January February March 2021 1 Pretoria Jewish Chronicle CONTENTS: EDITORIAL
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January February March 2021 1 Pretoria Jewish Chronicle CONTENTS: EDITORIAL: Over Board ……………………….......... Page 5 Editor: Diane Wolfson ORGANISATIONS & Address: PHC Communal Centre, COMMUNAL EVENTS 246 Schroder Street, Groenkloof, 0181, Pretoria Union of Jewish Women …………….. Page 4 Email: [email protected] Appeal …………………………………. Page 6 P.O. Box 2512 Classifieds …….. …………….. ……... Page 7 Brooklyn Square, 0075, South Africa Women In Touch ...…………………... Page 8 Tel: 012-346-8712 Fax to computer: 086 716 7963 IUA / UCF …………….……………….. Page 9 Printer: Minit Print, Hatfield Bet Menorah …………. ……………… Page 11 Banking Details: JAFFA …………………………………. Page 12 -15 Pretoria Jewish Chronicle Pretoria Hebrew Congregation …….. Page 18 Standard Bank Brooklyn Branch - 011 245 WIZO.……………….………………... Page 21 Account No.: 011 819 200 Ganeinu ……………………………….. Page 27 The Chronicle is published under the auspices of the Pretoria SPOTLIGHT ON: Council of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies. Chairman of the Editorial Myra Berkow……………………. ...…. Page 19 Board: Dr Doron Goldstein. The views expressed in the pages ARTICLES: of the Chronicle are not Matrics 2020 ……. …….………….…. Page 3 necessarily those of the Editorial Board or any other organisation or Inspiration / Call Back the Past ……... Page 10 & 12 religious body, unless otherwise Carmel School 50th Reunion …...…... Page 16 -17 stated. The Chronicle merely Inspirational story ……………………. Page 22 reflects views of that particular Obituary - Shirley Sacks …………….. Page 23 organisation or individual. Israel Update ………………………….. Page 24 - 25 The Editor and/or the Editorial Yeshiva ……….. .…………………….. Page 26 Board reserve the sole right to refuse publication of any material submitted. IMPORTANT NOTICE : Content Submissions Notice to all organisations and community members: The due date for all articles, letters, classifieds and adverts is the 10th of each month for the following month’s issue. Please ensure that anything you wish to submit is done so timeously. The Chronicle depends on your contributions and your co-operation in this regard in order to meet publication and printer “deadlines”, which is vitally important. Kindly EMAIL all content to [email protected] January February March 2021 2 Pretoria Jewish Chronicle MATRICS 2020 2020 can probably go down in history as being one of the hardest years in this decade, and for the matrics of 2020, this is certainly the case. Kol Hakavod to our Pretoria students who have worked hard to achieve under these trying conditions during the Covid lockdown year. GALIT HARRIS NECHAMA FOX JENNA MYER daughter of Eli and Jolene, daughter of Rabbi Gidon daughter of Tracy and the matriculated from King and Aviva, late Alan, David Linksfield. matriculated from Torah matriculated from Pretoria Academy Girls’ High. A highlight of her year was Her main sport is show participating in the National Nechama did gymnastics jumping and Jenna spent a Yom Hashoa online and ran children’s services few weeks jumping in ceremony. for many years at the PHC. Germany and Holland this She excelled in ballet and past year. She will be managed to complete her studying at Tuks in 2021. final exam during this year Galit is following in her sisters footsteps and leaves for ulpan at Kibbutz Mazal Tov Ma’agan Michael in Israel in January 2021. Class of 2020 DANIELLA YOHANAN NIR LEVY OPHEC FUNIS daughter of Shlomi and Miri son of Sam and Elana Levy son of Anat and Isaac, matriculated from Abbotts matriculated at Abbotts matriculated from Pretoria College. Collage. Boys’ High. Daniella’s passion is art Nir excelled in business which she did for matric. He will be studying at studies and plans on Pretoria University She will be taking a gap studying B.Com Commerce year in 2021. In 2021. in 2021. January February March 2021 3 Pretoria Jewish Chronicle THE UNION OF JEWISH WOMEN PRETORIA BRANCH Ciska Lewis Tel: 083 272 7292 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ujw.co.za P.B.O: 18/11/13/2794 N.P.O No: 004 143 Banking details: Union of Jewish Women First National Bank Brooklyn Branch Code 251345 Account No. 62087789932 OUR LIVES NO LONGER BELONG TO US ALONE, THEY While our usual Projects are continuing, BELONG TO ALL THOSE WHO NEED US DESPERATELY” we are blessed to have been able to assist others in need. Here are photos The UJW Pretoria continues to provide relief from some of our outreach work. boxes for farmers and have received many acknowledgments and much gratitude. All the children at the Baraka Orphanage received their Christmas gifts and groceries from the UJW Pretoria You ladies are our Santa ♥. A big thank you my friends. The food parcel has a lot of love and care. D.M. (a grateful Wearing the name recipient of a food with pride! parcel) Please contact Ciska or Tracy if you are able to assist or wish or to Do you want to see where your donations go? become involved. UJW Pretoria now has its own Facebook CISKA 083 272 7292 page. TRACY 083 657 0222 January February March 2021 4 Pretoria Jewish Chronicle Over Board By: Victor Gordon The opening ceremony of the Olympic wars, failed to register the truth – until the Games is always a thrill to watch. Every arrival of Donald Trump! nation, no matter how small and insignificant, takes its place in the line-up, led by its “Free handouts” is a phrase in Trump’s national flag proudly borne by an athlete vocabulary that simply does not exist! Those honoured to carry it, while the teams circle who wish for peace must understand that it is the inner stadium before occupying their a two-way street, rich with benefits and position in the centre of the field. Some rewards, if only given the chance. And so – teams, consisting of no more than a single seemingly out of nowhere – the United Arab athlete and a coach, are greeted with the Emirates, a country steeped in capitalism same enthusiastic applause normally while totally committed to the practise of reserved for the athletic super powers like the Islam, heeded the clarion call that sounded USA, Russia and Australia. from the ramparts of Jerusalem. To me, the initial appearance of Israel with its “Make peace with Israel and enjoy everything distinctive flag always brings forth a sense of that Israel has to offer! If you have any joy tinged with concern. How will they be doubts simply read ‘The Start-up Nation’ and greeted? Will they encounter the same warm benefit from Israel’s success.” And the UAE reception enjoyed by the other teams or will heard and the UAE listened and the UAE the applause be no more than obligatory? stuck out a hand in friendship which Israel After all, is that not the reaction Israel gladly accepted. encounters on many other forums? So far the display of friendship and even – Think “United Nations” where Israel is treated dare I say – affection, displayed by the two as a pariah by countries themselves guilty of parties has been quite overwhelming. For human injustice, in direct conflict with the UN the first time in history a giant menorah was Charter and Declaration of Human Rights. displayed in the UAE. The 12-foot metal Only a hermit would be unaware of the menorah, locally constructed, stood at the existence of this blatant bias which stems foot of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in from nothing but crass anti-Semitism. the world, for all eight nights of Chanukah. But perhaps my cynicism is misplaced. Don’t Israeli flags adorned the main thoroughfares the facts speak for themselves? After all, just while Israeli products are prominently dis- two years ago, Israel won the coveted played in major supermarkets. Israeli tourists Eurovision Song Contest in the face of stiff swarmed out of planes, ready to spend on opposition from the whole of Europe. The having fun. To all appearances this was as “warm” a peace as one could hope for. past few years have seen Israel doing phenomenally well in Gymnastics, Basketball After years of insisting that peace would and Sailing, as well as Judo and Karate, depend solely on Israel sacrificing land, a when competing on the international stage. new reality emerged – “Trump’s art of the While the Palestinian issue continues to deal and benefits for all.” Soon, three more foster worldwide attention, there is little doubt countries followed the UAE with others destined to come. that the intensity of interest is no longer at quite the same level. Whereas previously, But back to my cynicism which exists simply hardly a day would pass without a because it is Israel with which the UAE has photograph, an article, a letter or an editorial engaged and not some other country devoid castigating the Jewish State for its supposed of “Israeli baggage”. Is this a simple case of ill-treatment and abuse of the allegedly expediency? Will the shidduch last? Or will it “suppressed” Palestinians. The world and evaporate with the first sign of war between many Arab countries in particular, have Israel and any other Arab or Islamic state, turned away from the notion that peace will particularly Gaza? come to the Middle East only when Palestinian statehood is resolved. Despite the enormity of this development, few local media outlets gave it much Every American president since Jimmy Carter attention while in some cases (e.g. the ANC) has stood by the belief that Israel alone held there were only expressions of regret that the key to peace by handing more and more allegedly “the Palestinians had been concessions (read “territory”) to the abandoned in favour of Israel”. Palestinians for little or nothing in return. Even the disastrous outcome of pulling every Predictable …? Jew from Gaza, resulting in three regional January February March 2021 5 Pretoria Jewish Chronicle APPEAL Our magazine keeps us all connected as a community and we are extremely grateful for the kind donations and subscriptions received from our readers who support our Chronicle with their contributions.