25
Ageless Grace – R20
Outing – R20 transport.
Tea for own account.
Line Dancing with Tracy – R10
10.00
11.30
1.30
9.30
10.45
10.00
Fri 31st July
Yiddish mit Veronica– R5
Interactive musical morning with Shelly Eppel R5
Social Bridge & Kalooki– R5
Kalooki – R5
Eric Peltz speaks on his memories of Mandela– R5
Art morning with Sharon Lopis – R25
Sea Point 9.30
10.30
Shopping with Malcolm – R20
Shabbat Supper at Marais Road
Shul – R40. Booking essential
Shopping with Malcolm – R20
Men’s Schmooze Group with –
Rabbi Richard Newman “The
Shofar in the culture and history
of the Jews” – R10
ES CHANGES COULD BE MADE TO THE PROGRAMME
the continued support given by the following sponsors
The Susman
Charitable
Foundation
With compliments
The Jack & Ethel
Goldin Foundation
With compliments
The Henry Van Embden
Family Foundation
With compliments
Stanley and Zea
Lewis
Foundation
www.stonehage.com
With compliments
Inge Marks and family
in memory of Solly
With Compliments
Kalman, Esther and
Michael Maisel Trust
26
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
JCS @ Work
Family Announcements
CONDOLENCES — THANK YOU
MAUREEN BRICK
MAE HIRSCHSON
With heartfelt appreciation we wish
to thank Rabbis, family, friends and
the entire community for the ongoing
support received during Maureen’s
illness.
Our darling mom (Moo),
gran and great-gran (Gan Gan)
passed away peacefully on 14 April.
Her wisdom, love and devotion
will shine on forever.
MHDSRIP
We are also grateful for the generous
offerings, the love, support, phone
calls, emails, letters and visits on
the passing of our beloved wife and
mother.
The outpouring of love and support
illustrated to us how many lives
Maureen touched, and for that we are
eternally grateful.
Stanley and Kerri
GRODSINSKY / LIEBENBERG
We would like to thank all the rabbis
and rebbetzins, leaders of communal
organisations,
family and friends for their support
following the passing of our dear
mother, mother-in-law and bobba,
Minnie Grodsinsky, of blessed
memory.
May we merit to share simchos in the
future.
Rabbi Matthew, Lee, Chani Merryl and
Naomi Liebenberg.
AUBREY TOLLMAN
Our sincere thanks and appreciation
to family and friends for your
incredible support afforded to us all
on the passing of our dear Aubrey.
Annette, Lance, Gail, Michael and
family.
We, the Hirschson, Weiner
and Segall families would like
to thank everyone for their
loving support.
STELLA ISRAEL
We sincerely thank Rabbi Suiza,
family and friends for the love
and support on the passing of
our beloved mom and nona.
Grateful thanks to Dr Anthony Smith
for his wonderful care.
Stella, our survivor, a true Eshet
Chayil, will be lovingly remembered
by her devoted children, Rapha and
Martine, grandchildren and great
grandchildren.
CHAIM LANG
We thank our family and friends for
their kind words and support, and
for the many phone calls and emails
on the passing of our dear brother,
brother-in-law and uncle.
Forever remembered by Mike, Eve
and Dave, Joan, our children
and their families.
To place a family announcement,
email: chron@ctjc.co.za or phone
Tessa 021 464 6736 (9am — 1pm)
PARENTING WORKSHOP SUPPORT GROUP
Facilitated by: Jewish Community Services
Speakers: Well-known experts in the field.
Dates: 4,11,18, 25 June
Venue: Sea Point (to be confirmed)
Contact: Jessica@jcs.org.za / 021- 462 5866
Website: http://jessj88.wix.com/parenting-workshops
Worried about living alone?
Get 24/7/365 access to all emergency
services & family in just 30 seconds
with your TeleCare™ CareStation™.
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www.telecare.co.za
It’s closer to home than you think
Disbelief and denial are two words
that can describe the way people
relate to the alcohol and drug problem
in the Jewish community and that is a
problem in itself.
H
ave you given much thought to this
issue? Most of us haven’t. It’s not until
we are personally affected that we become
concerned. We need to educate ourselves
about alcohol and drug use, abuse and
addiction.
Addiction is a disease that makes a
person powerless over their use of drugs
and alcohol. There is a general belief that
addiction happens to the people who have
no willpower and perhaps only affects
people who have no values. The reality
is that addiction can affect anyone of any
race, culture, religion and class, and is not
an issue of poor morals or low self-control.
Addiction is incurable but manageable.
This means that after initial treatment one
needs continual support to stay clean,
usually in the form of self-help support
groups.
There is still a lot of stigma surrounding
substance abuse which often results
in feelings of shame. Parents may ask
“Where did we go wrong?”, or question
whether the person would still have
started substance abuse if their personal
circumstances had been different. This
is a very common but unhelpful way of
viewing addiction problems. By blaming
themselves, the family members take
away the responsibility from the addict,
and recovery can only happen if the
addict starts taking responsibility for their
behaviour.
Problematic roles are unhelpful ways of
behaving families’ fall into when there is
a problem in the home. One sees these
roles in most families but the roles are
exacerbated by addiction. Problematic
roles are obstacles to recovery as they
enable the substance abuse to continue.
These roles can be summarised as
‘rescuer’, ‘persecutor’ and ‘victim’.
The rescuer role is taken on when
someone wants to let the addict feel safe
and loved. Being a rescuer is generally
seen as a good thing to be. When you
rescue someone, you are saving them and
can be regarded as a hero. However, by
rescuing an addict, you are stopping the
individual from experiencing the natural
consequences of his/her actions and
slowing down the process of getting well.
Taking drugs/alcohol is a pleasant thing
to do, and if given the opportunity to drug
without consequences, most addicts will
continue abusing. Keeping secrets is
another way of rescuing. One parent may
keep things away from the other. Rescuing
behaviour could include other acts like,
paying off the person’s drug debts, making
excuses/lying for them when they are
failing to keep their own commitments,
providing food and shelter when this is
simply enabling them to continue abusing
in a comfortable environment
The persecutor wants to punish the
addiction away. The persecutor takes away
privileges in the hope that it will make the
addict stop what he/she is doing. The
persecutor gives the addict someone to
blame for their behavior. Thus, the addict
never deals with the problem.
The victim is normally someone facing
persecution or injustice. In addiction the
victim role gets played out when the addict
wants something, for example, money. If
they are thwarted, then feelings of self-pity
and blaming occur. This may make the
addict feel justified or entitled to continue
using drugs.
There is no magic pill or action you can
take to solve the problem and make the
addict stop drugging. But there are some
helpful roles you can play which makes the
environment more conducive to the addict
getting well. More appropriate and helpful
roles would be from victim to survivor:
rescuer to supporter: persecutor to limiter.
Remember the three C’s:
You didn’t Cause it
You can’t Control it
You can’t Cure it
If anything in this article resonates with you,
call Rhita Russon, Social Worker, Jewish
Community Services (021) 462-5520
Glendale’s routine and visits
In recent months we had
a few “conversations
that count” including
those with residents,
care staff, residents’
parents, siblings and friends of the
family. The request from the loved
ones and the community members
was about appropriate visitation times
and Glendale’s routine.
G
lendale’s day starts very early in the
morning when the residents get ready
for the day, this includes the switch of the
shifts between day and night care staff,
having breakfast, preparing for hospital
appointments or getting medication.
At about 9am most of the residents are
at Astra, Stimulation Centre or Workshop.
At Stimulation Centre or Workshop they
are currently preparing decorations for our
birthday party celebration. This month’s
theme is the “Royal Party”. The birthday
parties are held every 3rd Sunday of the
month and everyone is welcome to join us.
The residents pack candles and serviettes,
prepare for forthcoming celebrations, do
pottery or create art work.
Meal times are very busy times for us.
Tea times are at 10:00 and 15:00, lunch
time from 12.00 till 12:30 and dinner time
from 17:30 till 18:00. The residents are
attended to by our wonderful carers and
the medication is given out by a sister.
The meals are balanced and tasty and
the residents give us feedback after each
meal. We are attempting to create a menu
that includes everyone’s favourite food and
a desert.
After lunch is rest time till 2pm. This time
is a quiet time for the residents and they do
not like to be disturbed. Most of them enjoy
having a nap, some of them, however,
take this time to speak to the staff, watch
TV or simply relax before the afternoon’s
activities begin.
Some of the residents love going to bed
early so their night time routine can start
as early as 16:30. Others go to bed much
later.
Although our routine is busy there is
scope for you to visit us and we love
having visitors. You are welcome to join us
at a birthday party, or have a meal or a
beverage with us. We are looking forward
to seeing you all.
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
JACOB GITLIN LIBRARY
27
ALBOW CENTRE PHONE: 021 462-5088 FAX: 021 465-8670 email: gitlib2@netactive.co.za
Book of the month
The Luminous Heart Of Jonah S
by Gina B. Nahai
A
wonderful saga that paints a picture of the Iranian
Jewish Community in Los Angeles. The story traces
the Soleyman family’s origins in Tehran in the 1950’s where
the family amassed great wealth. Inheritance disputes, ill
health, extortion and loss of fortune cast a dark shadow.
When the revolution arrives the family flee to the US.
Present day — a vicious murder of a family member occurs
and a mystery has to be unravelled. The author, herself an
Iranian Jewess, brings Iranian laws and customs into the
novel, including the Persian emphasis on appearances,
money and outdated family connections. The threat of loss
of one’s aabehroo, an individual’s virtue and respectability,
influences many decisions. A witty, fast paced and
interesting novel about the relocation of the Jews of Iran.
SCIENCE, RELIGION AND BIBLE
JONES, Steve. THE SERPENT’S PROMISE: The Bible Retold as
Science. Jones attempts to scrutinise the bible from a scientist’s point of
view. He explores many topics including the relation between genes and
physical performance and intellect; the nature and evolution of sex; the role
of “great floods” in Earth’s history; the science of ageing and disease. He
discusses the way mysteries overlap and shows us how the questions that
preoccupy us today are those of biblical times and that science offers many
of the answers. Erudite, witty and highly readable.
MECKLENBURGER, Ralph D. OUR RELIGIOUS BRAINS: What
Cognitive Science Reveals about Belief, Morality, Community and
our Relationship with God. A ground-breaking, accessible look at the
implications of modern neuroscience for religion and theology. The book
examines what religious experience is as it plays out in our brains and what
cognitive science reveals about our need for community and meaning.
SACKS, Jonathan (Rabbi). COVENANT AND CONVERSATION: A
Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible: LEVITICUS: The Book of
Holiness. The third outstanding book in this profound series of Torah
commentary. Vayikra is often regarded as very hard to relate to in modern
times with its preoccupation with ritual purity and sacrifices. Ye t Vayikra
wrestles with some of the deepest questions of religion. How, in a finite
world, can we relate to an infinite god? How can we take the fire of religious
inspiration and turn it into an everlasting flame?
SIEGELBAUM, Chana Bracha. THE SEVEN FRUITS OF THE LAND OF
ISRAEL: With Their Mystical and Medicinal Properties. Rebbetzin
Siegelbaum brings you the beauty and bounty of the Land of Israel through
the Seven Species identified in the Torah: wheat, barley, dates, figs, olives,
pomegranates and grapes. She posits that the seven fruits have tremendous
spiritual power that can be tapped to enable us to do more mitzvot, heal our
bodies and express creativity. A Torah book, nutritional compendium and
recipe book presented as an exquisite work of art.
HOLOCAUST AND WORLD WAR TWO
HELM, Sarah. IF THIS IS A WOMAN: Inside Ravensbrück – Hitler’s
Concentration Camp for Women. A profoundly moving chronicle of the
6 years Ravensbrück existed. It was a camp for women only – the majority
of which were not Jewish. For decades the story was hidden behind the
Iron Curtain. The author has ventured into the heart of the camp and shared
in riveting detail the unthinkable brutality of the place, which was built in
an area of incredible natural beauty. Of the 130,000 women incarcerated
90,000 were murdered and many were used as human guinea pigs.
REICHENTAL, Tomi. I WAS A BOY IN BELSEN. The chilling account of
Tomi, from Slovakia, who was imprisoned in Bergen-Belsen at the age of
9. He experienced horrific physical torment and psychological deprivation
in this notorious place. After his liberation he was one of the few to be
reconciled with his immediate family. He travelled to Ireland in 1959 and
remained silent about his experiences for 50 years. Now as one of the
last witnesses he lectures in Ireland and beyond and bears witness to his
incarceration in Belsen.
RYBACK, Timothy W. HITLER’S FIRST VICTIMS: And One Man’s Race
for Justice. In January 1933 the first Nazi concentration camp was set up
in a derelict factory near Dachau. A few months later four Jewish prisoners
were shot dead by guards as they allegedly tried to escape. A German
prosecutor, Josef Hartinger, went to investigate. He found overwhelming
evidence that these four men were shot in the back, however the SS denied
this account as it might have had ruinous consequences for Hitler whose
power was still weak. A gripping story about the race to expose the Nazis.
Hartinger’s indictments survived the war and so did his selfless quest for
justice.
FABULOUS FICTION
NEUHAUS, Nele. THE ICE QUEEN. The body of a Holocaust survivor
is found shot execution style in his house near Frankfurt in mysterious
circumstances. Shockingly, the autopsy reveals that the victim, Jossi
Goldberg, may in fact have been a member of Hitler’s SS. Two similar
suspicious murders follow and a connection to a matriarch of a wellrespected wealthy family is revealed. The trail ultimately leads all the way
back to an area of Poland during the World War Two. No one is who they
claim to be. A compelling mystery thriller.
LEWINSKY, Charles. MELNITZ. This prolific author has written a historical
family saga about the Meijers, a Jewish family in Switzerland. Spanning the
period of 1871 — 1937 the narrative is interwoven with the voice of Uncle
Melnitz who warns that for Jews “there is no safety”. From cattle dealing
to cattle trucks, he writes about Swiss anti-Semitism as the story unfolds
from one generation to another against the historical background of central
European Jewry. A touch of the melancholic tug of Fiddler on the Roof.
GUNDAR-GOSHEN, Ayelet. ONE NIGHT, MARKOVITCH. The story opens
in Palestine in the build-up to the Second World War. Yaacov Markovitch, a
young farmer and his friend Zeev Feinberg are on the run, because of Zeev’s
philandering ways. They escape by agreeing to a scam marriage to get
round immigration quotas. They marry two European Jewish women and
bring them back to Palestine. The problem begins when Markovitch falls
in love with his faux wife and the feelings are not reciprocal. This thought
provoking, romantic and sensual novel is also very funny. A talented debut
by an Israeli writer.
HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY
ANDERSON, Scott. LAWRENCE IN ARABIA: War, Deceit, Imperial
Folly and the Making of the Modern Middle East. This biography is a
thrilling narrative of an epic period in 20th Century history — the Arab revolt
and the “game” to control the Middle East. Anderson intertwines the lives
of four men: Prufer the spymaster of Germany in the Middle East; Aaron
Aaronsohn who had an elaborate spy-ring in Palestine; William Yale who
was an US intelligence agent in the Middle East on the secret payroll of
Standard Oil and Lawrence, a visionary who fought for Arab freedom from
the Ottoman Empire.
FELDMAN, Deborah. EXODUS: A MEMOIR. In her enthralling follow up
to “Unorthodox”, Feldman details her life after leaving her Ultra-Orthodox
Hasidic roots. She escapes with her son and travels to the countryside to
heal and form a new identity. She travels to Europe to educate herself about
her grandparents’ experiences during the Holocaust. While she travels she
discovers that whereas she tried to escape Judaism in America, it is the
very thing that defines her on her journey.
PETROVSKY-SHTERN, Yohanan. THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE SHTETL:
A NEW HISTORY OF JEWISH LIFE IN EAST EUROPE. The golden
age of the shtetl was roughly between the 1790s and the 1840s. It was a
time when Jews could travel freely between Russia and Poland. Jews ran
the markets, sold liquor and were tavern keepers. They were prosperous
as opposed to the later shtetls where they were isolated and running from
pogroms. A lively and enlightening book.
28
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
March of the Living 2015
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
Report by Sarina Blacher
Being a second generation survivor,
who through my youth heard my father
willingly talk about his hardships and
experiences, I have always felt the
need to better understand what he
endured.
F
rom the time of his deportation
from Rhodes Island in July 1944 to
Auschwitz and his eventual liberation from
Mathausen Concentration Camp in May
1945, his world and my fate were parallels
which inconceivably could ever have been
imagined to cross. As with all survivors,
his story is a patchwork of lucky turns and
fate.
I have always felt the need to try to
understand what my father spoke about
and with this year marking the 70th
anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz;
I felt this was a good time to partake in the
2015 March of the Living.
The journey began with counselling
sessions given by Richard Friedman
in Cape Town which gave us a good
understanding of what the trip would
encompass. Later on down the line,
staring at the ash memorial at Majdanek,
Human ash monument at Majdanik
Richard’s briefing proved to be
invaluable.
Our trip started in Krakow;
one of the largest pre-war
Jewish cities with around 65
000 Jews. Krakow was hardly
damaged during the war and
its Jewish quarter, known as
the Kazimierz, has retained
its Jewish identity with several
synagogues and businesses
displaying Jewish names
and memorabilia. There is a
well-managed Jewish centre
doing amazing work within the
community and we attended
a talk done by a Polish
gentleman who is honoured as
a Righteous Amongst Nations.
On the edge of Krakow
stands the infamous Plaszow
concentration camp, well
known as it was here that the
Oskar Schindler story played
out.
The next part of our trip
was to the biggest and most
notorious Nazi concentration
and
extermination
camp,
Auschwitz, located near the town of
Oswiecim. Auschwitz I was the base
camp, Auschwitz II — Birkenau the
extermination camp and Auschwitz III —
Monowitz the labour camp. Transports
from all over Europe brought Jews daily to
be exterminated.
Here we understood what my father and
his family went through; the horrific cruelty
that the Nazi’s inflicted. Those to the left
and those to the right.
On 16 April, thousands of Jewish people
came together to share in the “once in a
lifetime experience”, the three kilometre
march from Auschwitz to Birkenau.
This year attended by 9000 youth
and 2000 adults, it was truly a
memorable experience. We marched
to remember, to think, to understand,
to honour and to preserve. The
march concluded with the singing
of Hatikvah, reaffirming “Am Yisrael
Chai” — the Jewish People live!
The rest of the itinerary took us to
the cities of Lodz, Lublin and Warsaw,
visiting the remaining Ghetto sites,
cemeteries and memorials. The other
camps we visited were Chelmno
death camp and Majdanek death and
labour camp, both leaving lifelong
emotions as to the pain, suffering
Sarina and Keith Blacher
and agony in the most horrific places ever
created by man.
The destruction of almost an entire
generation of Jews occurred; we have
to keep their memory alive, by visiting
and bearing witness to this dark chapter
in our history. Reprioritise your Jewish
identity and give next year’s march serious
consideration.
Sarina Blacher was born and grew up
in Zimbabwe. She is married with two
children and currently volunteers as a guide
for school groups visiting the Cape Town
Holocaust Centre.
Sarina laying a memorial plaque at Birkenau
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South African delegation at Schindlers factory in Krakow
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
Don’t miss Limmud’s diverse
presenters this August
Limmud Conference 2015 plays host
to a range of captivating presenters,
whose own Jewish journeys have led
them on a variety of fascinating paths.
W
e are thrilled that the following
international speakers will be making
a pit-stop at Limmud this year:
Dr. Joel M. Hoffman has served on
the faculties of Brandeis University and
Hebrew Union College, and has written or
contributed to twenty non-fiction books,
most recently, “The Bible’s Cutting Room
Floor: The Holy Scriptures Missing from
Your Bible.” Writing under the pen-name
“J.M. Hoffman,” he is also the author of
the thriller series “The Warwick Files.” Joel
was the star presenter at the 2014 Limmud
Conference in the United Kingdom.
Miri Rubin is an historian of medieval and
early modern Europe, who was educated
in Jerusalem and Cambridge. She studies
social relations and religious cultures, and
has a particular interest in relations between
Christian and Jews. She has published
several books, enjoys speaking to learned
as well as non-academic audiences, and
interacting with broadcasters for radio and
television.
Middle East Expert, Educator and
Strategic
Intelligence
Analyst,
Avi
Melamed, is a Fellow of Intelligence and
Middle East Affairs for the Eisenhower
Institute in Washington DC. Avi is a former
Israeli Senior Official on Arab Affairs and
intelligence Official, who spent many years
operating in Arabic-speaking areas. Avi
provides unique insider’s view of the Middle
East. His new book (in English) “A GPS to
navigate the dramatically changing Middle
East” will be published in September 2015.
In addition to our Exec Team introduced
last month, whose members work behind
the scenes to make conference the
success that it is, we have a core group
of volunteers. These Limmudniks are
involved in logistical preparation and
learning sessions that occur in the months
leading up to Conference. If you would like
to be involved, please contact capetown@
limmud.org.za — all are welcome!
Registration is now open! Visit our
website, www.limmud.org.za, so that you
can be a part of a weekend which takes you
one step further on your Jewish journey.
Limmud Cape Town dates for 2015: Friday
7th — Sunday 9th August.
Milk&Honey create magic in Gardens
"M
ilk&Honey", a new event series powered by YAD, is the first event of its kind.
Showcasing a selection of the best Jewish musicians on the tip of Africa,
"Milk&Honey" transformed the Hatfield Campus plaza into a magical space. With
incredible music, delicious food and loads of laughs, this was the first of many events,
where we will celebrate the talents within our community, connect with each other, and
have an opportunity to make a difference. On the night, over 150 blankets were donated to
Winter Storm Relief, while raising awareness and funds for the United Jewish Campaign's
27 beneficiaries that provide the critical services that our community needs. Look out for
the next "Milk&Honey" event happening in October: showcasing the talents of a selection
of the best Jewish artists on the tip of Africa. Listen. Connect. Show you care.
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
29
DA reports back on trip to Israel and
Palestinian Territories
“Go to the ground and see it for
yourself”.
T
hese were the words that Shadow
Minister for International Relations
and Cooperation, Stevens Mokgalapa,
understood as critical when looking at the
Israel-Palestine conflict. Between 15 and
19 February a delegation of Democratic
Alliance (DA) parliamentarians went to
Israel and the Palestinian Territories on a
fact-finding mission. The group reported
back to Jewish leadership, under the
auspices of the Cape Board at a special
meeting held on 15 April.
A broad spectrum of parliamentarians
were on the tour, with International Relations
and Cooperation (Stevens Mokgalapa and
Sandy Kalyan), Labour (Michael Bagraim),
Sports and Recreation (Darren Bergman),
Education (Yussuf Cassim), Trade and
Industry (Dean Macpherson) and Human
Settlements (Makashule Gana) seeing
exactly what the situation on the ground
is. The head of the delegation, Stevens
Mokgalapa, gave the exact same report
back that he gave to the DA caucus.
Although this may have seemed to be a
rather prepared method of communicating
what the Parliamentarians saw on the
ground, it showed that the delegation
were not speaking to what the community
wanted to hear. This demonstrated that the
party’s representatives were not biased
and displayed what the DA’s policy will be
built around.
With the conflict being so complicated,
it was necessary to view a broad range
of issues to get a balanced view. From
Tel Aviv to Nazareth, from Jerusalem to
Ramallah, the MPs gained insight into
entrepreneurship, human rights issues,
research and development in agriculture,
developments in education, and of course
the conflict itself. With only four and a
half days to take in so much information,
there were obviously challenges. However,
the delegation saw that one can only
understand the true nature of the conflict
if you go to the ground. Makashule Gana
found that the real Israel is much smaller
than the media makes it out to be, and this
put everything into perspective. However,
relative to its size and its resources, it
stands out as a world leader in so many
aspects. This is the message they have
brought back to South Africa.
WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF
WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK
... AND NIK RABINOWITZ ;)
30
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
TEMPLE
ISRAEL
CAPE TOWN PROGRESSIVE
JEWISH CONGREGATION
Consider This
One Day, Two Day?
If you went to Marais Rd or Gardens
on Shabbat morning of 11 April you
would have found the Torah reading
for the end of Pesach and brochaheaters munching on their matzahs.
Just down the road in Temple Israel
you would have seen the regular
Shabbat reading for Shabbat Sh’mini
and bagels and smoked salmon. Who
got it wrong?
T
he rabbinic answer is neither — there
are, after all, good reasons for both
practises. Orthodox congregations outside
of Israel celebrate two days of yom-tov. All
congregations in Israel and Progressive
congregations outside keep one day of
yom-tov. Where does the difference come
from?
Let’s start in the Torah, which is clear
— Pesach lasts for seven days and the
first and last day of the festival are YomTov. But the festivals are determined by
a lunar-solar calendar that initially relied
(like Moslems continue to do today) on
the sighting of the new moon. Since a
lunar month is about 29 ½ days, a Hebrew
month (which has to have a whole-number
of days) can have either 29 or 30 days. So
the court then had to get the word out to
the rest of the Jewish world about which
day had been declared the first of the
month, so that everyone could observe the
holidays on the same day.
Under the Babylonian and Roman
Empires, Jews had moved further and
further afield and needed to be informed of
the sighting each month. This happened
either by a complicated torch signal system
that was replaced by messengers going
out. The problem was that for Pesach and
Succot they had only two weeks for the
messengers to get there, and even with
super-fast horses on your team, there were
communities which the messengers could
not reach on time.
The rabbinic solution, to make sure that at
least one of the days you celebrated would
E
Lag Ba’Omer at Temple Israel
By Rabbi Greg Alexander
6 May saw us celebrating Lag Ba’Omer
at the Wynberg shul.
be correct, was to
add a second day
of Yom-tov. In the
case of Pesach,
this meant that
yom-tov was not
only the first and
seventh day, but
was now the first,
second, seventh,
and
eighth
days, so Pesach
became an eight-day holiday.
The plot thickens in the time of the
Talmud, when the rabbis developed
a sophisticated calculation system to
determine the dates of festivals. Today
you can google Pesach in any year gone
or to come and know exactly when to
celebrate the festival. Unlike Islam, which
still relies on the sighting of the New Moon,
Judaism has moved to a fixed calendar.
But the Babylonian Talmud (Beitzah
4b) advises Diaspora Jews to maintain
minhag avoteichem (“the custom of your
ancestors”) and continue the practice of
two-day yom-tov.
So now we can return to the question of
which one is right. Well, on the one hand
if you know for sure which day is the right
day, you don’t need a second day of yomtov. On the other hand, there is a tradition
of around 1600 years to have two days of
yom-tov in the diaspora. Progressive Jews
observe one day and Orthodox Jews two.
However, should a Progressive Jew decide
to observe two, should that be frowned
upon? After all, they are making blessings
over a day that is clearly not yom-tov?
While there are commentators who believe
that it should be prohibited, let us rather
say that there are more than one way to
practise Judaism, and a tradition that
does not cause hardship or pain can be
maintained by those who are committed to
it. So, check your shul’s newsletter before
you assume which Torah portion will be
read this week.
T
he evening kicked off with Netzer doing
crafts with the kids and then we all
gathered around for the lighting of the huge
bonfire. Whilst the flames began to grow
Rabbi Malcolm entertained the 100-strong
crowd with stories about Rabbi Akiva and
Rabbi Greg lead the congregation in some
campfire singing, which was followed by a
delicious falafel dinner.
We were fortunate to witness some
amazing fire poi dancing and, after some
braaied kosher marshmallows for dessert,
the evening concluded with the awesome
mifkadeish built by our shaliach Yakov and
the singing of Oseh Shalom.
Fire Poi entertainment at the bonfire
Many thanks to all the volunteers and
staff who made the evening so special.
Rabbi Malcolm telling stories around the bonfire
Family Friendly seder in Wynberg
Wynberg, Cape Town was the scene
for the second ever Family Seder on
2nd Night Pesach.
W
ith over 100 people in attendance
and participating in a stunningly
interactive seder led by Judy Sacks and Mel
Beswick (including a dramatised version of
the Pesach story directed by Sofi Zway),
this was yet another night to remember
for our congregation. After a sumptuous
dinner provided by all the attendees, the
evening was concluded with a ruach-filled
rendition of Birkat Hamazon.
We would like to thank all involved for
making this so wonderful.
Green Point seder welcomes all
very year, Temple Israel ensures that
anyone who does not have a place
to go on first night Pesach can join our
Communal Seder.
A wide mix of people take up this offer,
from overseas visitors, those with no family
in Cape Town, to those who just love to
share this festive evening with others in the
community. Once again this year, Temple
Israel Green Point put on a spectacular
feast for all. Rabbi Richard Newman led
the service and seder with a lavish Pesach
meal laid on by Liza and the Green Point
team.
Everyone loved joining in the
traditional songs, the special readings and
the children participating. A wonderful
evening was had by all, and a suitable
tribute to the Festival of Freedom.
The kids enjoying a fun version of the Pesach story
Mazeltov to those who celebrated B’nei Mitzvah
with us in the last month:
Zen Lasker
2 May
Jess Hawker
9 May
Kaylie Chernotsky
23 May
Nathan Amato
30 May
Filling the hall for the seder
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
Cape Town community gathers to commemorate liberation
at annual Yom Hashoah ceremony
31
Those who cannot remember the past are
condemned to repeat it.
O
n 7 May 1945, the German Chief-of-Staff
signed the unconditional surrender of all
German forces, thus ending the deadliest military
conflict in history — an estimated 27 million
civilians were killed, including six million Jews
and more than 22 million soldiers, including 5
million POWs. Yet, seventy years later, much of the
Muslim world is embroiled in war, Antisemitism is
infecting Europe, and South Africa is witnessing
xenophobic pogroms.
We Jews however, are told to remember —
remember what the Amaleks did, remember the
exodus from Egypt, remember the destruction of
the Temple, and on Yom Hashoah, we gather to
remember the Holocaust.
In welcoming the large audience to the 2015
Yom Hashoah commemoration which took place
on 16 April, which included Premier Helen Zille,
members of Parliament, a representative for
Mayor Patricia de Lille, politicians, members of
the diplomatic corps, clergy and hundreds of
Herzlia students, Cape Board Chairman Eric Marx
reminded them of the horrors of the Holocaust
and warned of the need to be alert to increasing
Antisemitism and intolerance.
Two survivors shared their memories of
liberation.
Ella Blumenthal was liberated by the British
in Bergen-Belsen in April 1945. Many of her
fellow prisoners, their stomachs shriveled from
starvation, died from the food the British gave
them. For many years she did not want to talk
about her experiences, now she feels that she
owes something to the dead by bearing witness.
Lined up in their fives in the middle of the road
to continue the death march, Miriam Lichterman
suddenly realised that they were free because the
guards had fled. No one was killing them. They
were free, but without food, money, papers, family
or friends.
“To remember is our most important response
to tragedy. My memories are not only of man’s
inhumanity to man but also of the spiritual strength
and unbelievable courage some people showed”
said Mrs Lichterman.
Nothing could have prepared Michael Cohen,
Herzlia head boy, for what he learnt on the March
for the Living. The facts were so unimaginable that
the memories still haunted him, but he felt their
participation in the march was living proof that
Hitler had not succeeded because they were still
there.
A message from the State of Israel was
delivered by Israeli Ambassador Arthur Lenk and
poems on liberation were recited by Dr Veronica
Belling in Yiddish and by Isaac Franco in Ladino.
The poignant strains of the Yiddish lullaby Oyfn
Pripetshik played by the talented Gabriella Saven
on her flute helped ease the tension as did the
Ladino poet Isaac Habib
Dr Veronica Belling reading the Yiddish
Poem
Keynote Speaker Herzlia Head Boy Michael
Cohen
Flautist Gabriella Saven
Ella Blumenthal and Arthur Lenk
Eric Marx welcoming the audience
Viv Anstey and Miriam Lichterman
choral items beautifully sung by Cantor Choni
Goldman and the choir of the Cape Town Hebrew
Congregation.
Wreaths in honour of the war dead were laid
by representatives of SAJEX, Machal, Nachal,
Jewish Maritime League, the SA Navy, SA
Defence Reserve, SA Defence Provincial Liaison
Council, M.O.T.H.S, SA Legion of Military Veterans
and the British High Commission.
The ceremony was preceded by the reading of
names of Jews killed in 1945 by Martine Kawalsky
from Habonim Dror and Hayden Norrie from Bnei
Akiva, and by the sounding of a siren.
The Jewish Board of Deputies would like to
thank all who participated and all who attended
the moving ceremony. Let us remember the cry:
NEVER AGAIN. Never again to Antisemitism, to
racism, to prejudice and to xenophobia.
Miriam Lichterman addresses the audience
Israeli Ambassador Arthur Lenk
Herzlia learners listen intently
Cape Town Hebrew Congregation Choir
Peter Mitchel lays wreath on behalf of MOTHS Western Cape
Photographs credit: Shawn Benjamin
32
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
33
34
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
O
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
Saying NO to xeNOphobia in Cape Town
n 21 April the Cape Board of Deputies and Cape Jewish Chronicle along with Jewish
community leaders and members joined in the Western Cape Religious Leaders
Forum’s interfaith silent vigil against xenophobia. The vigil was held as a protest against
waves of xenophobic violence that were occurring all over the country at the time.
Religious leaders of all faiths addressed the crowd on the steps of the cathedral during
the event.
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36
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
As the Nakba comes to Washington, a wasted opportunity
by Ben Cohen / JNS.org
For two weeks in June, Washington,
DC will play host to a group of
pro-Palestinian activists who have
assembled an exhibit about the
dispersion of the Palestinians during
Israel’s War of Independence.
T
he exhibit takes place under the
auspices of the “Nakba Museum
Project of Memory and Hope” — “nakba”
is the Arabic word for “catastrophe,” which
is how Palestinians and their supporters
typically refer to the 1948 upheaval that
accompanied the war launched against
the nascent state of Israel by five Arab
armies.
It’s a clever idea that requires a clever
response. And that means looking closely
at both the image and the message that
the Nakba Museum is projecting.
The online publicity materials for the
museum are decked out in autumnal
tones and soft, inclusive language that is
occasionally indecipherable. (How’s this
for a sentence? “The goal of each display or
event will be to create a culture of listening
and represent a non-contested space,
through a simple invitation to witness.”)
The mission statement is a little clearer
in that regard. “We believe that refugee
stories need to be acknowledged,
witnessed and finally for the refugees to be
empowered to respond in acts of healing
and reconciliation,” it says.
Terms like “healing” and “reconciliation”
are much in evidence. The brainchild
of Bshara Nasser, a Palestinian from
Bethlehem, and Sam Feigenbaum, an
American Jew, the Nakba Museum is
dedicated — they say — to building “hope
Palestinian refugee-themed artwork promoted by the “Nakba Museum Project of Memory
and Hope”. Credit: Nakba Museum Project Facebook page.
for both Palestinians and Israelis that
sharing the land is indeed possible.”
Conspicuous by its absence from
the museum’s website is the lexicon of
Palestinian solidarity — those drearily
familiar words like “boycott,” “apartheid,”
“genocide,” and “war crimes.” How,
though, does the museum define the
“Nakba,” a term Palestinians traditionally
use to signify what they consider the
original and irredeemable sin committed
by the Zionist movement in forging Israel’s
existence?
The Nakba, says the Museum, refers to
Origins of the Nakba Museum
Shadi Matar/ www.aaiusa.org
In 2011, Bshara Nassar participated
in a New Story Leadership program
that brought together young Israelis
and Palestinians in a powerful
learning experience.
T
he program took 18 participants to
the United States Holocaust Memorial
Museum which certainly seemed like an
appropriate site for reflection. However,
he realised that there was not a museum
dedicated to showing the suffering of the
Palestinian people. Although the program
aspired to fairly expose participants to the
historical underpinnings of the Israeli and
Palestinian narratives on modern history,
Nassar realised that it was missing a key
element of the Palestinian experience —
which inspired him to create the Nakba
Museum, which is currently live online.
Nassar, a former Arab American
Institute intern, grew up near the outskirts
of Bethlehem under the Israeli occupation
with the constant threat of displacement
from his family’s historic land. Despite his
circumstances, he always wanted to be
a peace builder and came to embrace
non-violent methods to protest the Israeli
occupation of Palestine. Nassar recounts
the first hand impact of the Nakba
(“catastrophe” in Arabic, referring to the
1948 war) in the refugee camp near his
home which he frequently visited. “I saw
what it was like to be a refugee and what
I saw was that the Nakba did not just
happen in 1948, but is happening today.”
When Nassar met Sam Feigenbaum,
an American Jew, at the Tent of Nations
farm in Palestine his ambition to open the
Nakba museum became a reality. Both
Nassar and Feigenbaum studied conflict
resolution and whole heartedly endorse
the motto made famous by Nassar’s
family farm, “We refuse to be enemies,”
and have made it their mission to share
stories of the Nakba that have been
silenced. Both Nassar and Feigenbaum
are not interested in creating competing
narratives, but they both hope that
this museum will focus on the human
suffering caused by the events of 1948.
Nassar commented that “There is no
political agenda here, we just want to tell
the story”.
After discussing ideas and strategies
they realised that they could make their
idea a digital project. Nassar would help
gather the stories and artwork for the
museum and Feigenbaum would do the
graphic design and post the content on
the newly fashioned website. They hope
that the museum will serve as a safe
space to start deep conversations about
the impact the Nakba has had on millions
of people. Nassar and Feigenbaum plan
to move the museum to a permanent
space in the future, and they’ve set up
an IndieGoGo campaign to support their
vision.
The opening exhibit will be hosted
on June 12-27 at the Festival Center in
Washington, D.C. The opening exhibit will
feature photos and prints of the Nakba as
well as video interviews with refugees.
“the mass expulsion of Palestinians from
their homes in 1948 and represents a dark
period in the Palestinian existence.” It then
adds, “However, the Nakba is not just a
singular event in the past, but an ongoing
reality for all the Palestinians living under
Israeli occupation.”
So, for the Nakba Museum, as for the
Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS)
movement, the Nakba is portrayed within
the conventional framework of Zionist
original sin. Consequently, one has to
wonder whether the ambition of “sharing
the land” really entails what Palestinian
activists call the “one-state solution,” which
most Jews understand as meaning the
elimination of Jewish national sovereignty.
Though many supporters of Israel would
disagree with me, I don’t have an a priori
objection to the term “Nakba.” George
Deek, an articulate young Arab-Israeli
diplomat, uses it. When I interviewed him
for The Algemeiner last year, he told me,
“People were driven out of their homes
because of intimidation, or because of
the warnings of other leaders. It can’t be
described as anything other than a terrible
tragedy.”
But, Deek added, “The question is not
what happened, but why it happened.” To
this day, both the Palestinians and the Arab
states steadfastly refuse to recognize that
the flight of British Mandatory Palestine’s
Arabs was, as the historian Benny Morris
has said, “a product, direct and indirect” of
the attack on Israel. As Deek pointed out to
me, “Imagine what things might have been
like if the Palestinians would have said to
the Jews, ‘Welcome back. This is your
home, but it’s also our home, so let’s find a
way that we can live here together.’”
The problem, then, is not the word
“Nakba,” but the manner in which it is
interpreted and deployed. If those who use
it were to be faithful to the historical record,
they would be duty-bound to accept that
culpability for the Palestinian refugee
issue is shared. I am confident enough,
when it comes to Israel’s moral and legal
legitimacy, to say that Israel does share
some of the culpability, but those who say
that Israel is entirely responsible are either
ignoring the eliminationist war waged by
the Arab states or are silently sympathetic
with its aims — aims that have since been
picked up by organizations like Hamas.
Some will say that the choice of
Washington as the location for the
Nakba Museum’s first physical exhibit is
no accident. America’s capital is where
the United States Holocaust Memorial
Museum is situated — and the centrality
of the Holocaust means that other peoples
who have suffered from genocide, like the
Armenians and the Cambodians, often
invoke it as a reference point that most
people will recognize. The Nakba Museum,
it would seem, is doing the same, and
brazenly so.
Except that the Nakba was not a
genocide — far from it. But as far as the
“official” narrative of the events of 1948
is concerned, that doesn’t really matter.
What counts to critics of Israel is enshrining
eternal Palestinian victimhood at the
hands of the Israelis, and then continually
reinforcing that message.
It’s still early in the life of the Nakba
Museum, but at this point, the entire project
looks to me like a wasted opportunity.
Arguing that Israel bears a degree of
responsibility towards Palestinian refugees
is one thing; trotting out the same tired Arab
League propaganda points is something
else entirely. And however many Jews with
doubts about Israel might be attracted by
the museum, the vast majority will shun its
message and everything it stands for.
The Nakba Museum could still be an
exciting venue, both online and offline.
It is ideal for an exhibition about the
ongoing suffering of Palestinians in
Yarmouk and elsewhere in Syria, the vast
majority of whom are experiencing actual
displacement for the first time in their lives.
It might even host a seminar about the
wholesale movement of populations in the
wake of World War II, from the Sudetenland
to India and Pakistan, and thence to British
Palestine.
I’d even dare to suggest that they include
in that list the 800,000 Jews from the Arab
world who lost their homes and livelihoods
following Israel’s creation — another
hidden “nakba” that the Arab states, having
first violently agitated against their Jewish
populations, now depict as a Zionist plot to
rip the Jews away from their loving Muslim
neighbors.
Some histories, it seems, are more
memorable than others.
Ben Cohen, senior editor of TheTower.org
& The Tower Magazine, writes a weekly
column for JNS.org on Jewish affairs
and Middle Eastern politics. His writings
have been published in Commentary, the
New York Post, Haaretz, The Wall Street
Journal, and many other publications. He
is the author of “Some of My Best Friends:
A Journey Through Twenty-First Century
Antisemitism” (Edition Critic, 2014).
8
50,000 Jewish refugees from Arab
countries were expelled between
1948 and 1951. Many of these Jews
fled to Israel to make a new life. There
is no "right of return" for these refugees,
and the Arab countries that expelled
them have never made reparations. In
contrast, Israel did not expel Arabs from
the land, in fact, many fled of their own
accord, due to a war they themselves
initiated. Additionally, Israel has made
many efforts to accommodate Arabs
from British Palestine.
Land stolen from Jews in Arab
countries equals over 100,000 sq. km:
nearly five times the entire size of the
state of Israel pre-1967 (22,000 sq. km)
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
VACANCY: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CAPE SA JEWISH BOARD OF DEPUTIES
The Cape SAJBD requires the services of a suitably qualified and
experienced leader to assume the critical role of Executive Director
An ExCITIng
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goodwill, and to protect the civil
liberties of South African Jews. It is
committed to a South Africa where
everyone will enjoy freedom from
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Key Responsibilities
• EffectivecommunicationofBoardinternally
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37
38
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
My Own Bat Mitzvah Book
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
Below is an edited version of the speech made by Adina Roth at the launch of My Own Bat Mitzvah Book in Johannesburg.
In some ways, the Bat mitzvah is
a blank space to be filled in and
designed the way we want to think
about it.
I
t is an opportunity to create a bridge,
a vehicle and a rite of passage to
enable girls to step from the
innocence of youth which
they have already started
to say goodbye to and start
to enter into adolescence,
to equip them with more
than just a smart phone for
adulthood.
If we just do this by making
them a party, we fail them. If
we do this by inviting them
to read from the Torah just
like the boys, we also fail
them. No, we need to think
much more hard and more
creatively about what it
means to really help a girl to
become a young woman, to
love her womanliness, her
girl-ness, her sense of self.
We don’t live in a culture
that
values
inner-ness
and the act of reflection.
Reflection invites us to look
in the mirror of our soul, to
ask deeper questions, who
am I, what are my values
and what do I want from my
life?
Often the first time a
person lands up asking
these questions is when
sitting in the therapist’s
chair, when things have already gotten
out of hand. We need to develop a culture
of asking these questions, teaching our
girls to reflect inside; how did I feel in
that situation today? How did I feel when
those girls were gossiping? Did it make
me feel good to tease that girl?
The Bat Mitzvah girl also gets to learn
the importance of names in Judaism
and then has the chance to reflect on her
name, what is the story behind her name,
what are the Jewish connections to her
name? Does she have a Jewish and a
secular name? How does her name link
to her destiny, to who she is as a person?
Teen years can be desperately selfinvolved and the book really gets girls
to think about empathy about the other.
There is a chapter on fixing the world,
there are chapters on thinking about
people who are different form us, there’s
a chapter to think about relationships and
how to get along with people and there
are chapters to think about how we use
about their bodies as something sacred.
language.
They are encouraged to look at media
Finally, I think that coming of age needs
and at laws of modesty and try to figure
to take into account a girl’s body and
out what is right for them, how to develop
her bodiless and to celebrate her body
their own sense of personal style.
in a healthy way. With all the obsessing
A suggested activity is given that they
over bodies, some tend to say we should
gather together a group of older women
focus on the inside or focus on other
and ask them for advice - what do
things but I think this is
they wish they had
missing the point. The
known at the age of
...we need to think more
most significant shift
twelve. The body is
that happens to a girl
something that the
creatively about what it
around 12 is precisely
young girl needs to
means to really help a
the change that takes
learn to relate to, to
girl to become a young
place in her body. And
care for, to love and
here is where I say
to cherish.
woman, to love her
that Bat Mitzvah is an
Innerness
and
womanliness, her girlopportunity to evolve
depth,
otherness
ness, her sense of self.
a ritual and a tradition
and empathy and
that might not have
bodiliness - these are
existed before.
the paths to authentic
Does throwing a big party for a girl womanhood and authentic adulthood
acknowledge the sacredness of her and they are offered through the beauty
developing body, her menstrual cycles
and wisdom of our tradition.
and her emerging
But here’s the final
sexuality?
At Bat
revolutionary
nub.
Innerness and depth,
Mitzvah in orthodox
Bat Mitzvah is a girl
otherness and empathy
circles the only real
of the command. But
thing that girls are
if she learns to listen
and bodiliness - these
taught about their
to herself and others
are the paths to
bodies is to cover them
and her body, whose
authentic womanhood
up more and dress
command is she
modestly. You could
subjected to?
and authentic adulthood
say in secular bat
The book seems to
and they are offered
mitzvahs, perhaps she
advocate a kind of
through the beauty and
receives the opposite
dialogue, a beautiful
message, how do I
dialogue between the
wisdom of our tradition.
dress sexy, how do I
tradition, the world
impress the boys, how
and the girl herself. It
do I apply make up? This is related to
doesn’t advocate absolute obedience but
their emerging sexuality but you could
it doesn’t suggest a free for all either.
hardly call it a sacred celebration of that
This is why I would encourage you to
sexuality.
buy this for girls in their teens, as my one
What do we teach our Jewish girls to
cousin said this is a book for moms and
value and love and appreciate? In the
aunts and grandparents, for anyone who
book, there are two chapters dedicated
values innerness and depth, bodiliness,
to these themes, one on Body and one on and otherness. Our girls need it and we
Dress. The girls are encouraged to think
need it.
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
Looking inside to create meaningful experiences
39
The Jewish Chronicle chats to Daniella Jaff Klein, one of the editors of My Own Bat Mitzvah Book
What made you decide to write a Bat
Mitzvah book?
few years ago my family were living
in Israel and attended a synagogue
near our home. One Shabbat, our four
year old daughter came running up to me
in tears. Apparently she was not allowed
on the bimah with her big brother and his
friends. Why? Because she was a girl of
course. I was appalled that she should
be exposed to such blatant discrimination
at four! I immediately vented to our Rabbi
friend with whom I regularly studied. How
could we make our daughter feel like she
was a valued and participating member
of the tribe? What would we do about our
daughter’s Bat Mitzvah? How was I to
explain to her that she couldn’t read from
the Torah, that she couldn’t lein in front
of men? Her Bat Mitzvah would be just a
few months after her brother’s Bar Mitzvah
and the juxtaposition would be so blatant? When I was slightly less hysterical, our
Rabbi gently asked me to remind him how
old our daughter was. “Um, four.” “Right”,
was his response, “you have a few years
to figure it out before panicking!” He also
offered me some other advice: Don’t
try emulate the Bar Mitzvah ceremony
just for the sake of it… there are lots of
things wrong with Bar Mitzvahs. If you
want to make the Bat Mitzvah ceremony
meaningful… go back to first principles.
Think of ways that would make a comingof-age milestone meaningful. So that is
what I did…
My own Bat Mitzvah didn’t serve to inspire
me in spite of it being in a reform shul and
my reading the parshah. My over-riding
memory of it was beaming at my friends
from the bimah with my sparkling braces.
And being forewarned by my sister not to
giggle when blessed by the Rabbi. I did. It
was not exactly the meaningful ceremony I
was hoping for our daughter.
Around that time a cousin of mine was
about to have her Bat Mitzvah. Relative
to her secular upbringing I was practically
Lubavitch in my level of frumness. The plan
was to have a party — her mother asked
me how we could add a bit of Jewishness. So I prepared some questions and found a
couple of quotes. Included were questions
to ask her grandparents about their Jewish
life, about Jewish foods and jokes and
stories. I printed them out and literally cut
and pasted them into a scrap book. Very
badly. We sat together a few times before
her celebrations and discussed some of
the questions and read through Megillat
Ruth as it was around the time of Shavuot.
And when her party came round — she
gave a beautiful dvar Torah.
When it was time for the next cousin’s
Bat Mitzvah, I cut out the same questions
and quotes and again stuck them into a
scrapbook. Again badly! Fortunately, soon
after, I met Juliet Simmons who would save
me from having to cut and paste for the
rest of my life.
Juliet also felt passionately about creating
something beautiful and meaningful for
Jewish girls. She’d had a “typical” London
Bat Mitzvah — speaking on the bimah on a
Sunday afternoon with about six other girls
and it wasn’t until she was much older that
she’d discovered bits about being Jewish
that she’d really loved — and met inspiring
women. She also felt that it was time to
speak to the Jewish women that inspired
us as adults and share that inspiration (and
that love of all things Jewish) with younger
women and girls — why should they have
to wait?!
A
Juliet and I both found ourselves enthused
with the idea of creating something
that was magical and accessible and
that would enhance this special time of
coming-of-age for girls. And so began a
process that took two years of research,
meetings, discussions, brain storming and
lots of tea and toast.
How did you find/choose your
contributors?
ventually we managed to tap into
twenty extraordinary women, with very
different backgrounds from across the
globe, across denominations, and across
cultures. We couldn’t have wished for a
more diverse group of Jewish role modelsa rebbitzin, educators, rock stars, peace
activists, mothers, cooks, artists and
comedians — but all of them passionate
about sharing their Jewish legacy with the
next generation.
E
Who did the illustrations for the book?
hen we started we also had a
very strong sense of the aesthetic
character of the book — we wanted it to
look “cool” and inviting, but not too girly.
We wanted it to sit happily alongside the
other books and magazines that girls of
that age read. We wanted Jewish to be
cool and normal — not boring or stuffy.
Through the magic of the internet we
found our designer online. And through
the magic of living in 2015 we still haven’t
met him. He is twenty one years old and
lives in Nottinghamshire and is certainly
not Jewish. In fact he had to spend a
good deal of his time googling things like
kneidlach and apple strudel.
W
What are you hoping girls get out of the
experience of using the book?
e were also very conscious of this
being an interactive book. We want
the girls to feel as though they are the
next link in a beautiful and ancient chain of
tradition. We want them to feel that they are
a part of the Jewish conversation and are
empowered to impact on what the religion
is today. We very deliberately did not want
to be prescriptive but at the same time
we have kept it as halachically on track
as possible. As one of our contributors
said: “It is deeply rooted in Jewish text and
tradition but it also has a very introspective
almost soul searching approach, inviting
young girls to think about themselves in
relation to themselves, their community,
their God and the world at large as they
come of age.”
While it is obviously a Jewish experience
— it is also grounded in the world today. We
have included quotes by Ghandi, Mandela
and even from the Hunger Games. We’ve
incorporated a Jewish Horoscope, a “look
book” and an area to paste in news paper
clippings of current affairs. There is a
strong emphasis on social responsibility
and chapters that engage girls with the
environment and social action — all
emphasising the responsibility we have
to others which is so much part of our
tradition.
It is also intimate and personal — with
a section focusing on the significance of
names, family roots, family recipes and
space for parents to write blessings for
their daughters.
We’ve included rituals and ceremonies
that might appeal to Bat Mitzvah girls and
created an entire chapter on Jewish culture
which serves as a wonderful reference
guide to Jewish literature, music, art, film
and comedy.
W
Was there any particular part that stood
out as being very meaningful to put
together?
or me, the most meaningful chapter is
the one called Making Laws Your Own.
Even with a legal background, I know how
intimidating Jewish law and text-based
study can be to the uninitiated and so
we really wanted to break it down so that
the girls could have a sense of the legal
process and how laws change. We have
replicated a Talmud page and explained it
and what all the commentaries are about.
And we’ve emphasised again that we are
all part of the Jewish story by keeping open
a space for the girls to add their own voices
by writing their own commentary. After all,
Judaism is a religion based in innovation!
F
Do you have a message/advice to girls
who will be celebrating their Bat Mitzvahs
this year?
dolescent years are not easy,
especially for girls with all the
pressures from media and our society. But
Judaism has recognised that this is a time
to be introspective, to think about yourself,
your role in relation to the rest of the world,
to examine your identity and to draw on the
role models around you. All the wisdom
you need is within you and we hope that
a book such as this will help you to draw
it out.
To borrow from the book: What we hope
more than anything is that this book will
be a means for girls to figure out how they
want to celebrate this time in their very own
way. We hope it will help them to create
their own Jewish stories and to see that
they connect with traditions from the past.
It’s about being themselves, helping them
to find their own voice and choosing how
they want to play a part in Judaism’s 4000
year old history — and in it’s future.
A
Were there any challenges in creating this
book?
t isn’t easy to please every one. You know
the saying — two Jews, three opinions.
So providing material that catered to
everyone’s needs was not easy. One
example was when we displayed the
sample family tree on our internet site
and were contacted by someone from the
States. They said: “ I love the book, it’s a
great idea, but unfortunately I wouldn’t
be able to buy it. The family tree only has
space for “father” and “mother” and in my
community there are many parents of the
same sex. So this is a non-starter.” While
we can’t please everyone, we can at least
try. The next print run will have space for
“parent” and “parent”.
I
The book is available at Giftime in Gardens
(www.giftime.org.za) or through the
website: mybatmitzvah.me
40
community connections
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
Simcha Snaps
Loren Sweidan and Daniel Gerdis
Photographer: John Armstrong
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community connections
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
Simcha Snaps
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Send us a photo and share your
simcha with the community!
Email chron@ctjc.co.za or call the
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42
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
community connections
CHRONIC ADS
Rates: R34 per line + VAT
Phone: 021 464 6736 (mornings)
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Howard 082 711 4616
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072 252 6989
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Mel Gottschalk 082 396 0370.
Email: info@melsshuttle.com
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Phone: (021) 439 3095
Fax: (021) 439 4042
Cell: 078 255 0439
Email: alcaterers@wol.co.za
Ada Schneidermann has retired from
Westlake Golf Club after many years.
She has now opened for home cooking
and baking. Plan your weekly meals and
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Homemade pies, assortment of biscuits,
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Ph Sybil-Ann Creations 083 285 7336 or
021 762 6729
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Stickers and stationery. Michelle Shev
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mediamemories@bax.co.za
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ROBERT LURIE JEWELLERY EVALUATOR
Professional jewellery evaluations and
consultations for over 30 yrs in Cape Town.
021 551 1686 rlurie@netactive.co.za
ACTIVE ELECTRIC
Reliable 24hr 7-day service. All contracting,
maintenance and servicing (including
intercoms). Phone Norman 021 439 4311
or 083 225 7409
JOFFE PLUMBING
For all sanitary plumbing repairs,
maintenance and renovations. Phone
Hilton 082 789 2897 or 021 439 5550
BLINDS
New
blinds,
servicing,
repairs
and
cleaning.
Stephen
Guinsberg
082 563 1955
CARPET CRAFT
For the steam-cleaning of carpets and
upholstery. All work done personally.
Phone Leslie Kaplan 082 547 7208
MAZAL MOTORS
Leon Levitt — Maintenance and
repairs to all types of vehicles. Try us.
Ph 021 797 1550 or 082 410 2756
COMPUTERS
All PC needs including new computers,
virus removal, upgrades, ADSL, Skype
and
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Phone
Ilan
082 732 4830 or 021 434 7691
THE COMPUTER GUY
Internet connectivity, upgrades, new
systems, specialised software, repairs and
troubleshooting. Ph 082 549 0457
AMS COMPUTERS
IT problems, training, need assistance in
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email: alan@amscomputers.co.za
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OUR CHARITY STORE
021 425 2298 or 082 467 4581
BARGAINS GALORE
65 REGENT ROAD SEA POINT TEL 021 434 7142
(NEXT TO SEPHARDI SHUL)
under the auspices ofJewish Community Services Tel No 021 4625520
For appointments call
Email queries to seanj@netactive.co.za
since 1996
Treatment in the following areas:
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pain • Sports injuries • Foot orthotic
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Diabetic foot Assessment and
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PODIATRIST
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My practice of 30 years has grown into
a state-of-the-art practice specialising
in performance enhancement
(biomechanics) and rehab for orthopedic
and sports injuries.
I use the latest in technology — Dartfish,
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function and strength testing) and
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We are known worldwide for our
treatments and orthotic therapy.
I also run a sports shoe clinic in
partnership with top shoe brands
to match the shoe closest to your
activity profile.
Call 021 434 0126 or 082 727 7147
for an appointment
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
community connections
A tribute to Astra from
Mahier Hattas
ADL leader at Israeli forum:
anti-Semitism ‘worst it’s been
since the 30s’
Badronessa Hattas has retired from Astra after 48
years of service.
A
t the farewell party, Badronessa’s son, Mahier, thanked
Director Merle Furman for her support over the years.
He also gave sincere and heartfelt thanks to the wonderful
Cape Town Jewish community who gave his mother such
an opportunity in life.
In 1966, Badronessa was 19 years old and disabled.
She was unable to find a job. While she was in hospital
receiving treatment after an accident, a social worker
referred her to Jewish Sheltered Employment. She was
given an opportunity to work for a week on a trial period.
Thereafter, she was given a permanent position and was
taught the necessary skills to become a machinist.
Badronessa was the main bread winner in the family. Mahier’s moving words described
the enormous implications that his mother’s employment at Astra has had for him and
their family.
Mahier is currently studying for his Doctorate in Computer Science and he attributes his
success to the opportunities his mother was afforded by the Jewish Community all those
years ago.
JNS.org
Anti-Defamation League
(ADL) National Director
Abraham Foxman said
at an Israeli conference
that current levels of
anti-Semitism
around
the world are not as bad
as the levels that existed
in 1930s Europe, but are
“the worst it's been since
the 30s.”
victims.
"There is a reluctance to
identify sometimes not even
the perpetrators but also the
victims. It's a sort of political
correctness,” Foxman said, citing
U.S. President Barack Obama's
reluctance to label the victims of
January's shooting at the Hyper
Cacher market in Paris as Jewish,
calling them instead “a bunch of
folks,” or to identify their killer as
ADL Director Abraham
e're living in an era Foxman.
Credit: a radical Muslim.
"If we're too hesitant to describe
where again anti- Wikimedia Commons
the perpetrators and even the
Semitism presents a clear
victims, it holds back our hand from
and present danger to Jews in various
communities. It's global in its nature, and acting," warned Foxman.
Canadian Minister of Multiculturalism
it's endangering the lives of Jews — not just
where they live or their livelihoods — and Tim Uppal, who also attended the Israeli
it has a dimension of terrorism, jihadism,” forum, said that one major way in which
the Canadian government is fighting antiFoxman told Israel National News at the
5th Global Forum for Combating Anti- Semitism is by supporting Israel.
"I think one thing that can serve as an
Semitism, held in Israel on Wednesday.
example to everyone is our strong support
In order to address this problem,
Foxman said, it is necessary to provide of Israel," he said. "We as a country, as
“physical safety and security” for Jewish a government, do this not because it's
popular — we know it's not popular — but
communities, but also to clearly identify
because it's the right thing to do."
and label both the perpetrators and
"W
MONUMENTS

MARBLE GALLERY
HEBREW
Badronessa and Mahier Hattas
Important information:
All donations to Glendale are tax deductible
Thank you most sincerely for your continued support.
Our residents are most grateful
Our well-known Shabbat, miniature Shabbat and Yartzeit candles and
Shabbat glass candle holders are now available from all supermarkets
and at our office.
Getting married overseas? Ask your guests to donate to Glendale
Home in lieu of wedding gifts. An appropriate letter will be sent to the
bride and groom advising them of your donation. No amount will be
disclosed. For further details contact the office.
Glendale Greeting Service: Letters can be sent to loved ones for
birthdays, wedding anniversaries and chaggim or any special occasion.
Make use of this service, which is available worldwide.
Tins: If your tin needs collecting, please phone the office
tel: (021) 712 0270 fax: (021) 712 0873
10 Galway Road Heathfield
PO Box 40 Bergvliet 7864
www.glendalehome.co.za
email: hazel@glendalehome.co.za
Glendale activities now on YouTube — search ‘Glendale Cape Town’
43
HM
Hebrew Monuments
continues to expand
its services
In order to meet additional requirements we are
pleased to announce that we have appointed
SARA LEIBOVITZ to our growing staff.
Sara is a dynamic professional and we look
forward to working with her.
OUR PRICES ARE LOWER THAN OUR
COMPETITORS WITHOUT THE QUALITY
BEING COMPROMISED
SARA LEIBOVITZ : 082 375 7777
CANTOR IAN CAMISSAR : 072 679 5533
HELENE CAMISSAR : 082 551 3344
Email : Camissar@mweb.co.za
Visit our website : www.hebrewmonuments.co.za
44
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
JNF Re-launches in Cape Town
The JNF is asking the community to
please support our projects by buying
bracelets for family and friends.
T
he JNF works in various countries
through Africa to educate and raise
awareness in areas of agriculture, water,
biodiversity, waste and energy with a
number of different projects.
The JNF Walter Sisulu Environmental
Centre
in
Mamelodi
educates
approximately 10,000 learners each year
through a school permaculture garden,
demonstrating food production for school
feeding, medicinal plants for primary
healthcare, a forest ecosystem, wasteland
and a forest garden orchard and has won
the Mail and Guardian "Greening the Future
Award."
The Agahozo Shalom Youth Village in
Rwanda, for young survivors of the 1994
genocide, includes training these youth to
grow different fruit trees such as avocado,
mango, plums and passion fruit, cultivating
stands of trees for use as fuel for cooking
or heating to reduce felling in forests and
developing beehives for honey production.
In order to assist the JNF to continue
Whether you’re into banting, yoga, CrossFit,
vegetarianism, juicing, or earth-friendly produce...
Whether you’re a vitamin junkie, detox queen,
smoothie fanatic or gym bunny…
There’s only one store for you!
shop
bantingles
tap
snacks, s re
& mo
helping you live life well
shop wellnesswarehouse.com
wellness warehouse
wellnews
®
with these projects and others, we have
launched a wonderful new product to raise
funds. We have partnered with "Relate", a
not-for-profit social enterprise that creates
opportunities to change lives. Beaders
are a group of elderly township dwellers,
for whom this activity at their local club
provides them with a sense of dignity and
purpose. Most of these women support
entire families, including AIDS-orphaned
grandchildren.
Other fundraising opportunities are
bookmarks that grow into herbs and
flowers, certificates, the ‘Golden Book’ and
the iconic ‘Blue Box’ that collects money to
plant trees in Israel.
To support this project, contact:
021 464 6714 or jnf@ctjc.co.za
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
a
t
’
z
a
m
H
a
m
u
o
t
Y es Gr e e
o
G
n
45
46
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
BNEI AKIVA
SA Union of Jewish Students
SAUJS has been incredibly busy in the
past two months which means we have
so much to update the community on.
T
he first event was our Pesach Seder
which we hosted at the Gardens Shul.
We had over 30 students during University
holidays which was incredible! It was
great to sit around a table with exchange
students from the US and Germany while
also having locals from small Jewish
communities such as East London and
Port Elizabeth. The Seder was enjoyed
by all and at 1:30am (after a few bottles of
wine) we decided to head home.
We also hosted a Shabbat dinner in
conjunction with Ohr Somayach and
Rabbi Cannon. We had over 80 students
attending who were generously hosted by
the Berkman Family. It was a team effort
that really paid off. We hope to host another
dinner in the second half of the year which
promises to be even bigger.
Regarding campus life, SAUJS is
working with UCT to reach a solution on
the Swastikas that were placed on Jammie
Hall. We would like to thank the Cape
Jewish Board of Deputies and the Zionist
Federation Cape Council for all their
assistance. We are determined to protect
the rights of Jewish and Zionist students
on campus and we will continue to do
everything in our power to ensure this.
SAUJS was also present at the memorial
vigil for the students killed in the Garissa
University massacre. Scott Roberts
(our Zionist officer) led a prayer for the
victims and with the help of other SAUJS
representatives showed that Jewish
students are playing an active role in
issues affecting all students from across
the world.
We are also working towards a morning
minyan on campus. These used to happen
regularly over ten years ago and thanks
to the efforts of Rabbi Nissen Goldman,
it is starting up again! He has arranged a
morning tefillin session on Thursdays in
the UCT Beit Midrash and it will hopefully
become a daily occurrence when the
numbers pick up. Rabbi Goldman also
hosts regular lunch and learn sessions as
well as Hebrew classes for interested UCT
students.
We have also been speaking to students
at UWC and encourage students at other
universities to contact us via our Facebook
page. SAUJS has never been in a better
position. We have a huge following and
have made many new friends. The
Jewish youth are grouping together and
are showing more interest in SAUJS and
our events due to the sometimes hostile
climate at universities. Although this may
be a negative thing, it can also be seen
as positive because the revival of Jewish
student activities will help ensure the
sustainability if our beautiful community.
However, to grow even further, we have to
get through our exams first. Good luck to
all those who are writing this month!
Bnei Akiva Cape Town
is as active as ever
and is striving to do
as much as possible in
the community on a
monthly basis.
N
ot long ago we
held
the
‘Big
Bnei
Shabbos’
in
collaboration with Beit
Midrash Morasha, where
we had channies from
around Cape Town join
us for meals at the Bayit, a
pumping Shul service at
Morasha and awesome
activities throughout the
day. It was a unique experience as the Bnei
Akiva Bayit was alive with the singing of
‘Pizza Man’ and many other camp songs
as well as our new games room being filled
with the loud noise of kids having the best
time!
We’d also like to tell you about an
outstanding
group of girls
in grade seven
and a special
mention goes
to Sarah Katz,
Rachel Heilbron
and
Jemma
D i a m o n d.
These
girls
participated
HABONIM DROR
NETZER
Channies take part in the Newtown Xenophobia march
In the book of Devarim we are told
“You shall also love the foreigner,
as you were strangers in the land of
Egypt”.
I
t is no bold statement to say that the
Jewish people know better than most
the struggle of being unwanted strangers
in a foreign land. From Ancient Rome to
the Former Soviet Union, world Jewry
knows far too well the effects of hatred
against foreigners. Habonim Dror Southern
Africa therefore found it incumbent upon
ourselves to act when a wave of vicious
xenophobic violence broke out in South
Africa in April.
Chaverim of HDSA were quick to answer
the call to aid those who had been worse
affected by these unacceptable attacks.
The Habonim bayit in Johannesburg was
set up as a collection point to collect
goods to be taken to hastily set up camps,
housing foreign nationals who had been
forced to flee their homes in order to protect
themselves against the baseless violence.
In the following days we went into the King
David Schools and set up facilities at break
times where students could contribute by
making sandwiches that were delivered
to displacement camps around the city. In
addition to this, a relationship was created
with the displacement camp in Mayfair and
Habonim chaverim visited multiple in order
to interact with, and attempt to bring some
joy into the lives of children that had been
forced to leave their homes for fear of being
targeted.
Finally, we took to the streets alongside
a diverse range of over 20 000 people
to the historic Mary Fitzgerald Square in
Newtown to call for the end of the horrific
treatment our foreign brothers and sisters
were receiving in our beautiful country.
HDSA firmly hopes that South Africa never
again sees such hatred and that foreign
nationals are embraced in the future for the
great deal they have to offer our country.
in a triathlon with
international competitors
and they did very well.
They represented the
Jewish community and
proudly held the flag of
Israel for the pictures
at the end. It gives us
such pride to see our
Chanichim showing love
for the Land, People and
the Torah of Israel.
Coming up is one of
our biggest events of
the year… Winter Camp!
Every year, during the
June/July holidays, we
take the Channichim
out on a four day trip to a faraway location
and do some different, fun activities.
Some examples are (spoiler alert!) sand
boarding, kayaking and a game drive. This
year Winter Camp will be at a campsite in
Geelbek in the West Coast National Park.
It will be from 29 June to 2 July. It is going
to be awesome!
Don’t
miss
out
on
the
opportunity
to give your
kids this great
experience that
will
definitely
be a massive
highlight of the
Bnei Akiva year.
Enjoying Havdalah on Clifton beach
We are half way through the year,
which means half way to big camp!
And we are already so excited.
N
etzer Cape Town has really made
sure that the camp atmosphere
stays throughout the whole year, with all
the events we have had so far. Some of
our more recent participation in events
includes a communal Havdalah ceremony,
a Yom Hazikaron Ceremony and a stall for
Yom Ha’atzmaut.
The Havdalah ceremony that Netzer
run with Temple Israel, took place on
Clifton beach. The Havdalah was just
after a very successful leadership camp
with our oldest age group, and to end off
their training, they were put in charge of
running the service. We are very proud of
our madrichim as it was such an inspiring
occasion. All the Netzer Cape Town
families came together and said farewell
to the Shabbat while enjoying the beautiful
sunset. Afterwards, we congratulated our
madrichim on completing their leadership
training, and we had past Netzernicks talk
about what Netzer means to them and give
advice to our new madrichim to help them
along.
Netzer also participated in the Yom
Hazikaron Ceremony at Herzlia High
School. This was an extremely touching
ceremony which was run and organised
with such care. We are really glad that
we were given the opportunity to be part
of it and to support it along with the other
Jewish youth movements.
Lastly, we took part in the Yom Ha’atzmaut
festivities at Ratanga Junction. We had a
candy floss stall which was selling candy
floss all the way from 2pm to 10pm that
evening! It was a long day, but full of fun
and sugar. Thank you to everyone who
came and supported us there.
In July Netzer Cape Town will be holding
a sleepover for all the channichim and it is
bound to be a very special event. Be sure
to join us!
sport
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
Victory in Fives Tournament
Ayrton beats the clock
47
Ayrton Sweeney brought the SA
Swimming Championships at the
King’s Park Swimming Pool in Durban
to life on the final night of action
by recording one of three World
Championship qualifying times.
T
Back: Alexandra Gutman, Beth Lazard, Odwa Toni (Coach), Graciella Lazar and Shannon
Wanfor. Front: Galia Rodgers, Romy Bloch, Michaela Franco and Amy Marks .
Herzlia’s U19 girls soccer team won stage. Herzlia were the underdogs but with
amazing team spirit and great team play,
their Five’s Futsal Tournament.
they played a superior game and went on
to beat Elkanah 3 -1 in the final.
hey won two games, drew one and lost
The girls dominated possession and
one in the round robin stages. Due to
showed amazing defending commitment
the girls having a higher goal difference,
throughout the game. Goal keeper, Galia
Herzlia came second in their pool. This put
Rodgers, showed her fantastic reaction
them in the semi-final against Edgemead
skills in the box to deny St Cyprians from
High School.
crossing the line more than once. This was
Herzlia beat Edgemead with an awesome
goal by Michaela Franco to win the game an amazing start to the season. Thanks
to coach Odwa for his inspiration and
and secure a final against St Cyprians —
motivation.
who had beaten Herzlia in the round robin
T
he 21-year-old won the national 200m
breaststroke title and in the process
dipped under the Qualification Time
Standards (QTS) of 2:11.66 for the global
spectacle to be held in Kazan later this
year.
Sweeney’s time of 2:11.64 was two
hundredths of a second inside the required
mark, which competitors have to meet in
order to make the team for Russia.
“I took part in the Senior National World
Championship Qualifying meet in Durban.
It is the opportunity to qualify for the
Swimming World Championships to be
held in Kazan, Russia in August. I swim
mainly the breaststroke and the medley
(all 4 strokes). On the last day of the meet I
had a huge dilemma. I was in the finals for
the 200m Breaststroke and the final of the
400m IM, which are both my main events.
The finals of my two events were on the last
evening. I had to decide which one to swim
as there was only a short gap between
the two finals. I decided on swimming
the 200m breaststroke. I made the right
choice as I swam a 2.11.64 which was just
inside the qualifying time. I also dipped
Ayrton Sweeney
under the qualifying time for the Olympics
2016. I am one of only five qualifiers for
World Champs along with Chad Le Clos,
Cameron Van der Burgh, Myles Brown and
Sebastien Rousseau. I will never forget that
race; the noise in the pool complex was so
loud that all the swimmers heard it. As the
spectators realised I was swimming fast
enough to qualify they started cheering me
on. It was an amazing moment and I look
forward to representing South Africa on the
world stage in Russia.
“It was just complete euphoria when I
looked up at the clock,” Sweeney said.
“I’ve never been so excited to see a time
in my life.”
Israel vs South Africa on the ice
Levi Kruyer, Jason Smith and Benji Sack, all Herzlia Grade 12 pupils, also participated in the
SA Nationals Swimming Championships at King’s Park Swimming Pool in Durban. They are
pictured here with Cameron Van Der Burgh.
World's 50 Most Adventurous
Open Water Men
Israel and South Africa on the ice
On 16 April the Israeli ice hockey
team played an international match
against South Africa at the Grand West
Ice Rink. The match was part of the
International Ice Hockey Federation
(“IIHF”) Division II Group B World
Championship.
A
lthough it was a very physical and
competitive contest, the game was
played in a wonderful spirit and supporters
of both teams conducted themselves
extremely well.
The atmosphere at the game was
absolutely electric. So many came to cheer
and support both the South African and
the Israeli team. The Israeli flag was seen
everywhere.
Unfortunately towards the end of the
first period of the game Israel v South
Africa, supporters of the BDS started a
pro-Palestine demonstration from the
supporter stands and they also started
throwing marbles on the ice in a deliberate
strategy to try and cause physical harm to
the players. Grand West security personnel
acted decisively and quickly removed
these demonstrators from the arena.
Thankfully, none of the players were
seriously injured and the game was able to
resume after a short delay.
What a joy it was to see the Israeli team
win 6-3 and to see how proud the team
members and the supporters were when
they had the opportunity to sing Hatikvah.
The Israeli Ice Hockey team also played
against Mexico the following Saturday but
unfortunately lost that match.
The Israeli national ice hockey team is
currently ranked 32nd by the IIHF. South
Africa is ranked 40th.
We want to hear all about your sporting achievements. Please
send us your high-res photographs with stories so that we can
share them with the community.
Open
Water
Swimming researched
and compiled the
following list of the
2015 World's 50 Most
Adventurous
Open
Water Men.
open water is global and
inherent among many.
But this list is symbolic of
the very best.
“Each of us has our
own career ‘day jobs’
outside of open water
swimming.
Mine
is
property investment and
he list focuses on
development. I was also
men who have done
Theodore Yach
one of the founders of
unprecedented swims of
the Cape Town Partnership
note or a significant number of risk-inherent
channel, lake or marathon swims, men and the Central City Improvement District.
who proven themselves in both high-level My 1st Robben Island to Mainland swim
competitions and solo swims, and men crossing was in November 1981 and to
date I have swum 90 crossings including
who have safely guided many swimmers
of various abilities in rough waters, with several international swims such as the
English Channel and the Sea of Galilee”
emphasis on men who have repeatedly
explains Theodore Yach, marathon/
swum in waters that are colder, rougher
channel swimmer from Cape Town and
and longer than the English Channel.
The list includes men from 19 countries number 49 on the list.
The list boasts three Jewish South
including England, Mexico, Australia, South
Africans. As well as Theodore Yach the list
Africa, Tunisia, Russia, Italy, USA, Ireland,
includes ice swimmer Ram Barkai, ranked
Dominican Republic, France, Spain,
number five and ice/extreme swimmer
Estonia, Serbia, Argentina, New Zealand,
Andrew Chin, ranked number nine on this
Bulgaria, Slovenia, and Germany which is
indicative that the sense of adventure in the list of 50 incredible sportsmen.
T
48
Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2015
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