NOMINATIONS for the ABSA JEWISH ACHIEVER AWARDS 2019 NOW OPEN Send Nominations to [email protected]

n Volume 23 – Number 19 n 31 May 2019 n 26 Iyar 5779

2019

NOMINATIONS FOR THE ABSA JEWISH ACHIEVER AWARDS 2019 NOW OPEN Send nominations to [email protected]

Absa Jewish Achiever Awards 2019

The Absa Jewish Achiever Awards is the most exquisite red-carpet event of the year, where the nation’s most affluent businesspeople, political leaders, and listed businesses attend and recognise the remarkable achievements of the Jewish community in building South Africa through Business, Entrepreneurship, the Art, Sport, Science and Culture, Humanities and Community Service. Nominations are open to the public, and last year we considered nearly 500 nominees for nine awards.

This year’s event will take place on Sunday 8 September 2018 winners

Absa Business Award Absa Business Icon Award Lifetime Achievement Award in honour of Helen Suzman

Mike Abel Stephen Koseff Sol Kerzner

The Creative Counsel Entrepreneur Absa Professional Excellence Award Art, Sport, Science and Culture Award Award

Judge Jason Xenopoulos David Unterhalter Hazel Feldman

Bunnahabhain Humanitarian Award KIA Community Service Award Europcar Women in Leadership in honour of Chief Rabbi Cyril Harris Award Freedom Under Law and Helen Suzman Professor Send names to Foundation Colin Datnow Bonita Meyersfeld [email protected] by 14 July 2019 Angus Taylor, Set of 6 Scandinavian dining room chairs with bronze, aluminium, woven seats and backs cement fondant SOLD R8,500 SOLD R85,000

Art, antiques, objets d’art, furniture, and jewellery

wanted for forthcoming auctions Irma Stern, watercolour, pastel View upcoming auction highlights at www.rkauctioneers.co.za and pen on paper 011 789 7422 • 011 326 3515 • 083 675 8468 • 12 Allan Road, Bordeaux, Johannesburg SOLD R 135,000

south african n Volume 23 – Number 19 n 31 May 2019 n 26 Iyar 5779

The source of quality content, news and insights t www.sajr.co.za Mixed reception for Naledi Pandor as international affairs minister

TALI FEINBERG AND NICOLA MILTZ Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. It is a prestigious downgrading, South Africa might be an outlier.” our functions. We know her well, and we appointment for a close supporter and Ultimately, Gon thinks that Sisulu was not have spent time with her. We just want any here are mixed feelings about President confidant. Therefore, it is more likely she will replaced because of her actions in downgrading minister to be free and fair, and treat Israel Cyril Ramaphosa’s appointment of Naledi reflect more of the Ramaphosa worldview than the Israeli embassy, because then, Pandor would like any other state. We hope it will be like Pandor as minister of international Sisulu did in recent years.” not have been chosen to replace her. Rather, this with the new minister. It is a great new Trelations and cooperation late on Wednesday But, one could only speculate, he said. “One she thinks it might have been because she was cabinet. The president has brought it down, night. Some believe she has the perfect mix of would hope that she would have a more even- perceived as not diplomatic enough. and kept the economic cluster the same. We statesmanship and wisdom for the position. handed approach to some of South Africa’s She explains that Pandor is married to a have to be excited, and we are.” Others feel she is not neutral about the Israeli- foreign-affairs dilemmas, like dealing with Muslim and converted to Islam, which she takes Said National Director Wendy Kahn, “The Palestinian situation. the Venezuela issue, or the ongoing tension incredibly seriously. SAJBD is encouraged by the announcement Pandor has replaced Lindiwe Sisulu in this between the United States and Iran, and the The South African Jewish Board of of President Ramaphosa’s cabinet, and in role. The latter has been moved to the position Israel/Palestine question. Deputies (SAJBD) remains cautiously particular the consolidation of several of the of minister of human settlements. “Her closeness to the president is the key optimistic. SAJBD Vice-President Zev Krengel ministries. We commit ourselves to working Political analyst Ralph Mathekga told the issue here. In her, he has a right-hand person. said, “We will have to wait and see. Naledi with him and his executive towards the SA Jewish Report that Pandor’s statesmanship Her appointment could signal a return to a great Pandor has been to our conferences and creation of our country’s ‘new dawn’.” could have been what Ramaphosa was looking role for South Africa on the international stage for in the role. that has been missing in recent years.” “If your growth strategy is foreign However, political analyst Sara Gon disagrees, investment, you need a good diplomat. She is saying that Pandor is vehemently anti-Israel. Returning to the polls an extremely well-respected minister that has Pandor was one of the first members of the headed up a number of very stable portfolios,” African National Congress to officially call for he said. “She has a good reputation in the party. a downgrade of South Africa’s embassy in Tel Her placement shows that this portfolio might Aviv. In February 2018, she stood up during a be becoming more important to the president.” debate about the State of the Nation address in However, Mathekga is concerned that the Parliament, and said, “The majority party has department of international relations and agreed that government must cut diplomatic cooperation (Dirco) has two deputy ministers, ties with Israel.” The comment was unexpected, which he believes is not needed, especially if and some MPs expressed their shock at the government is trying to cut costs. time. Besides that, he views the new cabinet Pandor was given a standing ovation as as having “lots of continuity and no major she left the podium. Her statement that upsets”. However, he does not think the rand government would definitely cut diplomatic will respond positively as there is still general ties with Israel was reiterated on parliament’s pessimism about economic growth. official Twitter account. Meanwhile, political analyst Daniel Silke told The only positive that Gon can see in this the SA Jewish Report that the appointment move is that “other countries aren’t rushing to of Pandor was an “important shift” from an do what South Africa has done to its embassy”. international relations point of view. So, if Dirco continues on this path, it might be “Remember, Pandor was a close ally of left out in the cold. This is especially so if it is Cyril Ramaphosa in the run up to Nasrec in pandering to Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions December 2017,” he said. “She was effectively (BDS) while also trying to support a two- See page 6 his running mate in the contest against state solution. If others are not on verge of • Brief • Wo in rld 2 SA JEWISH REPORT s N 31 May – 7 June 2019 ew e N w d s l i r n o B W r Appliance Repairs on Site i • e

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Torah Thought Jubilee addresses contentious land issue he book of Leviticus, which we have just these commandments. The borders between the hired workers, and if that finished reading, reviews a sequence of different ancestral domains of the tribes of Israel are arrangement failed, slaves to Tordinances and sacred rituals. Toward its discussed at length, mainly in the Book of Joshua. their fellow-Israelites. Rabbi Sa’ar end, we are presented with two sets of regulations After the dramatic achievements of the The prophets repeatedly Shaked, Beit defining theshemita (seventh year) and the yovel, generation who took possession of the land, we rebuke their society for taking Emanuel Progressive the jubilee or 50th anniversary. observe an Israelite presence in the shape of a advantage of the poor, and Synagogue These two concepts complete the sacred loose confederation of twelve tribes, based in the treating them as though they temporal cycle: from the weekly Shabbat, to the central hill country on both sides of the Jordan lacked dignity. They were particularly concerned sanctification of the lunar month, to the festivals Valley. The conditions were hard. In addition with people who had lost their land. However, of a single year. Then come seven groups of seven to the usual harshness of agricultural life, the the system of shemita and the yovel was meant years each, re-enacting the shemita, and finally Israelites had to face external enemies such as the to serve as a remedy for such suffering. Slaves the yovel as the fiftieth year of jubilee. Philistines from the coastal plain, the economically were to be freed in the seventh year. The land had The yovel is described as liberating in its effect: and culturally developed Canaanite city-dwellers, to return to its original owners every fiftieth year. U’kra’atem dror ba’aretz (And you shall declare and the inhabitants of the dangerous desert Poverty was not to become a lasting burden from liberty in the land for all its inhabitants; it is a frontier. Nomadic tribes, such as the Midianites, generation to generation. jubilee for you) (25:10). This means that people might charge in on their camels, spreading terror This is perhaps the reason for the Book of who had been uprooted and threatening the seasonal crops. Numbers opening with a comprehensive census are entitled to return to Under these difficult conditions, one can in which all members of the tribes are counted their families on their understand how the passing of generations led to and acknowledged. They are all given a place original ancestral land. the division of a family’s inheritance into smaller within the community of Israel. The Torah uses VEHICLES WANTED Land ownership is and smaller plots. If this process was compounded an interesting word: vayityaldu (they counted a contentious topic in by misfortune, farmers might become destitute the generations to ensure that everyone was contemporary South and be forced to sell their land. This would have recognised by the Eternal). This notion is Africa, but let’s try constituted an act of despair. Once the land was highlighted in the words of Hosea in the Haftarah: to understand the no longer theirs, they had lost the principal means they shall all be called b’nei el chai, (children of the original background of of production. Farmers were obliged to become living G-d).

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11 Republic Road, Bordeaux, Randburg Tel: (011) 326-1954 31 May – 7 June 2019 SA JEWISH REPORT 3 BDS-SA head cleared of sexual harassment, but matter still simmers NICOLA MILTZ Johannesburg to attend a from what she considered to be disappointed in the legal findings, with a commitment to Palestinian conference on Palestine, hosted an inappropriate predatory sexual but was even more disappointed solidarity and gender justice to n independent by the Afro-Middle East Centre behaviour”. with its analysis. actively distance themselves from investigation into (AMEC), a research institute on This week, lawyers representing “It shows a clear bias in favour the position adopted by BDS-SA”. allegations of sexual Middle Eastern affairs. Kil from the Women’s Legal of the perpetrator, and the They condemned the lack of a harassmentA levelled at the The conference was followed by Centre (WLC) expressed investigator places the burden and victim-centred approach. head of Boycott, Divestment, a study tour for 18 participants. “great disappointment” in the onus on women to address sexual The issue reached fever Sanctions South Africa (BDS- The three women were part of investigation’s findings. harassment and sternly resist it.” pitch this week when Na’eem SA) Muhammed Desai may have that group. Jeenah of AMEC expressed his cleared him of wrongdoing, but On the night in question, dissatisfaction at the outcome on the seedy affair is far from over. Desai allegedly harassed the public radio. Desai, the director of BDS-SA, three women with hugs, kisses Muhammed Desai Jeenah, who assisted the three has been mired in a string of on cheeks, high-fives, light complainants in the matter, said sexual-harassment allegations touches, and alleged “predatory” there was no resolution. which have ruffled feathers behaviour which was described Speaking on Afternoon Drive within the Palestine solidarity by them as “invasive” and with Joanne Joseph on 702, movement, causing disunity and “annoying”. Jeenah claimed he was aware of antagonism within its ranks. Before returning to the United ten women who accused Desai of This week, things came to States, Kil laid a charge of sexual sexual harassment. One of the a head after the release of a harassment at the Brixton Police women was an intern at BDS-SA, much-anticipated report by Station. he said, who he said had become an independent investigator According to Kil, Desai suicidal. appointed by BDS-SA following appeared visibly drunk when “Personally, I don’t think in the allegations of sexual he and his BDS-SA colleague, any good conscience I could allow harassment which surfaced in Rashaad Dadoo, 22, “crashed” this matter to rest,” said Jeenah. March this year. their table at the restaurant. He refused to comment Advocate Smanga Sethene Desai’s behaviour was repeatedly further when approached by the from the Johannesburg Bar this inappropriate, she said, SA Jewish Report. week cleared Desai of sexual making unwanted physical In response, Desai said, “The harassment allegations. advances which made her feel South African criminal justice His findings were released in a uncomfortable. system has cleared me, and an report which said the allegations According to her statement, independent investigation has against Desai were “unfounded”. Desai was “deeply drunk, very cleared me. It is unfortunate Furthermore, he found that there loud, and annoying”. that you have people like Na’eem wasn’t “rational basis in law “I told him at one point I was Jeenah suggesting that this issue to take any disciplinary action old enough to be his biological is not over.” against” Desai, sending shock parent, and point blank told Jeenah said that throughout waves through pro-Palestine and him my age was 46. He said he the ordeal, BDS had not gender-activist circles. was 33, and suggested that my They said the WLC wrote to the It said it was a case in point of contacted him to provide or ask age was no problem. I told him I board of BDS-SA to seek clarity the importance of taking a victim- for developments on the case. wasn’t interested in people who on the terms of reference for the centred approach to dealing with “BDS-SA has not communicated were much younger than I was. investigation, but received no sexual harassment. with us. We found out like “Within the social-justice His interest didn’t wane, only response. “The report favoured an everyone else on its website and sector, this is another increased.” “Without advising us, our approach that heavily criticised social media.” At one stage, Kil said she “felt client was approached for the as well as questioned the When the police closed its case example of the prevalence two hands touch her shoulders in first time on 20 May 2019 via motives and the behaviour of on the basis of it being a “false of sexual harassment, and a light massage”. email by the investigator of her the complainant against the case”, Jeenah said he did not the lack of seriousness that Meanwhile, Desai has complaint. She was also advised standard of the ‘perfect victim’, understand why, and questioned consistently denied all the that the investigation was taking implying and creating a narrative what that meant. sexual harassment is taken. allegations against him. place urgently, and was asked in many instances that the victims He said none of the three This matter needs to be The advocate’s report said, to confirm the content of her are over-reacting, or seeking complainants had been pursued.” “Mr Desai admits he had statements. No new or further attention.” This it said “has interviewed by the advocate consumed alcohol on the night in questions were posed to her, and damaging effects on the victim”. handling the independent question and during the alleged she was not given the option of an BDS-SA, however, welcomed investigation. The allegations go back incident. However, he denies interview,” the WLC said. the findings, and noted that the Jeenah told 702, “Within to the night of 21 March at ever sexually harassing any of On 27 May, Kil was advised report was critical of the board for the social-justice sector, this is Sips Restaurant in Melville, the complainants. He contends… via her attorneys that the the “delay in pursuing the matter”. another example of the prevalence Johannesburg. The Daily Vox none of the complainants investigation had been completed, From the outset, BDS-SA has of sexual harassment, and the reported that visiting American communicated her discomfort to and that the findings were that been criticised by members within lack of seriousness that sexual academic and pro-Palestine him during or after the hugs and/ no disciplinary steps needed the Palestine solidarity movement harassment is taken. This matter activist, Professor Sang Hea or high-fives.” to be taken against Desai as for its handling of the matter. needs to be pursued.” Kil, alleged that Desai sexually Sethene said it was not clear his behaviour didn’t constitute A statement issued on 8 April Desai did not respond to a harassed her and two other why Kil “could not sternly inform workplace misconduct. on behalf of several solidarity request for comment at the time women while they were visiting Mr Desai to refrain and desist The WLC said it was groups called on “organisations of going to print.

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The business side of operating the Fmaking her leave South Africa, the experience organisation is the biggest challenge due to the motivated her to embrace this country and its fact that we don’t have any permanent staff,” Carmel School invites outstanding applicants challenges. she says. to apply for the leadership position of: She started Magical Moments, a non- In the beginning, the organisation operated profit organisation which offers “fairytale” from a home office, taking children on outings experiences to abused, abandoned, or creating an experience at the day care centre disadvantaged, impoverished, neglected, or organisation. But in March 2018, Friedman orphaned, underprivileged, and vulnerable was able to obtain and create her own venue RABBI / JEWISH children in Johannesburg. The organisation in Sandhurst. “The realisation of this dream was recently presented with the Community is undoubtedly the biggest success and most Support Award from the South African gratifying achievement in my lifetime,” she says. STUDIES EDUCATOR Chamber of Commerce in the United Kingdom. There have been other high points. In April “In spite of the fact that we already had 2019, Friedman attended the graduation permanent residence visas for Australia, I ceremony of one of the organisation’s decided to take a four-month sabbatical from beneficiaries. “I met Salem in Hillbrow when Carmel School is a high performing Jewish day school at the my career in the hospitality industry to reflect she was eight years old. To bear witness to heart of the thriving Perth Jewish community. We are currently on the meaning of life and life purpose,” says this auspicious occasion is as magical as a real- seeking a dynamic and professional Jewish Studies Educator / Friedman, about the time after the hijacking. life fairy tale can get. At the age of 20, Salem Rabbi to join our growing school community. “This led to the creation of Magical Moments, completed her first degree in the humanities Working in both the areas of formal and informal Jewish Education in a because reaching out to children in an impactful and this year, through my intervention and high school setting, as well as the possibility of communal rabbinic and way resonated with me. I recognised that support, returned to university to further her Halachic leadership, the successful applicant will have a combination of giving children hope and love was a way to studies in in psychology and anthropology,” change a life. It was this sense of purpose, and says Friedman. skills and abilities, including the capacity to motivate students and create knowing that I am making a positive impact “Salem is aiming to do her honours and an inclusive environment, experience as a formal and/or informal limudei on the country that made it kodesh educator and able to teach Gemara to High School students. a logical choice to relinquish A generous package, including salaries, accommodation, the Australian visa and school fees and relocation expenses will be negotiated with opportunities. I recognised that the successful candidate. it was better to move towards your passions than run away For full details, visit www.carmel.wa.edu.au or contact from your fears. I turned what [email protected]. Applications close June 12, 2019. would ordinarily be seen as a traumatic event into a catalyst for change.” The work of her organisation is simple but powerful. It is all about treating kids to delightful experiences that they would otherwise never have had the chance to enjoy. We may take such “fairytale” adventures for granted, but for children living in poverty and fear, they are truly magical. Ilana Friedman creating “I create extraordinary days Magical Moments for a broad profile of children in the greater Johannesburg region, focusing master’s degrees in psychology. She says she is on early childhood development experiential studying psychology because she was inspired activities. The children get to play and heal, by me and wanted to be of service to humanity. and like magic, transformation takes place. In She has chosen this as a way of recognising and a weary world, I create true-life fairy tales that honouring the work that I do. She has returned begin with ‘once upon a time’ and end with over the years as a volunteer, and completed the SEEKING MADRICHIM/OT ‘happily ever after’,” says Friedman. circle of receiving and giving.” The children arrive at the organisation’s Magical Moments is different to the myriad WHO WANT TO SPEND A magnificent World of Wonder in Sandhurst, other non-governmental organisations out there and step into their Secret Enchanted Garden for a number of reasons. “I seek out children and Palace of Dreams. “They do art, music, in need on foot, walking through dangerous YEAR IN PERTH, AUSTRALIA dance, pottery, and sports activities, with much environments, where no one else dares to go. freedom to play, climb, jump, and run, in a safe I include the children of domestic workers, and stimulating environment. gardeners, and unskilled labourers who live or Are you seeking a unique opportunity to make a real difference “The themes and activities change from work in the leafy suburbs. Their children live in to a Jewish community, live in a beautiful location and have an season to season, and we vary the experience backyard rooms, unseen and unheard. These for the children who return regularly. We are children slip through the cracks, but are as Aussie adventure – all expenses paid! therefore able to assess change, transformation, deserving, and have potential,” says Friedman. Working in Perth’s only Jewish Day School Carmel, as well as Bnei Akiva and development from their first visit. They are She feels “delighted, honoured, elated, and and our Torah Mitzion Beit Midrash, you will thrive in our close-knit, high more engaged, responsive, and spontaneous, proud” to have been awarded by the South achieving community. Your day will consist of learning in chavrutah and caring and embracing, less fearful, and more African Chamber of Commerce in the UK. “This chaburot with students and community members, running informal receptive,” she says. Community Support Award is testament to Jewish activities at our thriving Jewish Day School and being part of our The organisation has reached out to more my never giving up because it got too hard. I vibrant Bnei Akiva youth movement. than 145 day care centres, feeding schemes, had to believe in myself, in my own magic, in homes, and organisations, having a positive my dreams and my vision, beyond the multiple Community representatives will be in London on 16 July and impact on hundreds of thousands of children detractors who deemed it not possible. This Johannesburg on 18 – 21 July to meet with interested candidates. and their minders. award is for those of us who go about making “In addition to showing children a different a profound difference in the world, both in Further information is available on our website. For more information, aspect life so that they can aspire to something South Africa and in the UK, without fanfare or please contact Simon on [email protected] more than they know, they also learn to spotlight.” wish. Therefore, I am a true fairy godmother To South Africans who want to make a extraordinaire,” says Friedman with a smile. difference but feel overwhelmed, her advice is It has not been without its challenges, to “just start. anywhere. Start with kindness. however, as Friedman handles all the logistics, At home, in your family, in your closest administrative duties, responsibilities, community, and then spread that love out into event planning, co-ordination, social media, other communities, across the wide divide, and experience fulfilment, and operations. All extend that reach.” 31 May – 7 June 2019 SA JEWISH REPORT 5 Sandton drive renaming in overdrive NICOLA MILTZ militancy for her role in hijacking Ward councillor for the affected According to the TWA flight 840 from Rome to Tel area, Martin Williams, said there policy document, “The nti-Israel lobbyists are Aviv in 1969 and El Al flight 219 in had not yet been public participation naming of features after demanding that the City 1970. on the matter. He said city policy exceptional people is of Johannesburg speed up Member of the mayoral committee required that the process of recognised as being theA controversial name change of for community development, naming and/or renaming must a way of honouring Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive. Councillor Nonhlanhla Sifumba, be undertaken in a consultative outstanding individuals Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions told the SA Jewish Report that the manner, and this must be clearly for their contribution South Africa (BDS-SA) has accused DA did not agree with the motion at demonstrated before a final decision to the development the Democratic Alliance (DA)- the time because it did not conform can be taken. of the city and the led executive of the city, and in to the prescripts of the policy for Some of the minimum country, and should be particular, Mayor Herman Mashaba, naming and re-naming which was requirements for public done sparingly and with of “preventing the implementation reviewed in November 2017. consultation, according to Williams, careful consideration.” of this street name change”. It has She said although Sandton Drive include: People’s names planned a protest for this Friday at was situated in the city, it was Consultation with ward should be used “only the Johannesburg City Council to a provincial road, and Gauteng councillors; the placement of public in rare cases”, the demand that the name be changed. province was responsible for notices on site and at prominent document says. In a statement issued this initiating public participation strategic positions such as schools, Councillor Thapelo week, BDS-SA said, “In 2018, the through the city. clinics, and libraries or multi- Amad of the minor Johannesburg City Council adopted She said the protest action must purpose centres; the placement Al Jama-ah political a motion to rename Sandton Drive be “politically motivated”. of municipal notices in local party, which holds one [where the United States consulate is “They clearly do not understand newspapers; and at least one public seat out of 270 seats located] after Palestinian icon Leila council processes... hence my only meeting, to name a few. in the Johannesburg City Council, then tabled and accepted, calling Khaled.” conclusion is that it might be Williams said that city policy brought the motion before the for renaming the road after Khaled. Khaled, 74, is a member of the politically motivated. Somebody stated that place re-naming should council last year. It was opposed by The DA did not support the motion, Popular Front for the Liberation somewhere is pushing an agenda. It’s be done “sparingly”, in order to DA Councillor Sergio dos Santos, but was outnumbered when the of Palestine, and has visited South a very emotive and sensitive issue, eliminate unnecessary expenses, who said it would be wasteful Economic Freedom Fighters and Africa several times. She is known and requires a full understanding of including costs for businesses and expenditure. African National Congress voted in as the poster girl of Palestinian council policy and processes.” other stakeholders. An amendment to the motion was favour of it.

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These were just some of the given 42 days (that included an extension) to frustrating questions that rattled me and our editorial staff throughout Wednesday. put together a new government. Not for one Likud supporter and former Israeli AsW you may or may not know, the SA Jewish Report is published late on Wednesday. moment did anyone think he wouldn’t succeed. ambassador to the United Nations, Danny It just so happens that the future of the Israeli and South African government was hanging But suddenly, former ally and Defense and Ayalon, said that in spite of his years of in the balance on this particular Wednesday. It was big stuff. Foreign Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman zigzagging, Lieberman had worked over And we waited … with an empty front page. became a wild card. Without Lieberman’s Yisrael the years to foster an image of himself as a Newly inaugurated South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was taking a very long time to Beytenu (“Israel is our home”) party’s five seats, “bulldozer”, but in practice had no real record announce his cabinet. Netanyahu had only 60 out of 120 Knesset to speak of. And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (parliament) mandates. He needed 61 to hold a “According to my assessment,” said Ayalon, – whose Likud party won the Israel elections – was majority. “Lieberman has reached the understanding battling to create his coalition government. In the An immigrant from Moldova in the former that, as a member of Yisrael Beytenu, he has no strange horse-trading that is so typical of Israeli politics, Soviet Union, Lieberman has been pushing for chance of making it to a position from where things fell apart because Yisrael Beyteinu, a right wing years for ultra-Orthodox Jews to serve in the he can replace Netanyahu as prime minister.” secular party, would not agree to a condition made by Israel Defense Forces (IDF). This put him at odds The timing was far from ideal. On Thursday the ultra-Orthodox parties. Lieberman, the leader of with the religious parties Netanyahu also needed morning, Jared Kushner, senior advisor to Yisrael Beyteinu, would not agree to the ultra-Orthodox as part of his coalition. As things currently stand American president, Donald Trump, arrived condition that they do not have to serve in the army. – and how religious parties would like them to in Jerusalem to see Netanyahu. Kushner is However, it seems to go way deeper. Read Paula Slier’s continue – ultra-Orthodox Jews are exempt from in the Middle East seeking support for an column alongside this editorial. national service, unlike the rest of the Jewish “economic workshop” that Washington plans The upshot of this is that Netanyahu had until population in Israel. to host at the end of next month in Bahrain midnight on Wednesday to come to an agreement with But this was a smokescreen. The real reason as part of Trump’s Middle East peace plan. his proposed coalition or Israel would head for a snap for the stalemate was a political power fight The administration has offered Palestinian election. And for most of Wednesday, nobody seemed to between Lieberman and Netanyahu for Israel’s businessmen billions of dollars in investment be budging as the hours passed. top job. Lieberman wanted the position of prime if they come on board, but the Palestinians For us, this was nerve-wracking. To say I was sitting on shpilkes was an understatement. Our minister, which would have meant that should and several other countries, most notably Arab front page sat empty. Netanyahu travel abroad or for another reason states and Russia, have said they will shun the For the Israeli story, Paula wrote three pieces, giving us different options. The first would be be unable to perform the duties of premier, it event. Israel has indicated it will attend. used if Netanyahu managed to come to an agreement with Lieberman before we went to print. would be Lieberman The second piece was for a snap election, and the final piece was if no decision was made before who would have had midnight, and the second election was to come into play anyway. to step in. No doubt As for the South African situation, I thought it was going to be a breeze when I woke up on he was hedging his Wednesday morning to hear on 702 that President Cyril Ramaphosa was going to have a press bets that if Netanyahu conference at 16:00. Everyone expected him to announce his new cabinet then. It seemed went on trial over the obvious because until then, he is the only member of the cabinet. He is the only leader of pending corruption government. So, none of the government ministries or departments have a head, which means charges that have been little movement in any big decisions in the country. brought against him, But as our journalist began preparing for this announcement, and started making he would automatically enquiries and setting up interviews, it seemed there was no certainly about the time of the become the next prime announcement. minister. In fact, there was total silence about any announcement. There was a clear indication that he Lieberman has also might not say one word to the public on Wednesday, and that this would carry on later in the been much firmer on week. Gaza than Netanyahu, So, the daily newspapers and online media put out speculative articles about who would be – repeatedly calling for or should be – in Ramaphosa’s cabinet, and why he was taking so long to make his decision. a full-scale invasion And, we waited in hope, as our front page sat bare. to topple its ruler, Now, while I was sitting on shpilkes in the offices of theSA Jewish Report, the world out there Hamas. Netanyahu was wasn’t so happy either. Nobody likes to be kept waiting for vital information, especially when a against this because country’s future is at stake. of the massive use of “The delay in the cabinet announcement unnerved investors counting on Ramaphosa’s force and inevitable reform policies,” was the introduction to the story headlined, “Rand rocked by … uncertain casualties it would Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Avigdor Lieberman politics” on Moneyweb on Wednesday afternoon. entail. BusinessLive led with “Rand at seven-month low as SA awaits cabinet announcement”. And so Many observers believe that Lieberman was Kushner planned his trip to the region in it went on. counting on Netanyahu’s time in power coming advance on the assumption Netanyahu would The Israeli media relayed what it dubbed “the coalition crisis”, which it feared would send the to an end. He presumably identified this moment by now have formed his new government. His country back to the polls at a huge cost to the country. It would also mean that there would be as his best chance at the premiership. His arrival in Jerusalem unintentionally sent the no clear government to take the country forward until snap elections, which could take place supporters backed him on the ultra-Orthodox message that it was “business as usual” no only in six months’ time. conscription issue, and so he could mask his play matter what happened in the Knesset. Headlines littering the media were “Netanyahu and Lieberman’s political fight just got out for power in more palatable terms, even though This isn’t actually Trump’s position. Taking of hand”, “Netanyahu’s darkest, deepest fear just came true”, and “Snap elections loom ahead he essentially prevented a right-wing government to Twitter on Monday, the American president of midnight deadline for coalition efforts”. As well as Israel is doing economically and on other from coming to power. expressed support for Netanyahu. fronts, no country can afford to waste taxpayers’ money on an additional election. It’s that This does not mean that Netanyahu and the “Hoping things will work out with Israel’s simple. right-wing bloc won’t win again come September, coalition formation,” he tweeted, and “Bibi So, while these two massive scenarios played out around the leadership of these two the month new elections are slated to be held. In [Netanyahu] and I can continue to make the countries, we at the SA Jewish Report kept going back to this empty page, hoping for some kind fact, the latest polls this week showed the right alliance between America and Israel stronger of resolution before we had to send the newspaper to print. The clock was ticking… would get even more votes than it did in April, than ever. A lot more to do!” It felt like time had slowed down, and we waited for word. Then, after 17:00, we heard that but there are risks. Arab-Israelis, who voted in What remains to be seen is whether Trump Ramaphosa would announce the cabinet at 20:00. historically low numbers in the past election, will be willing to put his highly touted “deal of So, we held the front page… could turn out en masse, boosting the left. the century” on hold should new elections need You may ask yourself why we make such a big deal about what we put on the front page of Alternatively, right-wing supporters might stay at to be held. (He clearly did so without admitting our newspaper, and why we should wait to make sure that you have the latest news. “You are home and view the second elections to be held in it earlier in the year, waiting until Netanyahu only a community newspaper,” some would say. six months with a growing sense of apathy. had won the April vote before advancing – at But that’s just it. We are your community newspaper, and we want to make sure that you What’s more, the country now needs to spend a least publicly – with it.) have the most up-to-date news as possible. We will do whatever we can to make sure that you lot of money that could have been used for other The irony is that while the White House have that. projects to arrive essentially at the same position. allowed Netanyahu to set its schedule vis-à-vis We carefully consider what goes into this newspaper… and what doesn’t. This extends to The treasury estimates that new elections the United States’ plan, it’s now found out that every article we run. will cost 475 million shekels (R1.9 billion). it was Lieberman who was setting Netanyahu’s. This is just a tiny insight into the goings on in this newsroom. I hope you enjoy the fruits. This excludes the loss to the economy of an As for the left-wing Blue and White party election-day holiday, estimated at more than headed by former IDF chief, Benny Gantz, and Shabbat Shalom! $1 billion (R14.6 billion). There’s reportedly journalist-turned-politician Yair Lapid, which Peta Krost Maunder no money in the budget for this, so the cash came second to Likud in April, the maximum Editor will need to come from spending less on other number of seats, including the support of the activities. Arab parties, it could garner was 55 out of 120. 31 May – 7 June 2019 Child Protection Week SA JEWISH REPORT 7 Red Riding Hood and the big bad internet judith ancer nce upon a time, there our memories in red technicolour. Ninety five percent of American forever. Just one phone number cyberspace, what was a girl called Little Red Of course, the dangers are never teens own their own smart phones or address given to a stranger may or may not be Riding Hood. Or Lexi. Or just “out there”, and they don’t have or have access to one. With apps disguised as a friend can set in downloaded, when OEsther. She kissed her mother, who to resort to “huffing and puffing” being developed for toddlers, the motion a chain of events over which phones may be used, and when stood at the garden gate, or went to get into our houses. We invite iPad is the latest must-have for the they have absolutely no control. they have to be turned off. shopping, or watched her favourite them into our homes through wired generation and our offspring. Just as it’s not prying to keep However, the most important TV programme. social networks, via smart phones, Social media connects us to a careful eye on your children’s way we can protect our children “Be careful,” her mother said. tablets, and computers. the world, informs us, and sets relationships, and what they’re is by educating ourselves about “Look out for the big bad wolf.” Or A Pew Research Centre study up opportunities for learning, doing while hanging out at the mall, the possibilities and probabilities words to that effect. from 2018 reported that 45% of creating and sharing. We can’t – and it’s not intrusive to monitor their lurking out there on the web. Not But the enthusiastic shouldn’t – wish this away use (or misuse) of the internet and only should we check the websites child soon forgot her as there are important apps like Tik Tok and WhatsApp. that our children are visiting, but well-meaning mother’s benefits to using social In checking up on what your child with younger children, we can cautions. networks in a sensible way. is doing in cyberspace, you will dictate which sites they may visit, Full of good The trick, I believe, discover no more or less than the and use some of the technologies intentions, she made is to treat your child’s public knows. available to limit their access to her way through the first exposure to social Tell your child that if he or content we deem inappropriate. forest on her own. media the same way you she wants privacy, then good old By the time our children reach Enticements popped would their first date. For fashioned conversation and letter adolescence, we have to rely more up everywhere, and the first date, you will writing are the way to go. Anything on building trust with them she became a little probably feel comfortable else belongs as much to you as to and a little less on monitoring. distracted. Entranced discussing the possible the cyber world out there. We need to have helped them by her discoveries, she risks and setting limits for One way to set up clear rules navigate the realities of virtual didn’t notice that wicked behaviour. You probably with your child is to sign a cell communication and virtual eyes were watching her will not think twice about phone or social-media contract relationships with their real every movement. checking up on what with them. These are available possibilities for exploitation, Children don’t see they’re getting up to, such on the internet, and make it bullying, and betrayal. We need those red gleaming as arriving a little early at very clear what your child’s to warn them about predators eyes, not when they’re the house party or keeping responsibilities are as a user of disguised as promises, and help tapping away at their in touch with the hosting social media, and what steps you them to manage the temptations iPhones, connecting on parents. are entitled to take to monitor of instant connection. Hopefully, Instagram, or hooking It’s the same with and safeguard them. then, they will be able to travel up to the internet. children’s flirtations with Of course, your child is more safely down the digital It’s a big bad world out there. American teens say they use the social media. Remind them there’s probably so desperate to have a pathways of their social networks. Always has been, always will be. Not internet “almost constantly”, a a reason why it’s called “social” – it’s cell phone that he/she will sign most of the time, and not in most figure that has nearly doubled from not private and confidential. Tell any document. But it’s a process. • Judith Ancer is a Johannesburg- places, but when bad things happen the 24% who said this in the 2014- them Google never forgets. A single And this type of contract sets based clinical psychologist. to children in our community, we 2015 survey. Another 44% say inappropriate image or comment out clearly the limits you are • A version of this piece originally don’t easily forget them. They stain they go online several times a day. posted online could be around prepared to place on time spent in appeared in the Sunday Times.

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Be a part of something truly great. Learn more and join here: friendsofsheba.co.za | eng.sheba.co.il | The Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer Email. [email protected] | Phone. 0829077728 8 SA JEWISH REPORT 31 May – 7 June 2019 Adoption under threat in SA GILLIAN KLAWANSKY reduce the amount of adoptions, which have the realities involved. blogger Tom Jordi on childrenmattersa.org. already declined over the past few years. “For example, children have to have medicals Jordi is a passionate adoption advocate who abriella Trapido urged moms on Joburg “We’re very concerned because we believe for adoption. In Gauteng, the provincial runs the Fatherheart Fund to help support Jewish Mommies to change their that if they go ahead with these amendments, hospitals won’t do those medicals. They have adoptive and foster parents. Facebook cover photograph to one that it will slow adoptions down to an absolute to be done privately. Who’s going to do those He and his wife are parents to one biological Gsaid, “What if I told you that there would be no trickle,” says Sue Krawitz, the founding member medicals for these children? We don’t feel and three adopted children. On the website, he more adoptions in South Africa in 2020?” It and former chairperson of NACSA. Krawitz is that they’ve thought this through. We believe posted a video to raise awareness of the threats calls on people to sign a petition over National a social worker, director, and the co-founder they didn’t negotiate and consult widely posed by the bill. Jordi has teamed up with Child Protection Week (2 to 9 June) to stop the of Impilo Child Protection and Adoption enough on this – if at all. It will wipe out adoption advocate Robyn Wolfson Vorster to proposed Children’s Amendment Bill that may Services, which is based in the heart of Jewish private practitioners completely. They have an raise awareness and garner support. render adoptions all but impossible. Johannesburg. important role to play.” They’re also working with Cape Town-based Trapido, who with her husband adopted a “This is very children’s rights attorney, Debbie son, is working to have the bill withdrawn. concerning Wybrow, who started a similar They believe that while National Child because the petition on change.org. “We got Protection Week is a commitment by number of together to raise awareness, and government to uphold the rights of children children that see how many people we could get who could be adopted, these are being come into the to agree with us that this needs threatened with this amendment. system continues to be stopped and reworked. On They are perturbed by a statement by the to increase. We Monday, both petitions together spokesperson of the social development know that there had 50 000 signatures. Once the department, who said, “The placement of are about speaker of parliament is sworn in children into unrelated families through 3 500 children within the next week or so, we will adoption is no better for children who can’t abandoned send a letter and the petitions to be reunited with a biological family than every year. him or her requesting that that institutional care.” Even more worrying is the What is going to bill be sent back. The bill is flawed department’s proposed Children’s Amendment happen to these in its entirety, not just in regard to Bill which states that no fees shall be payable for children?” she adoption.” adoption services. asks. Says Jordi, “The amount of time Non-governmental organisations subsidised “They’re going and effort that’s gone into raising by the government which need to raise funds to sit in institutions. No child should grow up In justifying the changes, those behind the this awareness could have been better used in to make up significant deficiencies will not in an institution, every child needs a family. As bill say the facilitation of adoptions should partnering with the people who make the rules be allowed to do so. It means private social much as the government tells us they’ve got not be a business, and is the mandate of child- and laws, and asking, ‘How better can we serve workers, doctors, and lawyers are forbidden to the social workers they need, they’re not yet protection services. They also contend that these kids?’” charge fees. prepared and trained to do these adoptions. those who cannot afford adoption fees are There have also been contentions that the Adoption would then solely be in the hands of Adoption is a specialist field no matter how you prevented from adopting children should they revisions are motivated by the desire to limit already drastically under-resourced government look at it. wish to. interracial adoptions. “There is a concern in workers who can’t sustain the need. “We believe adoptions should be done by Two petitions have gained traction to some circles that the culture of this child can be The National Adoption Coalition of South specialists in partnership with government,” she mobilise citizens to fight the proposed changes. lost,” says Jordi, “but the reality is that if you Africa (NACSA) says that this will drastically says. It suggests the government is overlooking The one Trapido is promoting was set up by have an abandoned child, don’t they have a right to a second option? Culture isn’t DNA, culture is family. To dictate what culture somebody should have based on a colour or start in life is just as prejudicial as many of the horrible things that have happened in this country in the past.” Says Trapido, “I may not be able to adopt CONVENIENTLY YOURS! more children if this bill is passed. The criticism of those adopting kids of a different culture also hits home because my son is black, and we are white. You’re telling me that my child would have been better off in an orphanage than a loving home? I believe you’re not born with a culture; you are born into a culture. My child was born into a Jewish culture, and he’ll be brought up Jewish.” Trapido mentions the red tape that already exists in regard to adoptions. “It took a long time to adopt our son, and for us, it actually was quicker than for many others. We started in 2015 and a year later, we were matched with my son. Yet, the adoption was finalised only last month. If this bill is passed, it will probably take even longer.” She also stresses the value of the private sector. “When it’s done through a private social worker, you get that one-on-one connection, and they’re able to place you with the right child. We were handed my child when he was three months old, and the second we held him, T: 011 646 4657 KILLARNEYMALL.CO.ZA he smiled,” she says. “If it’s up to overloaded * government workers, all they’ll be doing is getting through their adoption workload.” Killarney Mall-Final Friday Foodie Market 2019-SA Jewish Report Advert-198x130mm.indd 1 2019/04/30 10:59 AM M&CSAATCHI ABEL/25264/E M&CSAATCHI It’s men. Hallelujah.

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IRWIN KULA Disruptive Spiritual Innovator

Disruptive spiritual innovator, rogue thinker, and author, Irwin is also president of Clal - The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership which Why is Yom Yerushalayim so controversial? works at the intersection of religion and innovation and the science of human ﬂourishing. He is also a co-founder TALI FEINBERG “Unlike other Jewish festivals that have existed for with Clay Christensen of The Disruptor Foundation. thousands of years, Yom Yerushalayim is a modern day. ost people don’t know that even in the city For the same reason most Haredim don’t observe new Sessions include: Yearnings: Embracing the Sacred itself, most people don’t celebrate Yom Zionist festivals such as Yom Hashoah, Ha’atzmaut, Messiness of Life Yerushalayim (Sunday 2 June) today, says and Hazikaron, they generally don’t observe Yom MIttay Flesher, an educator and journalist living in Yerushalayim as well,” he says. Jerusalem. So, how should we observe Yom Yerushalayim if we As someone who hails from Australia, Flesher want to celebrate it? “In past years, alternate groups WENDY AMSELLEM understands that diaspora communities may see the have been finding new ways to mark the day,” says Abundance of Torah day like any other chag (holiday). But in Jerusalem Flesher. He feels that diaspora communities could itself – and in Israel – it remains a controversial event host more introspective events that ask questions, Wendy Amsellem teaches Talmud at that many people refuse to celebrate. engage with the issues, and promote the diversity of Yeshivat Maharat and is the Editor of “Commemorating the date when Israel won control Jerusalem. Yehivat Maharat’s Keren Journal. She is over the Old City from the Jordanians in the 1967 “For a day meant to mark the unification of the city, also a faculty member at Drisha Institute and Pardes Six-Day War, including Judaism’s holiest sites, it also the march and other events can seem to highlight the Institute of Jewish Studies, and is an editor at The Lehrhaus. marks the start of military rule in the West Bank and capital’s divisions, and many Jerusalemites seek other, Wendy brings Torah texts alive. the beginning of a new stage of the Israel-Palestinian more tolerant ways to mark the date,” says Steinberg in conflict,” writes Jessica Steinberg in the Times of Israel. her article. Sessions include: Things Fall Apart and #metoo - What “I cannot celebrate Yom Yerushalayim. It’s not She spoke to the Jerusalem Tolerance group, which Vashti and Esther Can Teach Us because I don’t feel immense pride in our stunning hosts the Jerusalem Day of Diversity, a two-day event victory against what seemed insurmountable odds in that is meant to reclaim the festival as one of tolerance, the Six-Day War, ensuring our survival. I do. It’s not rather than division. Four years ago, Michal Shilor, one DANIEL TAUB because I am not happy that our capital was reunited, of the organisers, noted the utter lack of any events Israeli Diplomat and TV Writer I am,” says Paul Mirbach, an ex-South African Israeli revolving around Jerusalem Day despite the number of living on Kibbutz Tuval. tolerance organisations in the city. Daniel Taub is an Israeli diplomat “It’s because of what this day has come to mean over “Everyone was scared to touch it,” said Shilor, 28. and international lawyer who served the past fifty years. It symbolises the day when we She said they wanted to take the 36 hours around as the Israeli Ambassador to the United became oppressors of another people. It symbolises the national day, and do something with them. They Kingdom from 2011 until 2015. He also the beginning of the erosion of our sense of justice and thought they would have ten or 15 events, and ended wrote a popular Israeli drama series, HeChatzer, set in an our moral fibre. So, I acknowledge this day with mixed up with 80. ultra-orthodox Hasidic sect. emotions.” Tens of thousands of people attend everything from Another reason the day isn’t celebrated in Jerusalem conversations about Jerusalem taking place in people’s Sessions include: The Three Battles for Israel's Survival: is because the majority of its population are Arab living rooms, to a women’s gospel choir at the Davidka Security, Legitimacy, Identity Palestinians. “Of the 874 186 residents of East and station, to joining the now well-known “flower march” West Jerusalem today, 38% are Arab Palestinians, and organised by fellow organisation Tag Meir, which hands 27% are Haredi Jews. out flowers to residents and the businesspeople of the EDWIN SHUKER “For Palestinian residents of Jerusalem, the Jewish Old City. Remembering Baghdad celebration, flag waving, and racist chants that some “We’re creating a new narrative for this city,” said religious Zionists hurl at Arab shopkeepers as they Shilor. “It isn’t perfect, but it’s from a huge range of enter the Old City waving flags make this an especially people who live here and create this day together, Edwin Shuker is an activist and sad and angry day for Palestinians,” says Flesher, tagging it as a city of global tolerance.” international public speaker on Middle pointing out that most people who take East issues, especially on Jews from Arab part in this parade don’t live in Jerusalem. counties, Edwin is a protagonist of the In fact, just last week, Israel’s Supreme documentary Remember Baghdad. He is Vice President of Court turned down a petition to change the the British Board of Deputies and a member of the Limmud route of the parade so that it went around, International Advisory Council. rather than directly through, the Muslim Quarter of the city. This means that Sessions include: The Spy Next Door tensions can flare up on the day. “For Haredi Jerusalemites, whose representatives now dominate the Jerusalem municipality, the day is also no PROGRAMMING FOR cause for celebration, although few would protest the day as would the Palestinians. THE WHOLE FAMILY According to a Jerusalem Post poll, only 13% of Haredim see Jerusalem day as special. WWW.LIMMUD.ORG.ZA This is connected to the fact that the day [email protected] is not of Biblical origin, and the rituals LIMMUD around it for religious Zionists are not 083 451 9176 JOHANNESBURG endorsed by Haredi rabbis, who are largely non-Zionist in Jerusalem,” says Flesher. 10 SA JEWISH REPORT 31 May – 7 June 2019 The danger of wearing a kippah in Germany TOBY AXELROD – JTA An observant Jew, Spinner has the field to right-wing ideas. public response. Therefore, it is of worn a baseball cap instead of a “While it is possible generally utmost importance that this problem t’s dangerous to identify publicly kippah on the street for years. to wear a kippah in public in has been recognised and identified by as Jewish in Germany, including “Of course anti-Semitism Germany without harm, Germany’s top co-ordinator of anti- wearing a kippah, says Germany’s has increased,” he said, it has long been the sad Semitism affairs. It is unthinkable Icommissioner on anti-Semitism. adding that it is not truth that safety is that Germany would be a country In a wide-ranging interview, Felix due to one factor unpredictable. There where Jews worry about wearing a Klein told the Berliner Morgenpost on alone, but to a are certain areas kippah,” she said. 24 May that he could not recommend combination. where there is a Klein’s suggestion that Jews not that Jews wear a kippah anywhere Klein’s higher risk of wear kippahs in public “shocked me and anytime in Germany. He also comments animosity, but deeply”, Israeli President Reuven said public servants must be better also prompted verbal assaults Rivlin said in a statement. educated to combat anti-Semitism. a counter and threats can “Responsibility for the right to Recent government statistics show statement by come anywhere, religious belief of every member a 20% rise in the number of anti- Bavarian Interior including in of the German Jewish community Semitic crimes reported in the past Minister Joachim middle-class is in the hands of the German year, with a total of about 1 800 in Herrmann, of residential government. Fears about the 2018. The vast majority of crimes the conservative neighbourhoods,” security of German Jews are a for which a perpetrator or motive Christian Social Deidre Berger, a capitulation to anti-Semitism and is known were attributed to the far- Union party. long-time director of an admittance that, again, Jews are right wing. “Everyone can and the American Jewish not safe on German soil,” Rivlin said. In the controversial interview should wear a kippah, Committee office in “We will never submit, never lower published in newspapers of the Funke wherever and whenever he Berlin, told JTA. our gaze, and never react to anti- Media Group, Klein – appointed to wants to,” Herrmann said on “This has been going on for Semitism with defeatism. We expect his position in the interior ministry Saturday, pointing out that, “If we years, as we know from polls and and demand that our allies act in the last year – was asked about the safety give in to hatred of the Jews, we leave criminal statistics, without a strong same way.” of wearing the traditional Jewish head covering. “My opinion has unfortunately changed on that point,” he answered. Theresa May still a ‘true friend’ to Britain’s Jews “I can’t recommend that Jews can CNAAN LIPHSHIZ – JTA Zyl, published a glowing endorsement of May on have been what she appeared careful not to do: wear a kippah everywhere and any Friday, calling her a “true friend” to the community, namely to use the anti-Semitism crisis raging with time. Sad to say.” heresa May, who announced her resignation on and recalling how the UK under May has taken the opposition Labour Party for the benefit of her He said that it was urgent that Friday as prime minister of the United Kingdom unprecedented positions in favour of the Jewish own Conservative Party. the government do a better job of T(UK), will be remembered as one of her people and Israel. Accusations of anti-Semitism directed at Labour preparing public servants. “There is a country’s shortest-serving and least popular leaders. Her cabinet led the adoption of the International officials exploded following the 2015 election of the clear definition of anti-Semitism [the Blamed by supporters of Britain’s departure from Holocaust Remembrance Agency’s definition of anti- far-left politician Jeremy Corbyn to lead the party. International Alliance for Holocaust the European Union for delivering what they consider Semitism, which some anti-Israel activists reject It was a traumatic turn of events for many British Remembrance definition, which half measures, she was loathed also by opponents of for the ways it connects anti-Israel activity to anti- Jews, who had considered Labour their political Germany adopted in 2017] and it that plan for her efforts to push it forward. Jewish sentiment. It also has blacklisted the entire home. must be taught in police academies. It Ultimately, her desperate balancing act came to an Hezbollah group rather Corbyn is an anti- also must be included in the training end following the umpteenth failure in Parliament of than just its military wing. Israel stalwart who of teachers and lawyers.” one her many proposals for a compromise. In 2017, the UK under has defended an anti- The comments have prompted “It is and will always remain a matter of deep May said it would vote Semitic mural, and said numerous strong reactions from Jews regret to me that I have not been able to deliver against a permanent British-born “Zionists” here, including rabbis who always Brexit,” May said in her announcement outside 10 article against Israel on don’t understand irony. wear a head-covering. Downing Street in London. the United Nations Human He attracted thousands “Klein’s intentions are good, but She is leaving with “no ill will, but with enormous Rights Council. Last from the far left to join

we know that hiding our identity and enduring gratitude to have had the opportunity month, the rest of Europe Leon Neal/Getty Images Photo: Labour. Discourse within has never been the solution,” Yehuda to serve the country I love”, May said at the followed in Britain’s the ranks became so Teichtal, a Berlin community rabbi conclusion of her speech, her voice cracking and footsteps. toxic that many Jews, and head of the city’s Jüdisches tears filling her eyes as she uttered the final three Last year, Prince including prominent Bildungszentrum Chabad Lubawitsch, words. She turned around abruptly, and headed back William ended a decades- Jewish legislators, left told JTA in a telephone interview. toward the prime minister’s residence, the sounds of long unofficial boycott on the party. her footsteps fading. official visits to Israel by Through it all, May “Of course we have to take security Prime Minister Theresa May announces her resignation precautions, use our heads, and To her many opponents, May’s resignation could senior members of the resisted the temptation not walk into a place that could be not have come soon enough. But for many British British Royal House. May’s government had a central to exploit the issue for political gain, Arkush said. dangerous,” said Teichtal, who in Jews, the departure of May, who probably will be role in facilitating the visit. British Jews will find a friend in virtually all 2017 did a “kippah walk” through succeeded by another member of her Conservative May has even clashed with the foreign office over Conservative politicians likely to take May’s place, the city’s Kreuzberg neighbourhood, Party after she steps down on 7 June, means Israel, imposing her own policies and successfully Arkush said. They include Foreign Secretary Jeremy a district with a large Muslim goodbye to one of the friendliest prime ministers in “diluting its institutional hostility toward Israel”, said Hunt, Home Secretary Sajid Javid, and Environment population. UK history. Jonathan Hoffman, a North London-based blogger Secretary Michael Gove. Klein’s advice is “coming from a “Prime Minister May followed a line of what and former vice chair of the Zionist Federation of As for Hoffman, an economist, he said he won’t very, very strong place of honesty. you might consider leaders who are attentive and Britain. support anyone committed to Brexit, which he calls And in the next sentence, he friendly to the Jewish community as well as to Diverging from the foreign office’s attempts “a tragedy if it happens”. He and many other Britons immediately advises what should be Israel,” said Jonathan Arkush, the previous president to appear impartial on the Balfour Declaration want a second referendum on the issue. done about it,” said Josh Spinner, of the Board of Deputies of British Jews. Yet May, – a seminal document in the history of Zionism If not for Brexit, Hoffman said he would have Berlin-Based chief executive of the he said, “distinguished herself” even against that – May embraced it openly during the statement’s supported May. “But right now that’s a bit Ronald Lauder Foundation, in a background. centennial anniversary in 2017. ridiculous,” he said, “because British politics is all telephone interview. The board’s current president, Marie van der But one of her greatest gifts to British Jewry may about Brexit – that’s the only thing on the agenda.” M&CSAATCHI ABEL/25264/E M&CSAATCHI I can see clearly now the is gone.

Rain-sensing windshield wipers.

12 SA JEWISH REPORT 31 May – 7 June 2019 Aliyah Expo gives guidance on settling in comfortably JORDAN MOSHE this week. can feel stupid.” Emigrating to Israel is no walk in the Rubenstein made aliyah from At the Aliyah Expo hen you make aliyah, your park, with cultural differences, linguistic Johannesburg 17 years ago with her behaviour will determine the challenges, and employment availability husband and children after working service you receive. People being only some of the difficulties one in education for 13 years. When wantW to help you, but if you shout and can encounter. The consultations and she arrived in Israel and found that misbehave, it will have a negative impact lectures offered this week offered expert her skills were not in demand, she on how people treat you. insight into what it really takes to make fell back on her early training as a Befriend the doctor’s receptionist, ask it in the Holy Land, and perhaps went social worker 13 years after arriving. her about her family and her simchas, some to softening the landing. Today, she offers an advocacy and and she is sure to help you in your hour “Information is definitely power,” says care-management service, helping of need. Rubenstein. “We base our lives on what olim (immigrants) to navigate their This is just some of the advice shared we know. We know how things operate absorption, and understand the by social worker Tova Rubenstein at this around us, how to go about our lives – social welfare and medical offerings. year’s Aliyah and Higher Education Expo. how to obtain a medical script, make She stresses that anyone making print when it comes to medical decision before-hand.” Rubenstein was invited by the Israel a doctor’s appointment, or pay a bill. aliyah needs to be aware of their expenses. “Supplementary packages Whatever stream you Centre to South Africa to discuss the When we don’t know how to do these rights, and create a network of sometimes give discounts or returns choose, there are numerous aliyah process with community members things, it can be very frustrating, and we connections to help make absorption on certain expenses,” she says. accommodations made for new easier. Alongside healthcare, education student olim. Every student oleh “You need a community,” she is another area of concern for receives ulpan classes as part of his Israel Centre director brings says. “It could be a shul or even a many olim. Revital Dotan, the schooling, taking lessons during cycling club. You need to look out for representative of the Israeli school hours. sabra chutzpah to SA people in a similar situation, build education department says that as They are allowed the use of a network, and be willing to ask culturally different as the school dictionaries in exams, their JORDAN MOSHE involved in the wider Jewish world.” questions. There is no such thing as a system may be, its role in the spelling errors are overlooked (no After consultation with the Jewish stupid question regarding aliyah. aliyah process for youngsters is marks are deducted) and they get he new director of the Jewish Agency, the couple decided to go on “Israelis pay 28% of their wage to a crucial. extra time and have their exam Agency and Israel Centre in shlichut [commission] and looked into medical tax and national insurance,” “Children in Israel are determined questions read aloud if they need South Africa lived in a caravan various options. “We were offered the she says. “You pay in and take out to go to school, but more for their it. Twith her family in the Negev for nine opportunity to come to South Africa when you need it at different points friends than the actual lessons,” she In the event of failing one years. Liat Amar Arran also left the right away, or wait a year to go to Los in life, be it for frail care, maternity, laughs. “The sense of community matric subject, students have the security of her parents’ home while still Angeles,” says Arran. “I was originally or disability.” that school offers children in Israel chance to rewrite one final exam. at school and moved to an undeveloped against coming to South Africa because Medical services are offered by is very unique, and can be important “You don’t need to retake the area in Israel to help less fortunate another shaliach told me it wasn’t four different service providers, all in helping children to integrate into whole year or wait a long time to people. a good move for my children.” Her of which fall under the umbrella society.” rewrite,” explains Dotan. “If you Arran is not your average Israeli, and husband, however, encouraged her of the national health insurance She explains that the schooling fail one subject, that is the only she plans to give South Africans a sense to try it, so she decided to visit South scheme. They offer the same basic system offers three different one you will need to improve on of the diversity and fascination Africa in July last year. basket of services such as general streams: state, state religious, and rewrite. It happens within a that Israel offers. Arran met the communal practitioners, certain medications, and ultra-orthodox. The type of few months, and after you pass, She arrived to take leadership, and specialist consultations, and environment in which you want you can continue with tertiary up her position immediately felt immunisations. You have the your child to learn is a decision that studies.” three months the community’s freedom to choose the provider you must be taken well in advance. “The Dotan stresses the importance ago, and Liat devotion to Israel like best. streams are very different and cater of early aliyah when children are has already Amar and Judaism. She stresses that you need to for different needs,” she says. “You involved. “The sooner integration revolutionised Arran Although she take into account any pre-existing need to know what sort of school into the education system the aliyah is aware of the conditions, and read the fine you want for your child, and make a happens, the better,” she says. process, race and poverty brought related problems Israeli medical technology shatters boundaries out a Knesset we face, she saw an facilitator to engage opportunity to address JORDAN MOSHE Known as the HermaShock, the sleeve is able to transfuse with the community, these and involve herself in a patient’s own blood from an arm or leg and redirect it and arranged a course in the community. A device that shatters kidney stones with shock waves. A elsewhere in cases of shock. Israel advocacy. The couple and their four children completely paperless record system for hospitals. A wound Another Israeli medical marvel on show is the VIVI CAP1, “When I arrived, I told my children moved to Johannesburg in January this dressing infused with copper ions to speed up recovery. a reusable replacement cap for an insulin pen that can that we must learn to look after year. These are just some of the marvels that the Israeli medical maintain the necessary temperature in any climate. The ourselves,” she says. “There is no IDF “Theshaliach has potential that is not industry has to offer the world, and they may soon be cap doesn’t need to be charged nor refrigerated but simply [Israeli Defense Forces] to rely on, and always used, and is able to reach people available to us in South Africa. slipped onto the pen. no soldiers who can swoop in to help on the fringes, Jews and non-Jews. It Sixteen med-tech companies from Israel were in South The BreathID breath test can determine a bacterial you if you are in trouble.” Nevertheless, starts by establishing a firm connection Africa to showcase their innovation at the Africa Health infection in the stomach by breathing into a mouthpiece. her gung-ho spirit drove her and her in the mainstream, and then branching Exhibition hosted in Johannesburg this week. They were The device detects H. pylori bacteria, a germ that can family forward, allowing her to embrace out. I’ll never tell anyone that they are introduced at an exclusive pre-exhibition cocktail evening infect your digestive tract and cause ulcers. Blood tests the community and fall into her role not welcome or relevant,” she says. in Sandton on Monday evening, hosted by the Israel Trade and biopsies are typically used to diagnose the infection, from the get-go. Her chutzpah (audacity) and Office to South Africa. but the BreathID automates the detection process, allows Arran and her husband, Zvika, made enthusiasm are her defining traits. “We want to create increased collaboration between for ten samples to be tested at once, and records results the decision to come to South Africa When she was in Grade 11, Arran told Israeli and South African companies,” said Israeli automatically. last year after devoting many years to a her parents that she was “moving to ambassador to South Africa, Lior Keinan. “We would love Keinan spoke of other exciting technology Israel has well-established professional career in another city as a volunteer to work with to see more Israeli innovation come to South Africa, and to share, all of which can benefit people at all levels of Israel. “We needed a change,” she says. students in the high school and engage reach the rest of the continent.” society. “We considered travelling the world and with them on the problems they faced.” One of the companies in South Africa is Haifa-based “Countries sometimes lack the necessary because we had children, we needed to So, she relocated to Kiriyat Gat with five Oneg HaKarmel, which has invented a sleeve which drains infrastructure,” he said, “With the necessary technology travel with purpose. We wanted to be Continued on page 15>> the blood from any limb and shifts it through the body. and Israeli innovation, we can improve life for everyone.” M&CSAATCHI ABEL/25264/E M&CSAATCHI keep falling on my head.

Rain-sensing windshield wipers. 31 May – 7 June 2019 SA JEWISH REPORT 13 Stransky weighs in on Rugby World Cup MIRAH LANGER unions. In particular, said 1995, when then President Nelson Stransky, the national system Joel Stransky playing in the Mandela become iconic in his hile South Africa could win the needed to be strong enough to 1995 Rugby World Cup support of the team. Rugby World Cup, it probably ensure that players were not Special moments that inspired won’t, was the prediction recently tempted to play overseas. success were still possible today. madeW by former Springbok player Joel “To see our players playing “You need something that inspires Stransky. overseas means we cannot a player, whether it be a person, a “Can we win the World Cup? The answer possibly have a strong rugby tackle, or a break at the right time is absolutely, yes we can, and the reason [logistical system],” he said. that propels you to greatness.” is we have so much talent in this country. Picking players who were During the event, Stransky, who If you look at the squad that is going to working overseas for the comes from a Jewish background, the World Cup, how good they are, they national side was only a short- also shared an anecdote about have the ability, and on any given day, they term solution. “If you don’t an encounter with Danie Craven, can produce the result that counts,” said have a strong system at home, a famous rugby player and Stransky. However, he said, “Will we win the your youngest [players] come administrator. Craven, he said, was World Cup? The answer is probably not.” through in a weak system. They an advocate of the idea that “in Stransky offered a number of reasons for become only as good as they every Springbok team, you need to this, including that South Africa had drawn system they are playing.” have a policemen and a Jew”. a difficult lot, which meant it would need to This has ripple effects. “If they Shortly, before South Africa beat New Zealand, its fellow top contender, come through a weak system, re-entered the international twice. without that competition, sporting arena, as apartheid came He was speaking at a function organised with no senior players passing to an end, Stransky was injured. by the Dr Herzl Lodge at the Hebrew Order the baton and mentoring the One day, he met Craven in a of David in Orchards, Johannesburg, earlier younger guys, they will be just lift. He said to me, “You need to this month. The event was in support of average players.” get yourself back to full fitness Stransky’s charitable foundation, Lumo The changes in rugby needed because we are now re-entering Hawk. The lodge raised enough money to to come “from the top”, he suggested. The “[This year’s] team will come out of international rugby and need to have a Jew buy a mobile auto refractor that would be game, like many other sports, had become a country that is experiencing a little in the Springbok team. used to test the eyesight of underprivileged “fraught with politics”. uncertainty. Hopefully it will have settled “I looked at him. I wasn’t quite sure how to school children. “The only way to solve this is to get rid of down a little by then, but we are still in that take it, because as a player, you don’t want to Stransky suggested that World Cup the blazer brigade, and bring in businessmen period of uncertainty now as our president be selected on your race, colour, or belief, you success could also be hindered by the fact to run the game. We need financially astute puts our cabinet together, and then sees want to be selected because you are the best. that “rugby in our country sadly is not in a people who understand the game, and who where we are going to go. “So I said to him, ‘Doc, surely this fallacy good state of affairs”. While the talent in the understand finances to make sure that the “This rugby team will come out of a society of having a Jew on the team can’t be the country was “pouring out”, there were other game can grow and succeed.” that is divided. Maybe, like cricket and truth?’” problems. Stransky said there were some similarities soccer, it can play a role in uniting a nation He said, “No, absolutely, we have to have a As an example, he said that the money in the position of this year’s team and the one around a sports team again. That’s what we Jew on the team.’” earned from television rights was not that won the World Cup in 1995. Stransky were very fortunate to do in 1995.” “I said, ‘Why?’” sustainable enough to build strong teams, was a member of this team, and gained fame To win, the team needed a little bit of luck “He said, ‘Well, we need to have someone especially with the country having so many for his winning drop goal in the final. and a catalyst – “a magic moment” – like in to blame when things go wrong!’” 14 SA JEWISH REPORT 31 May – 7 June 2019 History is always relevant, says acclaimed author

JORDAN MOSHE

istory will always be relevant because the past has lessons and a warning for us, says acclaimed Simon Sebag British historian Simon Sebag Montefiore. Montefiore H“History is always important partly because it is about the present,” he says. “There are definitely lessons that can be applied to us. History is like reading intelligence reports. It’s about finding information which is reliable, and out of that, what’s right and what’s relevant to you now.” Montefiore, the author of several books, was in South Africa last week to promote his most recent book, Written in History: Letters that Changed the World. His visit, arranged by Jonathan Ball Publishers, included a launch at Bookdealers of Blubird last Thursday evening, where the author discussed his book with local historian David Saks.

The SA Jewish Report caught up with Montefiore Jordan Moshe Photo: before the event, gleaning insight into his work and life. This London-born Jewish historian claims both Sephardi and Ashkenazi ancestry, and describes himself as a “Jewish mongrel”. The husband and father of two explains, “the Montefiores are from Spain, Italy, and Mexico, and the Sebags are from Morocco”. “My mother’s family were from Lithuania. They bought tickets for New York in 1904, and when they were dropped off only two days later, they found that collection of things. My daughter and I spent two they were in fact in New Cork. They had been tricked.” weeks collecting letters, finding more than 300, and we They would move on to New Castle and then London, narrowed it down to 100.” the residence of the Montefiores by that point as well. He explains that his aim was to present as much As for Montefiore himself, his dream was to make a diversity as possible. “Chronology is boring and Ultimate Supanova Stadium Gaming, a fully-immersive great fortune, write many books, and become foreign predictable, so I chose themes. I wanted to find electronic table game (ETG) arena. secretary in a few years. After completing his degree, he delightful things, a delicatessen of letters to give 30 Consoles • Play 4 table games simultaneously (Blackjack, worked as a banker, foreign-affairs journalist, and war everyone something they can dip into and enjoy. The Roulette, Baccarat and Live Roulette) with Live Dealer events correspondent covering the conflicts that unfolded in book has letters from everywhere – Asia, South America, the last days of the Soviet Union. Africa. It’s all in the mix – that’s what history is.” “I started writing books in about 1995, so I’ve been Montefiore is concerned about the current status of living on writing for almost 25 years,” he says. “It is British politics. Although he believes the limbo over erratic but independent, and I like not working for Brexit is dangerous, he believes it may prove to be a somebody. My dream never came to pass, except the good thing. part about writing.” “Though I wanted to stay in the European Union, I Montefiore explains that it is actually very difficult be think Britain will be fine in the end,” he says. “There a writer. “Very few people can write a first book that is was no real reason to leave, but the decision was made an international hit,” he says. “I wrote and published two based on emotion over rational thought. In a couple novels while I was at university, and the first didn’t do of years though, I think Britain will be fine, and the very well. After those, I moved on with history books, decision may prove to be a good one.” 9 MAY - 9 JUNE which proved successful, and so went ahead with that.” He acknowledges that although Britain has been After the success of his first historical work, good to Jews in recent history, the political situation Catherine the Great and Potemkin, Montefiore forged for Jews in the United Kingdom has declined. “At the ahead and wrote about other Russian subjects close to moment all is fine, but Corbyn may be prime minister his heart, including Stalin. by end of the year, and I’d feel uneasy.” He points In 2011, he published Jerusalem: The Biography, out that the British Labour Party is ruled by a hard- ™ having wanted to pen a book on the topic for years. left, Leninist league that’s anti-Semitic, making it a This subject should come as no surprise, considering dangerous time to be Jewish in England.

FROM that his great-great-uncle, Sir Moses Montefiore, built “History is relevant again,” he says. “All history of the the first Jewish residential settlement and alms house past is really history of the present as well. We have to outside the old walled city of Jerusalem. This area is pay special attention to history. We need to re-educate R665* now known as Mishkenot Sha’ananim, and features the everybody about the Holocaust, yet everyone is bored PER PERSON SHARING JUNE - AUGUST 2019 famous Montefiore windmill. with the subject.” Bookings 0860 777 900 “My family had played a part in the establishment of “It’s very difficult, but I think that the spirit of or online. Quote Sizzle. the new Jerusalem, and I had visited there often as a resistance present in civil society will challenge boy, so I really wanted to write something special about anything which appears dangerous.” *Ts and Cs apply to all it,” he says. “I wanted to write a history of the Middle Montefiore concludes with the belief that in spite of offers and promotions East through Jerusalem and its history. It was a great all of its challenges, it’s wonderful to be Jewish. “It’s emperorspalace.com project, and it wasn’t a proper history, but I did it.” a blessing, but it isn’t always easy,” he says. “While Follow us Because he has based all his major works on historical I’m more of a cultural Jew, my Judaism has given me correspondence, Montefiore’s publisher suggested that a great cosmopolitanism in my work and an angle PEERMONT PROUDLY SUPPORTS THE NATIONAL RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING PROGRAMME. he undertake a collection of letters, bringing him to of understanding. Because of their roles in history, PROBLEM GAMBLING COUNSELLING TOLL-FREE HELPLINE 0800 006 008. publish his latest book. Jews are almost always in my books, either onstage or PLAYERS MUST BE 18 YEARS OR OLDER. WINNERS KNOW WHEN TO STOP. He says, “I have a library at home with an amazing offstage.” M&CSAATCHI ABEL/25264/E M&CSAATCHI Singing in the.

Rain-sensing windshield wipers. 31 May – 7 June 2019 SA JEWISH REPORT 15 Hart to Heart Rodger Hart with “Chloe the Cow” MATTHEW KROUSE example, there are these very old volcanic lava Without spatial thinking, there is no rocks, probably the oldest in the world. And geology. odger Hart sees vivid colour in nature, when you look at these, you can tell how the “It can be well said that the origins and finds myriad possibilities where mere first rocks on earth came into being. It’s a place of geology are located in a land of mortals would lumber through jungles where you can trace the process of earth from convergence between art and science.” Rof doubt. This is possibly because he is a senior the beginning of time to now. All of Hart’s forces and fears geologist who has a healthy obsession with “At 4.5 billion years old, they were in contact converge to make his current leaving town to find his colour palette. with sea water, and what you find in the cracks, exhibition an intriguing journey into Hart is an artist of nature, and the style of where the sea water filtered into the rocks, are the creative process of one individual in his dramatic landscape paintings are clearly single-cell forms, showing life going back almost our midst. derived from such diverse sources as traditional to the beginning of time.” aboriginal painters of Australia, San rock artists, So, a level of deep exploration has led Hart • T rance Form by Rodger Hart runs at and JH Pierneef. That’s not a bad place to start, to go beyond the surface of things. Yet in the Art House Gallery, 67 4th Avenue, but combined with a sense of adventure, he has his artistic style, there is a naiveté at play, Melville, Johannesburg, until 13 June. created a style that is distinctly his own. something to do with the way he improvises his This is not to say that all the paintings in perspective, forcing it into a rather flat picture Israel Centre director brings sabra chutzpah to SA his exhibition, Trance Form, at the Art House plane. >>Continued from page 12 Gallery in Melville, are about the natural world. His paintings are just one tributary of his other girls, living in a commune while involved herself in teaching at various levels One or two reference his city life. Going as far creative life. The other is sculpture. Created of volunteering in the community and helping as well. Arran married Zvika in 2006. The back as the early 1980s, there is a painting of his various factory made metals, gauzes, plaster, other students. couple chose to move to a young settlement cat in the shadow of Hillbrow Tower, as well as a beads, and shreds of waxed African print, there Arran was born and raised in Be’er Sheva to in the north of the Negev to live in a caravan, composition of scantily clad women he once saw are creatures aplenty making a menagerie of the parents of Tunisian origin who chose to settle moving into a house only three years ago. at a club while dining with his wife in Joubert wild. It’s an inedible delicatessen of animals in in the Negev in the 1950s to contribute to She completed her PhD, worked to facilitate Park. psychedelic hues. building the state. They were both pioneers in discussions between numerous groups in Israel Hart worked at the nuclear physics research Hart also creates prints on an iPad. In their own right: her mother spearheaded social- (including Muslims, Druze, Bedouins and unit at the University of the Witwatersrand in a process he attributes to the artist David service initiatives, and her father founded the Christians), and served as the head of a mental- his toiling years, but now regards himself as a Hockney, he begins with a pencil drawing, which community’s first newspaper. illness rehabilitation centre. full-time visual artist. “What I used to do,” he he colours with his finger in a digital process. After school, Arran joined the army, and In South Africa, Arran is responsible says, “is use nuclear techniques to interrogate This is then printed on paper or light fabric. as part of her service in 1996, she was sent for activities that give a face to Israel in rocks.” In these ways, Hart’s art works are an urban to Russia in an undercover operation to Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban. He was appointed professor to prove that the thing. engage with Russian Jewry for three months. Arran is eager to assist people who want to renowned Vredefort crater, a Unesco (United “One of our big mistakes in the evolution of Returning to Israel, she studied biology and make aliyah – mentioning that aliyah from Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural humankind is that we separated this urbanism psychology at Hebrew University, constantly South Africa has increased almost 20% this Organization) world heritage site, was actually [from] the natural world. As humankind, unless engaging in volunteer opportunities. “I never year. “It’s easier to go to Israel than to America caused by a meteorite. “It’s the biggest known we learn to make space for animals and walk just studied,” she laughs. “There was always or Australia, but it certainly isn’t simple.” crater,” Hart says; “but there could be another with them again, we are doomed.” something else I was doing.” She looks forward to furthering her one under the Sahara Desert for all we know. The show’s curator, Nira Sklair, said in her Arran did a master’s in psychology at Ben- engagement with different sectors of the local “This country is amazing, there are places opening address, “Geology is still one of the Gurion University, worked as a psychologist, and wider community, planning interaction here that tell us about the beginning of time. most visual sciences as it is inextricably bound served at a Jewish youth camp in Los Angeles, with non-Jewish schools, and increasing the So, in Barberton, north of the Kruger Park, for to the understanding of spatial relationships. and also pursued a PhD. For 16 years, she activities of her office. 16 SA JEWISH REPORT 31 May – 7 June 2019 What’s okay to speak about? s Jews, we are governed by situation that has been thrust into that it is not in the interest of the and that no clarification was INNER VOICE the strict laws of lashon hara the public arena over the past few community is not to understand the needed. A(evil tongue), but are also weeks. A number of publications have story. There is an assumption Howard Feldman given clear instructions about when dealt with the case, one of which is The “innocent until proven guilty” that “the media” cares only we are not only authorised to – but News24, for which she writes. argument is also precarious. First, the about the story and not about even though I contribute to them are in fact obligated to – speak out. She asked me why I had not spoken matter has been heard by a court, and the people involved. Whereas I am both. But there are two things Examples include warning about this story on my morning show a provisional sequestration has been certain that there are those cases, my that I can say with certainty. First, someone against doing business with on ChaiFM. I had reasons of course, granted. Papers have been filed, and experience over the past week has when events like this take place, it a dishonest person, and/or marrying but as I verbalised them, I realised are available for all to see. To suggest shown me how far from reality this is enormously painful to those who someone who is problematic. that they didn’t sound nearly as good that no one should engage on this is – certainly in the case of the Jewish are responsible for reporting on it, We also love to gossip. as they had sounded in my head. They matter would mean that we could media. And that makes me proud. and second, no article is written or Add to this the complexities of included the questions of whether it hardly speak of any matter including I don’t represent the SA Jewish discussed on radio without agonising anti-Semitism, and the potential was in the public interest, rather than state corruption, Jacob Zuma, and Report, and I don’t represent ChaiFM over it. damage that speaking out might just interesting to the public; whether alleged offences. We all know where cause. Further still, add the the matter was sub-judice (under South Africa would be if that were A column of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies discomfort of the fact that Jewish judicial consideration and therefore the case. media personalities live in the very prohibited from public discussion); It became clear to me that I was communities that they are sometimes and what had happened to “innocent making excuses because I simply L’hitraot to an esteemed colleague obligated to write or speak about, until proven guilty?” didn’t want to speak about it. The his week, we bade farewell and who understandably have strong Although they might have sounded thought made me uncomfortable, so to one of our most valued reactions to what they publish. It is solid, my excuses fell short. Levick is it was easier to avoid it. Tcolleagues. Shirley Beagle ABOVE understandable that it is very difficult well known to the community, many Which is why I invited Mandy on to joined the staff of the South African – if not impossible – to plot the way members of the same community my show, and had a robust, fair, and Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) BOARD forward. work for various Genesis Capital balanced discussion. I gave the parties in 2002, and soon made herself Shaun Zagnoev It also explains why we are rarely companies, and an alarming number a heads up that I would be doing so, indispensable to the organisation. invited out for Shabbat lunch. of litigants and lawyers are Jewish. and invited them on to the show at She became the administrative Africa, a comprehensive directory of I debated this issue with Jewish This is a big story, and the potential a later stage to clarify anything that backbone of the board, the behind- all Jewish communal organisations author and journalist, Mandy fall-out will have a significant impact they thought was not accurately the-scenes planner and co-ordinator and establishments in South Africa Wiener. She has engaged closely on on the community – be it individuals, portrayed. It turned out that they who made things happen, and who and other sub-Saharan African the Martin Levick, Genesis Capital charities, schools, etc. To suggest were comfortable with the discussion, consistently went beyond the call countries. of duty to ensure that everything Her thoroughness, attention proceeded as planned. For this, she to detail, and sheer persistence, Wear your kippah to the bundestag! was a deserved recipient of the Eric combined with her hands-on Blank spaces in a newspaper can speak German newspaper, whether positively Samson Mendel Kaplan Award, understanding of our communal as loudly as words. In 1985, South or negatively, evokes shivers in the spines presented to her at the board’s last structures, made her the ideal African anti-apartheid newspaper, the of Jewish readers with a sense of history: national conference in 2017. person to head up this project. In Weekly Mail, was bombarded one day TAKING might this presage bad things, if German An especially admirable aspect recent years, Shirley has seen to the by the powerful security police acting ISSUE sentiments revert to what they once of her work was the assistance she subscription and advertising side of as state censors, who used red pens to Geoff Sifrin were? These sensitivities were aggravated provided to Holocaust survivors the board’s Jewish Affairs journal. cross out numerous words or lines, and this week when a mass-circulation wishing to claim under various Thanks to her, Jewish Affairs actually whole pictures and stories to prevent German tabloid touting conservative compensatory and relief funds. Her produced a healthy net profit during publication. Rather than simply comply, however, values and famous for its past images of topless women, unique qualities of professional that time, despite its small subscriber the paper printed the issue with heavy black lines placed an item of potent Jewish symbolism on its front competence combined with base and the formidable difficulties crossing whole sections, and censored pictures removed page. The publication, Bild, said its intention was to dedication and caring were just that all printed publications completely, leaving blank spaces. protect Jews. It has achieved worldwide acclaim for its what was needed for this sensitive, face today in terms of attracting It was a provocative move, and the editor thought the imagination. complex, and (especially for more advertising. paper might be shut down by the government. But when It was reacting to advice by Germany’s commissioner elderly people) often intimidating Fortunately, Shirley has agreed the security police arrived the next morning, they saw on anti-Semitism that Jews shouldn’t wear a skullcap in process. Typically, she achieved to come in occasionally as needed, that the paper had essentially complied with the law. public in certain places because it is dangerous. So, Bild consistently excellent outcomes. so her services will not be entirely Those massive black lines and blank spaces were a graphic, published a blue cut-out-and-use skullcap on its front She has further been the liaison lost to us. On behalf of the SAJBD, I powerful representation of censorship, displaying to all page, urging readers, non-Jewish and Jewish, to wear it. between the SAJBD and the survivor thank her for all she has contributed, the world how much had been hidden from them. It thumbed its nose at anti-Semites, saying, in its editor’s community in Johannesburg. and wish her everything of the best The power of a publisher has also been used in words, “the kippah belongs to Germany”. Like the Weekly As the Board’s events co-ordinator, as she prepares to embark on the profoundly negative ways, such as Der Stürmer, a Mail 34 years previously, it was standing against powerful Shirley was responsible for the nitty- next stage of her life. vehemently anti-Semitic German tabloid published by right-wing forces. gritty of organising our national and Julius Streicher from 1923 to the end of World War A daily tabloid, Bild is a powerful paper. In 2018, it Gauteng conferences, Yom Hashoah, Dawn of a new era II. A significant part of Nazi propaganda, it often ran printed 2.2 million copies every day across Germany. and the various public functions We congratulate Cyril Ramaphosa caricatures of Jews with Stars of David and hooked Founded by journalist Axel Springer in 1952, it has been a organised by the board from time on his inauguration as South noses, accusations of blood libel, and sexually explicit, major shaper of mass opinion in Germany ever since. It is to time, including collaborations Africa’s sixth democratically elected anti-Catholic, anti-Communist, and anti-monarchist hardly a conventional political paper, although it plunges with the Johannesburg Holocaust president, marking what we all propaganda. into hot political topics. Its trademark identity for 28 & Genocide Centre and foreign hope will be positive new era for The newspaper originated in Nuremberg during years was the pictures of topless women on its front pages; embassies. As important was the our country. Only posterity will Adolf Hitler’s attempt to establish power. From 1923, its headlines are large and provocative, its articles short contact she maintained between show whether or not South Africa its circulation grew, reaching a large percentage of the and hard hitting. the board and its affiliate bodies, has turned a corner. For now, it is German population, and peaking at 486 000 in 1937. The use by Germans of the Star of David will always keeping them abreast of what we incumbent upon us to do everything In 1933, Streicher was calling for the extermination of conjure up frightening images of the yellow ones Jews had are doing, updating the database we can to help make that happen. the Jews in Der Stürmer. During the war, he regularly to wear in Nazi Germany. Gestures like Bild’s front-page as required, and following up with authorised articles demanding their annihilation. After kippah mimic the cheekiness of the Weekly Mail’s blank affiliation fees. In due course, she • Listen to Charisse Zeifert on the war, he was convicted of crimes against humanity, and pages in the 1980s. But in an era when the anti-Semitic became responsible for producing the Jewish Board Talk, 101.9 ChaiFM executed. pot is boiling, right-wing populist papers might print their ever-popular Guide to Jewish Southern every Friday from 12:00 to 13:00. Ever since, the publication of the Star of David in a own yellow Stars of David on their front pages. This column is paid for by the SA Jewish Board of Deputies M&CSAATCHI ABEL/25264/E M&CSAATCHI Have you ever seen the?

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280519 - 39x7 - MSC Cruises - Full Colour - English - Jewish Report.indd 1 5/28/2019 10:56:58 AM 18 SA JEWISH REPORT 31 May – 7 June 2019 Hot potatoes and Herzlia Grade 12s show their metal KDVP 1st team makes Yeshiva College pupil reaches miracles at Sydenham history final of bible quiz Lag B’Omer Herzlia High School came third out of 27 schools in the Minquiz Competition at Stellenbosch University on 16 May. King David High School Victory Park Yeshiva College Grade 11 pupil Matan Kaplan successfully Minquiz is recognised as South Africa’s premier annual (KDVP’s) 1st rugby team last week reached the international finals of the Chidon HaTanach national science competition for Grade 12 pupils. won the Pirates Rugby B League World Bible Quiz Competition. Held at the Jerusalem Grade 12 pupils Ben Zieff, Shai Kohen, Harold Cohn, and Championships, making history for Theatre on 9 May, the quiz brings together dozens of Joseph Sweijd excelled in the competition. Cohn was the the school. It is the first year that Jewish youth aged 14 to 18 from around the world. overall winner in the individual round. The team won a cash KDVP has played in the Pirates B The contestants meet in Israel for a two-and-a-half week prize for the school, and Cohn has been invited to represent it League. The team beat St Peter’s 6-3 bible camp, at the National Minquiz competition in June. in the final to win the league. peaking at the The high school has three teams Independence (U14, U15 and the 1st team). Starting Day quiz. The at the beginning of the season in final round of March, the boys train three times a the quiz was Lance Job Photo: week, sometimes starting at 06:00 televised on Enjoying the festivities, from left: Orli in the morning. This season, our 1st Israeli National Crouse, Devyn Toker, and Kobi Saloner team played a friendly match against TV on Yom Lag B’Omer was celebrated Sydenham- Northcliff. All the teams played against style last week with a bonfire, fun- Ha’atzmaut. Greenside, Roosevelt, De La Salle, fire facts, and fire themed science Ben Zieff, Shai Kohen, Harold Cohn and Joseph Sweijd with Dignitaries experiments. People sang and danced physical science teacher Mardel Pretorius Redhill, and St Peter’s. including Israeli around the fire while eating roast Prime Minister potatoes. The children heard about Letters Benjamin Rabbi Akiva and Shimon Bar Yochai’s Matan Kaplan with Moshe Lion, role in promoting Torah study at this CELL PHONE ADDICTION THE HEIGHT OF RUDENESS Netanyahu were the mayor of Jerusalem present. time, and the miracles that took place. Howard Feldman’s column “How long can you Of course I realise that the phones cannot be go without your cell phone?” (SA Jewish Report switched off at these events because parents 17 May 2019) touched a nerve. I applaud him need to photograph and video their kids in for taking this initiative, and hope that this – action, but the appalling bad manners leaves by no means the first article I have read on the me speechless! subject – gave food for thought. By setting the example that you need not I have an issue with cell phones. It has resist using your phone anywhere, anytime, caused me considerable discomfort, and it is a with complete disregard for someone whose huge effort to “mind my own business” about performance or presence does not interest them. I am overcome with annoyance and you, the future looks bleak for inculcating the embarrassment at seeing parents scrolling values of basic consideration and menshadik and tapping away, their brightly lit and (admirable) behaviour which said schools are visible screens displaying Facebook, Twitter, attempting to achieve. WhatsApp etc, from time to time during school Maybe I’m wrong. Perhaps the kids are so assemblies, school concerts, and recitals – in used to seeing a screen in front of their parents full view of the children and people sitting at any given moment, they actually don’t around them. notice it’s there. – Anonymous

ANC’S ISRAEL POLICY NOT ONLY ANTI-SEMITIC, IT’S IN A TIME WARP The Jewish Board of Deputies did what it was It refers to the “colonial occupation of elected to do by opposing Minister Lindiwe Palestine”. What can this possibly mean? The Sisulu’s decision to act on the African National statement doesn’t refer to the West Bank or Congress’s (ANC’s) 54th National Conference Gaza, it refers to “Palestine”. In this context, resolution “to immediately and unconditionally “Palestine” can mean only the whole territory downgrade the South African embassy in from the Jordan River to the sea. Israel”. South Africa is one of the few democratic The board’s mandate is to guard and protect states that doesn’t recognise Hamas as a the interests of the Jewish community, and terrorist organisation in spite of its anti- the downgrade of relations with Israel most Semitic charter which proudly proclaims its certainly has an impact on the well-being of the objective not only to destroy Israel, but to kill community. every Jew in the process. It’s hurtful to see the While the ANC feels “deep regret and ANC embracing a movement dedicated to the disappointment” at the stance of the board, destruction of my people. as a Jew, I feel betrayed and violated by the And what does “colonial” mean, if not the language used in the ANC’s statement. foreign invader, the Jew. Just for the record, The ANC says it speaks on behalf of the Jews have been living in the land the Romans people of South Africa. The results of the past renamed “Palestine” continuously since the election clearly show it just scraped a majority, beginning of history. which certainly doesn’t give it the right to Even today, the Palestinians are refusing speak on behalf of the country, particularly on to take part in a peace conference in Bahrain. the question of Israel and Palestine. Certainly, They have torpedoed every chance of making with 80% of the population being Christian peace because the compromise that would with close spiritual ties to the Holy Land, it is be required would require them to recognise an arrogant claim. Israel, and that is anathema. Instead of the The ANC makes no apology for viewing ANC encouraging its allies, the Palestinians, to the Israel/Palestine issue through the eyes negotiate and compromise, it encourages them of the Boycott Divestment Sanctions (BDS) to resist the “colonists”. The ANC is frozen movement that has “captured” South Africa’s in a time warp of liberation struggle. – Ben foreign policy. Levitas, Former Chair SAZF Cape Council M&CSAATCHI ABEL/25264/E M&CSAATCHI Purple. Purple.

Rain-sensing windshield wipers. 31 May – 7 June 2019 SA JEWISH REPORT 19 Winter the bleakest time for the homeless Supporting the poor and homeless is appeal allow everyone to The winter campaign is supported however small, goes a long way to important throughout the year, but do so.” by the Cape Town Central City support the dignity of the homeless.” never more so than in winter. The winter appeal is also Improvement District (CCID), which You may have a home with heating, calling for donations of works with several government • Donated goods can be dropped off thick duvets to snuggle up to, and kosher non-perishable and partners to improve the lives of at the Cape South African Jewish a hot, home-cooked meal on a cold canned foods for vulnerable street people in the CBD. Says Pat Board of Deputies, 87 Hatfield Street, winter’s night. However, those members of the Cape Town Eddy, the manager of the CCID’s Gardens, or the Union of Jewish sleeping on the streets, or who are too Jewish community who rely social development department, Women, 7 Albany Road, Sea Point. poor to feed their families, don’t have on the Jewish Community “The campaign Sandton Central Shul’s Lag Ba’Omer celebrations the same luxury. Services Food Bank for gives people an Kerry Hoffman and Caryn food. opportunity to The reasons for homelessness Gootkin and a couple of and poverty vary as widely as the their Souper Troopers “We are fortunate show that they individuals who find themselves that Jewish Community care about the without shelter or resources. Among Town area, an estimated 700 of which Services has a food bank lives of those who them are illness, injury, business live in the central business district providing dry kosher food to ensure are less fortunate, failure, loss of a job, chemical (CBD). that there are as few hungry people in especially during addiction, mental illness, or a falling Kerry Hoffman, the director of our community as possible. Because it the winter months out with family members. non-profit organisation Souper relies solely on donations, we appeal when life on the According to the Western Cape Troopers, says, “Making a difference to people to add an extra can of food street is very government, there are about 4 862 can be overwhelming for some to their grocery trollies, and help keep hard. Making homeless people in the greater Cape people. Campaigns like this winter tummies full this winter.” a contribution,

Sunday (2 June) 44 Central Street, Houghton. Cost: R200. Thursday (6 June) Greenside paints town fire red • Jaffa morning market including stalls, food, Bookings: [email protected] • Join ORT2Talk with Saskia Band of The Florist. Jacob Morris and friends games for children, bric a brac, books, and a Tuesday (4 June) Auction of demo arrangement. Time: 18:00 enjoy a massive bonfire lit by Greenside Shul on Lag deli. Time: 09:00 to 13:00. Venue: 42 Mackie • The Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Centre to 19:30. Venue: ORTSA, 44 Central Street, Ba’Omer – one of the most Street, Baileys Muckleneuk, Pretoria. (JHGC) opens the exhibition, Through the Lens corner 10th Avenue, Houghton. R100 per loved events on the shul’s Contact: 012 346 2006 of My Camera: Portraits of Holocaust Survivors in ticket. Booking: [email protected] or calendar. The extended Monday (3 June) Johannesburg by photographer Julian Pokroy. 011 728 7154 community enjoyed a delicious • The Union of Jewish Women (UJW) hosts The opening will include testimony from • Hebrew speakers AT’ braai, roasting marshmallows, Dr Michelle Adler, senior English lecturer at Holocaust survivor Veronica Phillips. Time: 19:00. meet at H S and fabulous Israeli music W

the University of Witwatersrand School of Law Venue: 1 Duncombe Road, Forest Town. RSVP 10:45 at O while being captivated by the

bonfire, one of the biggest on Every Inch a King - Lady Florence Dixie, to [email protected] or 011 640 3100. Beyachad N in Johannesburg. A popular Cetshwayo, and the Zululand Restoration Debate. Free admission, donations welcome. building, attraction for the children is Time: 10:00. Venue: 1 Oak Street, Houghton. Wednesday (5 June) 2 Elray Street, the fire engine that arrives Donation: R40. Contact: UJW office • OR T Jet presents Shavuot Cooking with Delores Raedene. every year towards the end of 011 648 1053 Fouche. Time: 17:00 to 20:00. Venue: Food by • Join the Women’s International Zionist Organisation the event to become a giant • ORT SA CareerHub presents international career Flavours, 103 Algernon Road, Norwood. (WIZO) every Thursday for a Lunch & Learn jungle gym and then to help expert Lorraine Silverman on What it takes to Cost: R250 per person. shiur with Rabbi Michael Katz. Time: 13:00 at extinguish the beautiful blaze. find the work you love. Time: 08:30 to 11:30, Booking: [email protected] Beyachad. Contact: WIZO office 011 645 2515 20 SA JEWISH REPORT 31 May – 7 June 2019 What are Israel’s chances in European soccer? LUKE ALFRED the Swedish keeper’s despairing Michel Platini. Poland, in Warsaw’s National ties were played away. Their game lunge. Israel hadn’t beaten Austria in 20 Stadium. against Israel is at home, in Riga, he list of world-class Israeli There is debate about Spiegler’s years of trying, the win probably The two qualifiers are unlikely to be where they might give a better footballers is not a long one. international goal-scoring record having something to do with the definitive, but they will be clarifying. account of themselves, although Eyal Berkovic? Probably not. because some of his goals appear to inside knowledge of their Austrian Both Israel’s opening games were at the Israelis will, of course, be hoping TYossi Benayoun? Likewise. Ronny have been scored in friendlies that coach, Andreas Herzog. This aside, home, and two away games in four otherwise. Rosenthal? Much loved, but hardly weren’t sanctioned by FIFA. And, even the usually sober Times of Israel days is a tough ask. We will know Coach Herzog surely had in Johan Cruyff or Franco Baresi, not yes, it’s true, that some of these felt compelled to dub it “one of the in ten days’ time whether Herzog mind maximum points from such even Neymar. So, yes, the list is goals were scored against the small best from the national team in recent and his team’s quick start to their a tie when he said after the draw probably shorter than many care to fry of the international game like years”. campaign provide cause for genuine for the qualifying group was made admit. Hong Kong, Ceylon (as it then was) Both the Austria game and Israel’s optimism, or whether the national last year that while Poland and One might, indeed, need to go back and Ethiopia, but he also scored Euro opener against Slovenia (a 1-1 side will simply fade into mid-table Austria were obvious favourites, to the 1970s to find a player with a goals against Uruguay, Switzerland, draw) were played in Haifa, but the obscurity as the year progresses. This the group contained space for the compelling claim to be top of the list. Northern Ireland, and Yugoslavia. real test of their pedigree will come is exactly what they did during the dreams of others. “It’s not an easy His name was Mordechai Spiegler – In playing 83 times for his country, next week, when they play two Euro qualifying campaign in 2016. group,” he said at the time. “But sometimes spelled Shpigler – and he he was the real deal. away games in quick Log-leaders Poland will provide it’s a group where a lot of teams played internationally for Paris Saint- The “age of Spiegler” (and other succession: against them with a stern test. The Poles have chances where, if they play Germain. Israeli players of the same age like Latvia on 6 July kicked off their campaign with a at the highest level, they can get Later, he played briefly alongside Itzhak Shum) is again being evoked and, 72 hours priceless 1-0 away win against Austria some wins.” Pele at New York Cosmos, so could in contemporary football circles. In later, when they in Vienna in March, following it One of Herzog’s first big clearly mix it with the best of them Haifa in March, Israel beat Austria take on group up with a 2-0 home victory against decisions after taking charge in what was a golden age for Israeli 4-2 thanks to an Eran Zahavi hat- leaders, Latvia in as national coach was to recall football. trick to go to second place their Zahavi for Israel’s Nation’s League Spiegler’s resume makes for in qualifying Group campaign – this after he had interesting reading. Essentially a G for next year’s “retired” from the game after forward, but capable of European throwing the captain’s armband playing elsewhere, he to the ground in disgust after captained the Israeli Israel’s defeat by Macedonia in Olympic side to the September 2017. 1968 Games in Mexico second With the China-based Zahavi City, where they reached the quarter- Championships. qualifier three scoring four goals in Israel’s two finals. For the first time ever, these days later. Euro qualifiers so far, Herzog’s Two years later, Israel played in championships will neither be Having lost decision has been thoroughly their one and only World Cup, a hosted nor co-hosted, being spread to both North vindicated. The coach is a self- showpiece event once again being across 12 European cities next Macedonia and the Poles confessed Zahavi fan, and will hosted by Mexico, where he scored European summer, a one-off gesture in their opening two fixtures, be hoping he can add to his four Israel’s only World Cup goal in their of “romance” to celebrate the 60th Latvia are without a point in the goals in either Riga or Warsaw, 1-1 draw with Sweden, a beautifully anniversary of the competition, six-team qualifying group, and are but preferably both. struck left-footed drive from way according to UEFA (Union of anchored to the bottom of the table. With it, Zahavi could well climb outside of the area that curled beyond European Football Association) boss Eran Zahavi Then again, both of their opening to the top of the Spiegler list.

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