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south african n Volume 25 – Number 15 n 30 April 2021 n 18 Iyar 5781

The source of quality content, news and insights t www.sajr.co.za Chief rabbi calls JSC questioning ‘racist and antisemitic’ TALI FEINBERG whether he observes Shabbat. It was made clear that this on the issue. deliberately targeted. observance would be problematic for his appointment. “From the questions Jewish candidates were asked “This suggests that the very foundation of South hief Rabbi Dr Warren Goldstein this week was “It should also be noted that no other candidate at the JSC interviews this month, one would question Africa’s democracy is under threat, and one cannot appalled at the “conduct of the commissioners was questioned on their religious practices, except whether those bent on pursuing an antisemitic agenda help recalling the late Nelson Mandela’s voice: ‘I have of the Judicial Service Commission [JSC] in those of the Jewish faith. Christian candidates weren’t are beginning to infuence key decision-making bodies fought against white domination, and I will fght against Ctheir questioning of two Jewish judges [over the past asked about working on Christmas, nor were Muslim unduly. We call on all South Africans to stand up and black domination.’ The determination of the late, great weeks]”. He described it as “racist and antisemitic in candidates asked about working on Friday afternoons protect these constitutional values, and reject all forms of statesman to fght for absolute equality and against effect, if not in intention”. or Eid,” said Kahn. “It’s also extremely disturbing that discrimination.” discrimination of any kind should be brought front Judge David Unterhalter was grilled about his short questions posed to both Advocate Lever and Judge Rabbi Greg Alexander, the co-chairperson at the and centre at this time. Those who raise such blatantly association with the South African Jewish Board of Unterhalter focused extensively on their possible South African Centre for Religious Equality and discriminating questions should be publicly shamed for Deputies (SAJBD) and his views on the Israeli-Palestinian association with the Board. Nearly all Jews in South Diversity (SACRED), didn’t hold back on his opinion doing so.” confict in his interview with the JSC. He was being Africa have some association with [it]. One wonders why of the interviews. “There is little doubt that there was “There does appear to be some prejudice in the interviewed for a position on the Constitutional Court. a body mandated with protecting constitutionally sound fagrant discrimination at the recent JSC hearings. This is questioning from the JSC,” said Mark Oppenheimer, an Similar queries were directed at judicial candidate principles of religious freedom and fghting hate would specifcally concerning the two Jewish candidates being advocate at the Johannesburg Bar. To question a Jewish Advocate Lawrence Lever who is standing for a position in be so objectionable to members of the JSC panel,” she interviewed.” advocate about their observation of the Sabbath “is a the Northern Cape, including if he observed Shabbat. asked rhetorically. “Had such religious or cultural questions been asked weird thing to ask, given that there have been many “The Jewish candidates were the only ones subjected “Equally concerning were questions posed to the of others of another faith, it would undoubtedly have Jews on the courts over the years, and you wouldn’t ask a to questions relating to religious identity and practice,” two Jewish candidates regarding the Israeli-Palestinian sounded an alarm and disgusted those observing,” said Christian whether they could do their job given that they said the chief rabbi. “The direct implication of their confict,” said Kahn. “Both were questioned on SACRED co-chairperson Rabbi Julia Margolis. “However, might go to church on Sunday, or a Muslim who needs to questions was that a Jewish judge who is a Zionist or their stance on the two-state solution. It’s diffcult to we now face a doubly-disgusting situation in that such go to prayers on a Friday. So there is either antisemitism observes Shabbat would be disqualifed from holding understand how a confict of this nature has intruded questions arose in the frst place, and secondly, that or anti-Zionism, or a great deal of ignorance. With Judge high judicial offce. into this forum. No Muslim candidates were questioned only one religion, faith, or culture appears to have been Unterhalter, it’s unclear if this was an excuse to try and “This violates the letter and spirit of our Constitution. block him, or whether it was the reason he wasn’t It’s morally and legally repugnant for offcers of the JSC nominated further.” to discriminate against any candidate on the basis of Fight for freedom – and survival Writing in Business Live, Tony Leon, the former their religious identity. They should all be ashamed of leader of the opposition, said, “In the dismissal of Nicholas Wolpe is giving his all to Unterhalter’s claims for judicial advancement, his themselves,” the chief rabbi said. keep Liliesleaf afloat He called on JSC commissioners including the membership of the ‘suspect class’ of his race was minister of justice to retract and apologise for their fused with his religious affliation. Thus, the JSC comments. “And I also call on President Cyril Ramaphosa interviewers gave little airtime to Unterhalter’s to return the list to the JSC as the Constitution allows credentials, which include being the frst South him to do on the grounds that aspects of the hearing African ever appointed to the appellate body of exhibited discriminatory questions which cast a shadow the World Trade Organisation, where he served as on their entire process. Racist conduct can never be chairperson for two years. condoned,” Goldstein said. “Courtesy of a bile-ridden tissue of vitriol The SAJBD also described the JSC’s questioning of against him authored by the Qatar-funded Boycott, both men as “discriminatory and anti-constitutional”. Disinvest and Sanction outft, Unterhalter landed “Advocate Lawrence Lever and Judge David up spending much of his time offering his views Unterhalter were subjected to questions pertaining to on Zionism (not in the remit of the court) and his their Jewish identity while no other candidates were one-time membership of the South African Jewish subjected to offensive religious scrutiny,” said SAJBD Board of Deputies,” continued Leon. “According

National Director Wendy Kahn. “Advocate Lever was Ossendryver Ilan Photo: to BDS, the century-old Board, whose leadership asked about his level of religious observance, specifcally See page 7 Continued on page 4>>

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Contact our 24 Hour Helpline: 082 499 1010 to speak to a qualifed social worker Shabbat times this week 2 SA JEWISH REPORT 30 April – 7 May 2021 Starts Ends 17:20 18:10 Johannesburg 17:48 18:40 Cape Town ‘My Octopus Teacher’ extends tentacles from 17:04 17:54 Durban 17:24 18:14 Bloemfontein Cape to Oscars 17:20 18:11 Port Elizabeth 17:12 18:03 East London TALI FEINBERG ocean conservation was of great interest to me. I knew the calibre of their work, and saw it as an exciting Appliance Repairs on Site ippa Ehrlich travelled from the depths of Cape opportunity.” It was largely voluntary and “we didn’t go hers, Town’s icy oceans to the heights of the flm into it with any funding, job security, or salaries. We just was h industry when she won the Academy Award for Thomas Neil Photo: worked on projects we loved”. Dis Stoves s, ines, PBest Documentary this week. Frankal hopes the Oscar will lead to more protection of e ch idg Ma Fr ing Ehrlich, whose father is Jewish, grew up in the precious ecosystem that is the Great African Seaforest ash more W Dryers & Johannesburg and lives in Cape Town. She and co- and other ocean environments. “If people can take the ble Tum Call Jason director James Reed were awarded the Oscar for their groundswell of interest and create meaningful and

082 401 8239 / 076 210 6532 flm, My Octopus Teacher, which made waves around the Pippa Ehrlich sustainable change, then we couldn’t be happier,” she FREE QUOTATIONS world when it was released by Netfix last year. says. When 34-year-old Ehrlich spoke to the SA Jewish Africa’s kelp forest, which they call “the Great African Like many others at the Sea Change Project, she Report last year, she said her proudest moment of the Seaforest”. started free diving fve years ago. “At frst, I would watch flm’s release was when her 90-year-old bobba, Rica Speaking to the SA Jewish Report after the Oscar win, Craig and Ross go into the cold water, and I felt it wasn’t Ehrlich, told her how much nachas she was getting as Frankal says that it has been a heady few days. She and for me. But then I saw them transform in a positive way, people around the globe responded to the flm with joy, her team have been working 18-hour days over the past and I thought it wasn’t such a leap to try this for myself. amazement, and fascination. few months as interest in the flm went into overdrive. I’m now a die-hard cold-water swimmer and free diver. “She just couldn’t believe it. She said, ‘Every bobba Although she is thrilled with the Academy Award, for It’s been life-changing to have access to this underwater should have such nachas from their granddaughter.’ It her “nothing can beat the impact of the Netfix launch of world on our doorstep. I feel awe and wonder at the was a lovely moment for me,” recalls the flmmaker. One the flm on 7 September 2020. The nachas we received privilege of exploring this environment.” She emphasises can imagine her bobba’s nachas at her granddaughter’s from the outpouring of interest from all over the world that anyone interested in doing it should do so safely, Oscar win. was unequivocally incredible, and we were completely and seek others with more experience to guide them. Says Ehrlich, “I’ve had incredible support from the taken by surprise. We saw people connecting the flm Frankal believes that My Octopus Teacher resonated Ganeinu Nursery School Jewish community, from my wonderful cousin, Danielle, with their own story, and it touched people from all walks with so many people because “it’s everyone’s story – we and from Carina Frankal, who is the executive director of of life and all ages – even children. Art and poems were can all relate to how we feel when we connect with We are looking for a qualified the Sea Change Project. Also my friend, Brian Bergman, created, and our website crashed because of the amount nature. It’s in our wiring. I also think Craig’s vulnerability of traffc. Emails came in literally every second, for days. in telling the story was powerful. He wasn’t being Jewish studies teacher for our who is a truly wise and wonderful man. There were many times where I felt out of my depth [when making the We weren’t prepared for it. We had no idea, so it was anything other than himself. The flm also lifts the veil nursery school in Pretoria. flm]. I wanted to give up, and arrived on his doorstep in quite overwhelming, but also wonderful.” between us and nature – it reminds us that we’re not Applicant must be shomer Shabbat. tears. Every time, he talked me through it, brought me My Octopus Teacher has won more than 20 separate. We’re all connected, and we’re part of the back to myself, and sent me out to face the project again. international awards, including Best Documentary at natural world. This was Pippa’s conviction – that the flm Warm environment, small classes. You cannot do these things without having friends like the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) and Producers doesn’t have an overt conservation message, but rather, that in your life. Guild of America Awards. President Cyril Ramaphosa it’s about the human heart.” Negotiable salary depending on “ORT Jet has also been so supportive,” she says. “Since personally congratulated the team for its nomination and In accepting the award, Ehrlich said, “In many ways, qualifications and years of experience. I frst got in touch with them more than a year ago, award. It was Ehrlich’s frst feature-length flm, and as a this really is a tiny personal story that played out in a sea they’ve been super encouraging, helped me with all frst-time director, she told the SA Jewish Report that the forest at the very tip of Africa, but on a more universal Possibility of free accommodation for a sorts of things that I needed. The South African Jewish experience of making it was “a baptism of fre”. level, I hope that it provided a glimpse of a different type young family in our simplex project. community is an incredible community to be part of, and In the months since the flm launched on Netfix, the of relationship between human beings and the natural it’s wonderful to feel that support behind you.” organisation has been bolstered with more hands on world.” To express interest, please send CVs Ehrlich and the flm’s subject and producer, Craig deck, and it was better prepared should the flm win the Speaking to the media, she said, “In a diffcult year to [email protected] Foster, are part of the Sea Change Project, a community BAFTA and Academy Award. “The Oscar is a win for all in which many of us were stuck inside, feeling afraid [email protected] of scientists, storytellers, journalists, and flmmakers South Africans all over the world,” says Frankal. and confused, a positive story that transports you to a who made My Octopus With a long career in flmmaking and media, Frankal magical world has a powerful appeal. Parts of this story Teacher and are dedicated has known Sea Change Project founders Craig Foster and are universal to almost every person on earth – love and to raising awareness of Ross Frylinck for many years. When they invited her to friendship, and connection and hope. It’s about nature, the beauty and ecological join them, she was excited and intrigued. but it’s also a very powerful, archetypal story that helps us importance of South “The mandate of using media to work towards to make sense of the world.”

Torah Thought Rabbi David Nossel To love is easy, to respect is hard “Twelve thousand pairs of students text teaches us the tension between and sameness leads were under Rebbi Akiva, and they all two magnificent human traits: love and to redundancy. And died in one chapter for they did not respect. second, it leads to act respectfully to each other. It was Rebbi Akiva taught love. It was exclusivity, and taught, they all died from Pesach until none other than Rebbi Akiva who said, exclusivity leads to rejection. Shavuot. Tey all died a bad death.” “Love your fellow as yourself.” Tis Tis is why the students of Rebbi (Talmud, Yevamot 62b). is a great principle of the Torah. No Akiva died “in the same chapter”, Tere is something that really doubt, it’s the reason why his students because they all lived only “in the same bothers me about this piece of Talmud, were described as being in pairs. If chapter”. And it’s why they were able namely, were these students of Rebbi the Talmud wanted to emphasise the to love each other, but weren’t able Akiva “goodies” or “baddies”? enormity of their numbers, it should to respect each other, because love is On the one hand, they seem to have said 24 000 individuals. But it based on sameness, respect is based on be real baddies. To treat each other said 12 000 pairs because it wanted difference. without respect certainly sounds pretty to reveal their inseparability, and to Te Talmud is teaching us about bad. And the Talmud tells us that they emphasise the enormity of their love the goodness and importance of love, all suffered a “bad death”. for each other. about the students of love who learnt On the other, they seem to be Why, then, did they die? Te Talmud from a rebbe of love, who taught a real goodies. After all, the Talmud is teaching us that they died not in Torah of love. And we mourn those calls them Rebbi Akiva’s students. It spite of their love for each other, they students to this day out of our love for doesn’t say that there were 12 000 died because of it. them. pairs of dropouts from Rebbi Akiva! Te core power of love is But the Talmud is also teaching us Furthermore, their demise is mourned commonality. People love each other the dangers of love. To love is easy, to for more than a month every year by because they share things in common. respect is hard. To love is to remove every Jew. It could be that no other It’s this commonality that brings them otherness, to respect is to admire it. people in the history of the world are together and unites them. It allows As great as love is, by itself, it has no mourned to the same extent. them to become one. future. It’s when love leads to respect So which one is it? But people in love becoming one has that it will lead to Sinai, and a better It’s both. Tis profound Talmudic its problems. First, it leads to sameness, future for all.

Editor Peta Krost Maunder – [email protected] • Sub-editor Julie Leibowitz Journalists Nicola Miltz • Tali Feinberg • Mirah Langer • Photographer Ilan Ossendryver • Editorial co-ordinator The source of quality content, news and insights Martine Bass – [email protected] • Proofreader Kim Hatchuel CEO Dani Kedar – [email protected] • Advertising Britt Landsman: 082 292 9520 – [email protected] • New business development manager • Laura Kaufman [email protected] • Design and layout Bryan Maron/Design Bandits – [email protected] • Distribution Sandy Furman • Subscriptions Avusa Publishing (Pty) Ltd. Tel: 0860 525 200 • Board of Directors Howard Sackstein (Chairperson), Dina Diamond, Herschel Jawitz, Shaun Matisonn, Benjy Porter. • Advertisements and editorial copy do not neccessarily reflect the views of the editor, staff and board of directors. Tel: 011 430 1980. 30 April – 7 May 2021 SA JEWISH REPORT 3

HRW report accusing I want to Israel of apartheid buy your bobba! old or new, we’ll pay you widely condemned a wow price for your car. NICOLA MILTZ the claims, and apply an arms embargo against Israel until steps are taken to end such “crimes”. here has been widespread local and Te report said Israel’s treatment of international condemnation over a Palestinians, both within and outside sovereign Human Rights Watch (HRW) report Israel, met the definition of the crimes of Call Alan: 082 850 0004 Taccusing Israel of apartheid and persecution. apartheid. www.alfinauto.co.za Te United States-based HRW published a Te report provides an example of 213-page report this week accusing Israel of discrimination, citing Israel’s Law of Return pursuing policies of apartheid and persecution which grants citizenship to Jews who want to against Palestinians and against the country’s emigrate to Israel. It says Palestinian refugees 2018 Nation State Law. Israeli law.” own Arab minority that amount to crimes and their descendants who had lived on NGO Monitor condemned the apartheid Te president of NGO Monitor, Professor against humanity. Te report claims the Israeli territory now under Israeli sovereignty didn’t accusation, saying it was part of a larger global Gerald Steinberg, said in a statement, “Te government enforces an overarching policy to have that same right of return. campaign to discredit Israel and undermine its demonisation of Israel through comparisons “maintain the domination by Jewish Israelis NGO Monitor said that for close to 20 years, identity as a Jewish state. to the heinous legacy of the South African over Palestinians”. HRW had backed various BDS campaigns Shaun Sacks of NGO Monitor told the apartheid regime has deep roots, going back HRW said that after decades of warnings against Israel and companies that do business in SA Jewish Report that over the past 18 months, to the Soviet and Arab campaigns and the that an entrenched hold over Palestinian life Israel. “Recently, HRW was active in [failed] BDS NGOs had intensified their campaign to infamous Durban NGO Forum. HRW’s latest could lead to apartheid, it had found that the attacks targeting Airbnb and FIFA, as well as in highlight the term “apartheid” in discourse contribution consists of the standard mix of “threshold” had been crossed. lobbying intensively for the UN BDS Blacklist.” about Israel. shrill propaganda, false allegations, and legal Te report titled “A threshold crossed: Israeli In its extensive analysis of the HRW report, In January, Israeli organisation B’Tselem fictions. Exploiting the ‘apartheid’ image for authorities and the crimes of apartheid and the nongovernmental organisation accuses the made exactly the same case, also accusing Israel propaganda is a cynical appropriation of the persecution” was authored by Omar Shakir, suffering of the victims of the actual apartheid the Israel and Palestine country director at regime.” HRW. Shakir was deported from Israel in Rowan Polovin, the national chairperson of 2019 for his alleged support of the Boycott, the South African Zionist Federation, said the Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement. HRW was biased against Israel. “HRW’s credibility as a human-rights “It’s not surprising that HRW has produced watchdog has been hopelessly compromised yet another anti-Israel report based on by its obsessive anti-Israel bias, so much so distortion, misinformation, and the political that its founder has distanced himself from agendas of the writers. Even HRW’s original it,” says David Saks of the South African founder, Robert Bernstein, has distanced Jewish Board of Deputies. “Its latest report himself from the organisation over its is just another rehashing of this politically- obsessive and ongoing anti-Israel focus. HRW driven, factually distorted vendetta against has admitted in the report that it doesn’t base the Jewish state.” its claims on the repeatedly debunked notion Israel’s foreign ministry rejected the claims that Israel is similar to apartheid South as “preposterous and false”, and accused HRW Africa. Tis is yet another attempt to dilute of harbouring an “anti-Israeli agenda”, saying the meaning of actual apartheid practices in the group had sought “for years to promote South Africa and the victims who suffered boycotts against Israel”. under it.” Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Michael Polovin said the facts on the ground Biton said the purpose of the report was Human Rights Watch’s Omar Shakir being deported from Israel at the end of 2019 “simply don’t comport with the fantasy being “in no way related to human rights, but to an HRW “of deviously erasing the context” of the of apartheid for the first time. portrayed in the report”. ongoing attempt by HRW to undermine the Law of Return. “Tis campaign reinforces the actions of the “Whilst this report is being promulgated, state of Israel’s right to exist as the nation state “Te Law of Return was enacted in the ICC [International Criminal Court] prosecutor, multiple Arab nations are signing peace treaties of the Jewish people”. shadow of the Holocaust to provide a safe haven who after 10 years, agreed to launch an with Israel and scaling up their involvement Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for Jews who for centuries suffered persecution investigation against Israel. with the Jewish state. Democratically elected welcomed the report. around the world. Te sharp rise in physical “Our analysis of this report shows this isn’t political parties with constituents from Te HRW said its report wasn’t aimed at violence and other forms of antisemitism merely a critique of Israeli policy in the West Arab-Israeli communities are engaging in the comparing Israel with apartheid-era South around the world in recent years only highlights Bank, but an attack on the very foundations Israeli Knesset with their counterparts, and Africa, but rather at assessing “whether specific the need for Israel as a safe refuge from of Israel and a rejection of the legitimacy of Israel is faced with rocket attacks not just acts and policies” constitute apartheid as persecution.” a Jewish state, regardless of borders. It’s the from Gaza but from Syria as well. Tis reality defined under international law. Te report Te report addressed Israeli policies against culmination of decades of obsessive attacks isn’t portrayed in the report, and strongly said Israel met the legal definition for crimes of Palestinians in the West Bank, including against Israel.” contradicts the allegations it makes.” apartheid as set out by the Rome Statute. settlement activity, the demolition of Sacks said Shakir had “devoted many years Said Saks, “As for the impact of this report, Tis is the first time in HRW’s 43-year history Palestinian homes, and lack of freedom of to delegitimising Israel, and in 2019, his Israeli it depends in part on how effectively the that it has accused Israel of apartheid. It has movement for Palestinians. work visa wasn’t renewed because of his message gets out that HRW cannot be trusted, called on the United Nations (UN) to verify Te report also highlights problems with the involvement in BDS campaigns in violation of especially on this issue.”

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Safe & secure with 24/7 Professional guard access. Walking distance to The Sandton Shul, Morningside 2 2 Web Ref: RL76126 2 2 Web Ref: RL72944 Shopping Centre and Medical & Educational Facilities. Joel Harris 082 926 0287 National Sales Consultant of the Year Joel Harris 082 926 0287 National Sales Consultant of the Year 3 2 Web Ref: RL71721 2 2.5 Web Ref: RL76121 Laureen Shalpid 083 789 0229 Laureen Shalpid 083 789 0229 Chrissie Hammer: 082 568 0440 Sandra Luntz: 083 679 1247 4 SA JEWISH REPORT 30 April – 7 May 2021 Picking up the pieces after UCT fire TALI FEINBERG “Suzanne completely understood the gravity of it.” Singer also lauds he world watched in horror on Sunday, 21 April, as a raging Mendelsohn for allowing the Kaplan Centre to be a place of refuge for wildfre bore down on the University of Cape Town (UCT), the material. hitting at its heart when the JW Jagger Library went up in Says Ackerman-Berman, “I was traumatised when I saw UCT going Tfames. Now, members of the community are pitching in from all up in fames, and didn’t want to believe that this could happen to this sides to save priceless archival material from fre and water damage. magnifcent institution. And that library – I spent many hours there. I For principal archivist Michal Singer, it has been a harrowing week. was UCT RAG [Remember And Give, which raises money for SHAWCO She’s barely had a moment to breathe as efforts to rescue material got (Students Health and Welfare Centre Organisation)] chairperson in underway. She has grieved along with staff members who worked in 1984, and spent a lot of time on those Jameson steps [now the steps the library for decades. of Sarah Baartman Hall]. “On Wednesday night, staff gathered for a memorial ceremony. “When I heard that the basement had been fooded, I remembered For many, it’s like losing a child. It was a moment for everyone going into that basement myself,” she says. “And my mother told me to acknowledge the loss. It was one of the saddest days of my when she was a student at UCT, she spent many hours reading frst professional life.” At the same time, Singer says the university has editions of Punch magazine there. I heard they needed plastic crates assured them that all staff members are supported mentally and – not boxes – because the plastic mesh would allow the air to circulate emotionally, and given time to pause, rest, and take stock of the and dry the documents. We were able to immediately fnd 2 000 situation. crates, the next day 4 000 crates, and today [Monday, 26 April], we “It was a cruel twist of fate that of all the buildings at UCT, it was this have supplied a further 6 000 crates. I think UCT has been surprised at building that caught fre. There was so much material to burn, and how many crates it needs. there was nothing they could do. The fre was so hot that when water “When I visited the campus on Friday, I was hit on the chest, was sprayed, it just evaporated. Now, the fooding of basements flled literally, with a small piece of paper. And when I looked at it, it was with archival material is the biggest concern. They were flled waist- a burnt snippet of a book. And I just burst into tears as I realised the deep with water. It took two trauma of a library going up in fames,” says days to pump out the water. We Ackerman-Berman. “At the Kaplan Centre, I saw are now trying to evacuate both frst-hand the scale of the documents being basements.” restored.” She came across news clippings of Evacuation and rescue efforts students assisting women in the townships require hundreds of volunteers, – something she remembers doing in her and Singer says that the public SHAWCO days. has responded to the call in “I picked up another fle, and I saw items on their numbers. “We have seen NUSAS [the National Union of South African former UCT staff members Students]. My father, [Pick n Pay founder, assist our conservation and Raymond Ackerman] was president of NUSAS in disaster-management team. the 1940s and 1950s. My family connection with We have had students come UCT is pretty long. My brother, Gareth, was a RAG to help, even though they chairperson, I was a RAG chairperson – we were were evacuated from their all involved in student politics. My parents were residences for a week. And the involved in UCT night schools. So, to see these public has come forward. It’s documents damaged, it threw me. This is the backbreaking work, like being history of what turned our country around, and in the mines. They have been how UCT fought against apartheid. We have to lifting and carrying kilograms save the heritage of our nation.” of materials, forming human Meanwhile, others have stepped in to assist chains to get it out as quickly as in the restoration of historic buildings that were possible, and working in shifts. burnt. “We got the call last week to get on site “It’s a mouldy environment, as quickly as possible to assist in assessing the so we’ve had to rotate teams Suzanne Ackerman-Berman looking through damages and digitising the affected buildings,” material that has been rescued to maintain health and safety. says Darryl Epstein, engineer and managing Then there are COVID-19 safety standards.” They have also had to director at Delta Scan. negotiate with the dismantling team about when volunteers can The company specialises in the digitisation and inspection of go in. Most material is taken to a “triage tent” where professionals infrastructure using high-tech solutions such as drones and artifcial attempt to restore it. intelligence. “We often get involved in complex assessments where And then there are the thousands of milk crates that retailer Pick n conventional methods aren’t suitable, speed is a priority, or access Pay donated “at a moment’s notice”. Material needed to be evacuated may not be safe. Working with local legal drone teams, we received quickly and stored in crates where air could pass through to prevent special permission to fy drones over a classifed emergency zone, mould. while other aircraft were operating nearby to control the blaze,” says “Adam Mendelsohn, the director of UCT’s Kaplan Centre for Jewish Epstein. Studies, reached out to us, desperate for help in procuring crates,” “We have been operating throughout the week to get the says outgoing Cape South African Jewish Board of Deputies director students back on campus and to preserve as much information on Stuart Diamond. “We frst contacted Melanie Levy from The Angel these historical sites as possible. We are now building exact digital Network, and she helped us get 250 crates. But it became abundantly replicas of the affected structures for analysis and restoration. We clear that UCT needed thousands. So I sent [Pick n Pay Transformation transform the buildings into 3D digital replicas, which are put into Director and Head of Ackerman Pick n Pay Foundation] Suzanne virtual reality and analysed by our team of engineers and digital Ackerman-Berman a voice note, and she kicked things off,” says experts. Diamond. Soon, thousands of Pick n Pay milk crates started streaming “It was a moving experience to work alongside the emergency in from all over the country. response teams,” says Epstein. “We were allowed into areas not yet “For some, it may look like an old milk crate, but for us it was the cleared for public or media access. It’s been emotional to see frst- difference between saving and not saving the archive,” says Singer. hand the destruction and loss of historical sites.” Chief rabbi calls JSC questioning ‘racist and antisemitic’ >> Continued from page 1 is democratically and transparently elected, is akin to the – and I wanted to be able to continue serving.” Broederbond. Mere membership of this community body rendered As a human rights lawyer before 1994, Manoim said he hoped to Unterhalter unft for higher judicial offce in the view of BDS, a bring “the perspective of a lawyer who has worked with and without matter the JSC seemed to endorse.” a Constitution”. He also wants to emphasise the importance of The JSC recommended Lever for a vacant judge’s position in the institutions in society. “We as a country must ensure our institutions Northern Cape. It also recommended lawyer Norman Manoim for a work properly and independently, and we must work to protect vacancy on the Gauteng High Court bench. Both are to be referred them,” he said. to President Cyril Ramaphosa for appointment. Meanwhile, the He said it was important for people who had the opportunity to Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution is serve in public offce, to do so. “It’s easy to criticise society – and reportedly considering legal options regarding the recent interviews we do have many problems. But we must get our hands dirty and by the JSC for candidates for appointment to the Constitutional contribute towards solutions. As an optimist, I think we can solve our Court. problems – we always have. So we must put ourselves in whatever Speaking to the SA Jewish Report, Manoim said, “It’s a great role we can be useful in. This community has people with a wide honour to be able to serve. I’ve been in public service for a long range of skills and talents. We must get involved in whatever sphere time – on the Competition Tribunal for 20 years as a public regulator we can to make a real difference.” 30 April – 7 May 2021 SA JEWISH REPORT 5 How COVID-19 lockdown turned eating upside down MIRAH LANGER unsettled by “disordered eating” during this struggle. time. Tis, she says, is when one exhibits Even in normal circumstances, a big trigger amilies baking cakes, icing drive- behaviours that show a preoccupation with for eating disorders is isolation. “Tere can be by party cupcakes, and fermenting eating, weight, exercise, body shape, and so a sense of discomfort and in those moments, sourdough starters was one of the on, but doesn’t fulfil the definitive criteria people feel overwhelmed and everything feels Fmore celebratory public images of the of an eating disorder. An example is when a heightened, even warped. COVID-19 really COVID-19 lockdown. However, for some, the person begins to feel overwhelming guilt or ruined the sense of well-being for some, their isolation and disruption in routine helped the need to overcompensate with exercise or sense of control over their environment, and to trigger a struggle with food, the effects of skipping a meal after they believe they have food is one thing that people can control.” which continue to linger more than a year overindulged. As Lurie notes, what becomes difficult is afterwards. Either way, the consequences can be that physically ,“once your weight begins to drop or rise below or above a certain point, cognitive and metabolic changes take place. Restriction and bingeing become sources of serotonin, and the addictive cycle is hard to break. Decisions about food, weight, and general eating become exceptionally difficult to make, particularly for those who are malnourished.” Lurie and Bruk both express particular concern about the effect that lockdown has had on adolescents and children. Among adolescents, Bruk has seen an “intensity in how quickly eating disorders manifested to a severe level. Normally, a parent would bring in a teenager who was exhibiting some concerning tendencies in their eating over some time; now the adolescent would already have quickly found themselves experiencing extreme levels of body dissatisfaction and obsession with food and/or exercise to the degree they would already be diagnosed as a disorder.” Lurie says the number of eating disorders during lockdown concerning adolescents and children is “alarming”. “Adolescents during the harder lockdowns were confined to remote learning, cut off from their social support, and had opportunities, like adults, for more social-media exposure.” “My coping mechanism is eating and devastating for the person suffering. She mentions slogans like “avoid the food, and that’s what I turned to during Although the specific roots of eating quarantine 15 [pound weight gain]” as well lockdown,” reflects Lynn (name changed), a problems are established on a case-by- as “people posting pictures of their stringent 40-something-year-old from Johannesburg. case basis, Bruk says there are elements of lockdown exercise and diet routines” as “Te stress was on us because we had our lockdown that certainly exacerbated the contributing to problematic eating habits. business that had to keep running. After Already, Bruk says, adolescents often have work, I would just come home and binge. Te Five ways back to well-being distorted perceptions of their bodies. For cycle started – I went into a mindset where Bruk offers some starting pointers to rebalance example, when presented with images that I wasn’t even thinking. Tis period has been eating habits: show a spectrum of body sizes from thinnest like a dream; a surreal situation.” 1. Keep a food diary. Write down when and what to largest and asked to choose the figure that Lynn says she has never had a “calm you eat, as well as what you are feeling at the most closely resembles themselves, many or peaceful” relationship with food, but time of the meal. “It’s a useful tool to get back choose a figure that’s several sizes larger than lockdown triggered an extreme manifestation on track, as well as create mindfulness around their actual body shape. Similarly, when asked of this. to select the figure that most closely matches eating.” In the beginning, she and her family were their ideal size, they often select the figure 2. Try to identify the feeling of hunger. We slip gung-ho at the idea of using the time to focus that would be classified as unhealthily thin. into eating for so many other reasons besides on well-being. “I remember that first week During COVID-19, there seemed to be peer actually fuelling our body that we need to try of being home, we were like, ‘Oh cool, we’re pressure among friends to use the time away going to start exercise routines and create and connect to its core function again. “Check from school to overhaul themselves, often healthy meals.’ in with yourself at different points in the in unrealistic ways. “Te general impression “Ten, I don’t know what happened. I’ve day, especially before a meal, as to whether shared was, ‘Okay, we’re not going to be at always been a secret eater. If you asked my you actually do feel hungry and what this school for the next few months, and when I husband, he would say that I hardly eat junk experience feels like for you.” come back, I’m going to go through a ‘glow- food, but during lockdown, I didn’t care. I was 3. Take it one meal at a time. Make changing up’ – I’m going to look amazing.’” eating junk food in front of him. When we your eating habits feel manageable by Both Lurie and Bruk urge anyone who went to the shops, I would buy junk food with not trying to overhaul everything at once. is concerned about their own or a family the intention that it was all for me.” “Commit yourself to a good breakfast. Then member’s eating patterns to seek help as Lynn tried to counteract this by going on a commit to the same for the following snack or quickly as possible. strict diet for three months at the end of last meal, and so on. Otherwise, you will simply “We know that the sooner an intervention year, but she slipped again. “At the moment, get too stressed.” takes place the better the prognosis, and it’s one of the biggest struggles. I’m just so 4. Do any form of exercise that feels good to encourage anyone battling or their families to tired. It totally controls your life.” you. “Getting active helps you get you back in reach out for help as soon as possible,” says Psychologist Liane Lurie and dietician Lila Lurie. touch with your body and release stress.” Bruk say that Lynn isn’t alone in her struggle “Many feel lost and helpless when they 5. For parents who are concerned about their with food during lockdown. have a family member who is suffering from children’s eating habits, keep communication Lurie says it’s important to note that while an eating disorder. Tere is often a long road open. Be careful how you comment on your there has been a rise in reported cases of ahead, but with the right support, recovery is eating disorders during COVID-19, the exact child’s body, even positively. Also avoid possible,” Bruk says. cause of such a condition is never completely slipping into conflict situations such as Sometimes these problems require a known. “It’s unclear as to whether the begging your child to eat more or less. “This holistic approach. pandemic itself has given rise to new cases, or is such a delicate situation and is often linked “We always recommend a multidisciplinary whether the person presenting for treatment to so many other family dynamics. Sometimes approach in the form of a psychologist, already had the makings of an eating disorder it’s best to get outside help that can help psychiatrist, or general practitioner as well beforehand.” navigate the situation from a different as a dietitian to monitor all aspects of these Bruk notes that along with officially perspective.” disorders and hopefully facilitate a recovery diagnosed eating disorders, others have been process,” says Lurie. 6 SA JEWISH REPORT 30 April – 7 May 2021 south african Is the Judicial Services JTheewish source of quality content, news andR insightseport Commission hostile to Jews? Some are more equal than others OPINION ADVOCATE MARK OPPENHEIMER n this country, we have a Constitution that he appointment of judges is a key and gender composition most experts around the world believe to be component of the health and vitality of South Africa must be considered when one of the finest. Apparently, every genuine of our democracy. The Judicial Services judicial officers are appointed”. However, the Iright that a person could think of was considered TCommission (JSC) has recently gone through obligation is only to consider these criteria, in writing it, and is somehow included. And if the process of nominating judges for the and demographic representation is by no it wasn’t originally included, it has since been Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court of means mandated. considered and brought into law. Appeal, and high courts around the country. It has become common for members of the Sounds incredible, right? However, considering The separation of powers doctrine means JSC to interrogate white male candidates the corruption in this country, could it possibly be that the different arms of government are about their sex and gender. Judge Roland too good to be true? checks on each other. The legislature’s role Sutherland, who was being interviewed for No, the Constitution is as sound as we have is to create the laws, the judiciary’s role is to the position of deputy judge president of described, however, it’s only as good as its adjudicate upon the laws, and the executive’s the South Gauteng High Court, was asked to implementation. In the past few weeks, we have role is to carry out the law. Traditionally, comment on the fact that he is a white male. witnessed the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) the executive also has the task of appointing He noted that, among deputy judge presidents interview people for positions as judges in various judges. in the country, only one of them is white. This courts. One would imagine that, more than any other body, the JSC would be entails that his appointment would further exemplary when it came to upholding the Constitution and ensuring any prejudice the objective of broadly reflecting the racial was not allowed. Lawrence Lever was composition of the bench. Well, that hasn’t been our experience in watching Jewish legal beagles cross asked if his “observation Sutherland has been nominated by questioned by the JSC in areas that have no bearing on their positions as judges, of the Sabbath would the JSC, and thankfully many of the but rather point to potential antisemitism and violation of the Constitution. questions that he was asked related to his Frankly, it’s extremely troubling. interfere with his judicial achievements as a judge. His judgments I am considering here only issues pertaining specifically to the Jewish community duties”. Such questions are written with clarity and wisdom, and Jewish people who underwent JSC scrutiny, not any of the others. weren’t put to Christian or and his reputation as a fair and patient When Judge David Unterhalter was interviewed two weeks back – or should I say adjudicator is widespread at the Bar. He also interrogated, as that’s how it felt to me as I watched – it followed a very distressing Muslim candidates. restructured the court to ensure that trial antisemitic complaint by the South African Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) dates are allocated within a few months as Coalition. While we have discussed this complaint at length, in a rough summary of In America, the president decides which opposed to years. it: BDS smeared the South African Jewish Board of Deputies’ (SAJBD’s) name, and judges are placed on its Supreme Court, There is a reasonable worry that the JSC by virtue of his connection with it, Unterhalter’s as well. subject to a confirmation hearing held by has shown hostility to Jewish candidates. This obviously got to the JSC, and during the “interview”, individual members the Senate. In South Africa we have the JSC, Lawrence Lever was asked if his “observation intimated that by virtue of the fact that Unterhalter had been on the SAJBD for which is made up of 23 people from a variety of the Sabbath would interfere with his some months, it somehow meant he might not be “constitutional” or “support of sectors, including politicians, an academic, judicial duties”. Such questions weren’t put to equality”. The line of questioning was ugly. It also unfairly painted the SAJBD as an and legal practitioners. Members interview Christian or Muslim candidates. organisation opposed to human rights rather than one that fights to enable South the judicial candidates, and then recommend The BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) African Jews to live a prejudice-free life in South Africa. candidates who the president can ultimately movement wrote a letter to the JSC claiming I wondered if this was only because of the BDS complaint. And why was it even appoint. The president may refuse to appoint that it was improper for Judge David allowed by a body that should be the absolute upholder of the Constitution? people and ask for an additional set of names. Unterhalter to have held a position at the I mean, we’re talking about the initial selection committee for Constitutional The JSC Court judges, no less. The line of questioning was uncomfortable and frankly, hearings have unacceptable. It’s true, everyone vying for these positions gets put through the been publicly question-firing committee, but some questions don’t fall into the appropriate broadcast, category, and Unterhalter got those. which gives Fast forward to last Friday, and Advocate Lawrence Lever underwent his us a sense of interview for a position as a judge in the Northern Cape. He has been acting as a what these high court judge for five years already. After answering “no” to having been on the potential SAJBD, he was tackled about what it meant to have an allegiance with the board, judges would as if it (once again) was some dubious organisation. All this was pointed, as it had be like on the been with Unterhalter, to South African Jewry’s allegiance with Israel, the Jewish bench. It also state. And by virtue of having any allegiance, it meant that they (or we) support shows the human rights violations. Talk about a leap of judgement! Talk about tarring and workings of feathering us all… the JSC and But with Lever, it didn’t end there. He was then questioned about whether he the questions observed Shabbos. The question led to the idea that if he was shomrei Shabbat, that its it could get in the way of him doing his job as a judge properly because he might members deem not be willing to work on a Friday night or Saturday. Astonishingly, no Christian, important. Muslim, or person of any other faith faced this line of questioning. Again, I come There is The South African Constitutional Court back to the fact that we’re talking about seats for judges on our judiciary, and these concern that questions were, in my opinion, unconstitutional. Julius Malema As Jews, we have the right to observe our religion, and we have the right to have sits as a member of the JSC while being a South African Jewish Board of Deputies a body that protects us. We also have the right to an affinity with another country. frequent litigant in the courts. While I trust (SAJBD) because it deemed the organisation It should never be allowed that we – or anyone else – should be demeaned or not that judges would be able to fairly apply the to be supportive of the “apartheid state of given a position because of this. law to the facts of Malema’s cases, there is Israel” and antithetical to the values of the Now, I cannot say categorically that Judge Unterhalter wasn’t shortlisted for concern that his role in their further elevation Constitution. Constitutional Court judgeship because of antisemitism or because of his allegiance to higher courts may create a perception Instead of asking Unterhalter about the with the board. Although I know that some people have questioned my saying that I of bias in the eyes of the public. It may be vast array of expertise that he would bring to believe it was also due to the fact that he was white, privileged, and didn’t have that appropriate for Malema to recuse himself the Constitutional Court, the Black Lawyers many years as a judge behind him, it certainly didn’t work in his favour. from taking part in the nomination process of Association and Dali Mpofu repeatedly asked As for Lever, well, we’ll see. any judge that has heard his cases. about his short stint on the SAJBD. The point is that, with our incredible Constitution admired throughout the The Constitution requires judges to be The code of judicial conduct states that world, we should never be subjected to this, especially in the name of the JSC. If appropriately qualified and to be fit and a judge cannot be part of a political party, the Constitution was properly implemented, this would be stopped immediately proper. but it explicitly allows judges to be members and only questions that are fair and reasonable would be allowed. Surely those who We should expect the JSC to ask candidates of charitable organisations like the SAJBD. bring up these kinds of questions should be censured? questions about their knowledge of the Unterhalter made it clear that he had been I must say that as we consider what Freedom Day means to us this week, it’s sad law and the cases they litigated while in asked to assist vulnerable people in the to think that 27 years ago, we celebrated the rainbow nation. This amazing concept practice. If they are already a judge and are Jewish community who had been imperilled meant all South Africans were equal, and race, religion, gender, etcetera weren’t being interviewed for elevation to a higher by the pandemic going to get in the way of our beloved country. Perhaps we need to rethink how court, questions should be asked about The JSC declined to nominate Unterhalter we implement our Constitution, and what we’re all doing to recreate that rainbow the judgments that they have written and in spite of his numerous appearances before nation so that we can build the country of our dreams. whether they were delivered timeously. the Constitutional Court in landmark I, for one, want to live in a country where we’re all equal before the law, Jewish or not. The JSC should also ensure that judges in cases that include the certification of the particular divisions have experience in private Constitution itself. Shabbat shalom and chag sameach! law, criminal law, and constitutional matters. Peta Krost Maunder The Constitution states that “the need • Mark Oppenheimer is a practising advocate and Editor for the judiciary to reflect broadly the racial member of the Johannesburg Bar. 30 April – 7 May 2021 SA JEWISH REPORT 7 Freedom Day fight for Liliesleaf’s survival NICOLA MILTZ Like Liliesleaf, they are “either on life support of memory. ethical, and principled group of leaders who rose or are being forced to close their doors. Some In spite of many funding challenges, he has above self-interest and aspirations. icholas Wolpe, the founder and chief even consider auction in the hope of securing shown steadfast commitment and dedication “Service was a fundamental aspect of what executive of the Liliesleaf Trust, is a a benefactor who will ensure their survival”, he to ensuring that “a unique and seminal epoch they were doing. It’s what drove them as a man on a sad, lonely mission. said. in our struggle for freedom isn’t lost and collective. Tey didn’t seek affirmation, reward, NOut of desperation, he has become the Many historical sites are dilapidated forgotten, but remembered and honoured”. or publicity. Tey fought for a free, equal, just mouthpiece for the arts, heritage, and culture and falling apart. Wolpe emphasises the It hasn’t been easy for Wolpe. society. Together they symbolised the essence of sector, one which in his view is dismally repercussions should these crucial places of “Tere exists an indifference to preserving the being a servant of the people,” he said. neglected and forgotten about. memory be threatened with closure. memory of our struggle. Current government “South Africa is grappling with corruption, Liliesleaf Farm in Rivonia, Johannesburg, Tis week, on Freedom self-interest, and state capture – the described as the “nerve centre of the liberation Day, 27 April, Liliesleaf Nicholas Wolpe very antithesis of the ideals, principles, movement”, is hanging by a thread and facing launched a crowdfunding beliefs, and aspirations of struggle permanent closure due to a funding crisis campaign in a last-ditch heroes. Places like Liliesleaf stand exacerbated by the pandemic. attempt to keep this vital as a reminder to the youth of the Once a hive of activity frequented by place of history afloat. importance of what underpinned our many Jewish struggle stalwarts and their “It’s crucial that we keep struggle and what can be achieved famous brothers in arms during the height the memory of the struggle through a unified commitment defined of the struggle, the secret safehouse turned against apartheid alive,” he and underpinned by self-dedication. internationally renowned place of memory, now said. “Arts, culture, and heritage is the soul stands forlorn and overgrown. Wolpe was a baby when of our nation, and theatres and many It was at Liliesleaf that a group of dedicated police raided Liliesleaf Farm places like Liliesleaf are our link to the activists including Nelson Mandela were on 11 July 1963, arresting past, our connection to the present, arrested during a police raid in 1963 for the high command of and our bridge to our future,” Wolpe planning to overthrow the apartheid Umkhonto we Sizwe. His father, Harold, was policy doesn’t recognise independent heritage said. government. Te raid led to the Rivonia Treason one of them. sites so they are denied access to much-needed “Liliesleaf has a crucial and indispensable role Trial. It led to the famous Rivonia Trial at which government funding,” he said. to play in highlighting that the Freedom Charter Among the freedom fighters was Nicholas’ eight accused, including Nelson Mandela, Places like Liliesleaf rely on donations, was not merely a statement, but a statement father, Harold Wolpe, Arthur Goldreich, Denis Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Ahmed Kathrada, tourism, entrance fees, and school visits, all of intent. It was a reality as highlighted by the Goldberg, Lionel Bernstein, and James Kantor. Denis Goldberg, Elias Motsoaledi, Andrew hard hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. role individuals across the colour bar played “Te Jewish population made up a miniscule Mlangeni, and Raymond Mhlaba, were “I fear that our liberation history will fade in the fight for freedom, justice, equality, and percentage of the population and here, these sentenced to life imprisonment. from our collective consciousness and will hold democracy. Tis is why we must take a stand activists comprised 40% of those arrested,” Wolpe’s parents, Harold and AnnMarie, fled little meaning, particularly for our youth and before it’s too late.” Wolpe told the SA Jewish Report this week. into exile shortly after Harold escaped from future generations,” he said. Te crowdfunding campaign will help to meet Te once popular tourist attraction hasn’t the Marshall Square police headquarters in “Historical sites like Liliesleaf should be given basic operating costs such as staff salaries and been open since last March, and like many Johannesburg by bribing a young warder, just the attention they deserve and the funding they utilities. It asks people to donate R27 or R60 to struggle heritage sites in the country, risks before the start of the Rivonia Trial. Nicholas desperately need. Tis way, the men and women commemorate 27 years of democracy, the 27 closure. returned to South Africa as a young man on a who sacrificed their own lives so that the South years Nelson Mandela spent in prison, and the “Many of our historical sites of memory, mission to bring those defining moments in the Africans of today could enjoy the fruits of 60th anniversary, this August, since Liliesleaf including Robben Island, have deteriorated and history of South Africa to life. He went back to freedom will be honoured.” was purchased. Donations can be made via the are a shadow of their former selves,” said Wolpe. Liliesleaf Farm, and created an independent site He said Liliesleaf recognised the unique, Liliesleaf website.

10 SA JEWISH REPORT 30 April – 7 May 2021 Lag B’Omer, fire, and faith OPINION RABBI YOSSY GOLDMAN ith the old Johannesburg General Hospital, “man” and “woman”, “ish” and “isha”. Ish (man) contains Fire, too, can be a positive tool for building, literally, a fery experience. And, on Cape Town’s Table Mountain, and the the Hebrew letter yud while isha (woman) contains the illuminating, welding, and bringing things together; that fateful Lag B’Omer day, when University of Cape Town having suffered letter hay. Together, yud and hay spell one of the holy or, it can be a weapon of mass destruction, G-d forbid. It his holy soul was leaving this world, his face was so radiant devastatingW fre damage just last week, I would imagine names of G-d. Remove those letters, and you are left with all depends on the people using it and their intentions, that his students couldn’t gaze at him directly. And his that the custom of lighting bonfres on Lag B’Omer will be only the alef and the shin in each word, which spells aish, whether noble or evil. When controlled with intelligence entire house was shining with a fery light, symbolising somewhat subdued this year. or fre. and sensitivity, fre can provide energy to fuel a nation. the powerful, spiritual light of his holy teachings. For this, Perhaps it’s timely to ask where this custom originates. The sobering message to bride and groom? Leaving Unchecked, it destroys and leaves utter devastation in its as well as other reasons, we light bonfres on Lag B’Omer, And, in general, how is fre looked upon in Jewish G-d out of the marital relationship defnitely spells trouble wake. especially around his tomb in Meron, the little town in thought? What, is, in fact, the spiritual symbolism of fre? and may well bring a fery end to the marriage, whereas In the Lag B’Omer story, besides Rabbi Akiva, the other Upper Galilee in Israel. If we go back to the very beginning of time in the the presence of Hashem in their home is a recipe for a life hero of the day is Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, the second I will end with a Jewish proverb from the saintly sages Genesis story, we fnd that the frst human, Adam, of happiness. century sage who passed away on this day. Besides being of old that tells us: “After a fre, one is blessed with wealth.” discovered fre on the very frst Saturday night in history. Not long after the people sinned with the golden calf, a famed Talmudist, he is acknowledged as the author of So may it be for all who have suffered trauma and loss. It was the frst time he had experienced darkness and, the Jewish people were remorseful but needed to do the holy Zohar, the “Bible” of the Kabbalah and the father • Rabbi Yossy Goldman is the Life Rabbi Emeritus at somehow, he was inspired to rub two fint stones together something meaningful to atone for their terrible mistake. of Jewish mysticism. Sydenham Shul and the president of the SA Rabbinical sparking a fame which enabled him to see G-d told them to bring a half shekel of silver as their Tradition has it that when he taught Torah it was, quite Association. in the night. This is the source for our penance. weekly blessing over fre, “boreh But Moses was puzzled. How could the meorei haeish”, in the Havdalah giving of a mere coin atone for such a Holocaust survivor makes case for prayer recited at the conclusion grievous sin as idolatry? Rashi, quoting of Shabbat. the Midrash, writes that G-d showed recognition of Armenian genocide Fire features prominently Moses a “coin of fre”. The Lubavitcher throughout the Bible and in Rebbe explained that the concept MIRAH LANGER with Armenia; with its history and, in particular, that of the the Tanach. Just a few episodes of the coin of fre means that while a genocide,” said Finlay. that come to mind immediately coin alone is certainly an inadequate early 100 years later, Armenians continue to More than simply using his writing to present a are Moses’ very frst revelation atonement, if it is given with fre, meaning struggle for full recognition of the genocide historical account of events, what the author really from G-d at the burning bush, and with passion and profound feelings of inficted upon their nation and, in a poignant does is “perform an act of restoration, conjuring up and the clouds of glory which miraculously contrition and regret, it can indeed bring about the Ntwist, one of the most profound contributors to their cause memorialising a lost world through words and stories”. guided and protected the Israelites during their travels desired atonement. Thus, fre becomes a powerful symbol was Holocaust survivor and author, Edgar Hilsenrath. Furthermore, Hilsenrath chose a particularly unusual in the wilderness which included a pillar of fre. During of a passionate and inspired spiritual experience. Hilsenrath, a German-Jew who survived a Ukrainian form for the novel, titling it in German as a märchen the great revelation at Sinai where we heard the ten Of course, fre has always been a symbol of warmth, ghetto, was responsible for a seminal novel, The Story of (fairytale). Yet, he combined this with a subtitle, “Ein commandments directly from G-d, scripture records that, light, illumination, spirituality, and even divine revelation the Last Thought. The work spans centuries of Armenian historischer Roman aus dem Kaukasus” (a historical novel “The whole of Mount Sinai was smoking because the L-rd as it pierces the darkness of the material world. But, as we life in contextualising and portraying the genocide from the Caucasus). had descended upon it in fre.” Indeed, the Torah itself is all know only too well, fre can also be a source of horrifc that took place between 1915 and 1916, when about Finlay said that while the two genres would described as “a fery faith”. chaos and destruction. Fire can illuminate and open our 1.5 million Armenians were murdered in the Ottoman conventionally “appear to be at odds with one another”, in Tragically, twice in our history, our enemies set fre to eyes to new and higher realities. It can help us to “see the Empire. fact, they have a powerful interplay. Jerusalem and our Holy Temples, causing destruction and light”, but it can also wreak havoc and destruction. The epic novel, for which Hilsenrath received many Indeed, Hilsenrath conducted meticulous research the enduring exile from which we have yet to fully recover. Nuclear energy can fre up power plants producing prizes, is “regarded as one of the most important books into every aspect of Armenian history and culture in Arguably, the most famous wedding speech one hears electricity for an entire continent, but if it gets into the about this history”, said University of Leeds Professor Frank preparation for writing. Yet the fnal plotline, based on the under the chupah is the one about the Hebrew words for wrong hands, it can blow our entire planet to smithereens. Finlay in a seminar last week, held by the Johannesburg journey of “the dying 73-year-old Thovma Khatasia, as Holocaust & Genocide Centre in conjunction with the old as the genocide and one of only two members of his Armenian Youth of South Africa. family to survive it” is a “This book can be regarded as making a “kind of a magic carpet literary case for recognition of the massacres ride through time and in Armenia as being a genocide.” space. We eavesdrop Its stance remains so potent, that staging on conversations of it as a play in Germany in 2014, particularly historical personages the use of the word völkermord (genocide) and inhabit the past as on posters and on the theatre website, drew it happened.” protesting crowds of Turkish nationals and a Guided by a letter from the Turkish consul general. meddah, a genie-like Hilsenrath’s sensitive devotion to magical helper, and recognition of the Armenian genocide was with a refrain both in intertwined with his own life experiences. Turkish and German Born in Leipzig in 1926 when the Nazis of “once upon a time”, began to rise to power, he, along with other the novel’s protagonist family members, tried to fee to Romania, Edgar Hilsenrath “seeks not to punish or but later were deported to the Mogilev- demand retribution, Podolsk ghetto in Ukraine. but rather to uphold the After surviving the war, Hilsenrath made his way to monitory potential of the Armenian genocide in order to what was then the British protectorate of Palestine, before prevent similar atrocities in future”. later reuniting with family in France. By the end, it fulfls the promise of its unusual “This was quite a traumatic time for him. He started to paradoxical form, proving “the didactic moral purpose work through the experience he had at the ghetto and of all good fairy stories: while the family story is a at the same time, he was trying to write about them. He fction, the reader is shown that the genocide did, fell into a deep depression. Amongst other things, he indeed, take place, that it meets the United Nation’s arranged to have electroshock therapy.” legal defnition of the term and, as such, that Hilsenrath wrote of these experiences, saying that Armenian claims for restitution are justifed”. at the heart of his struggle was the impossible guilt of Finlay said the work was a remarkable achievement having survived. of literature as justice. “Hilsenrath manages to convey He worked doing hand-to-mouth day jobs while writing the acts of the perpetrators and the magnitude of the feverishly at night. His initial works were experimental suffering in a way that blends meticulously researched craftings that dealt with his experiences in the Holocaust. history with fantasy and imagination that opens up a From 1951, he moved to New York until 1975, when he new way of engaging with the material. It’s a way that settled in Berlin. encourages empathy.” His frst novel, Night, was published in 1964, and Indeed this “post-Holocaust depiction of a caused controversy for unfinchingly detailing some of the pre-Holocaust genocide” is a contribution to the harshest realities of the victims of the ghetto. In 1971, he ongoing exploration of and inquiry into “how we published the novel The Nazi and the Barber about an SS speak about the unspeakable”, posits Finlay. member who pretends to be Jewish after the war in order In trying to grapple with the atrocities of world to escape prosecution. Its use of “grotesque” humour to history, the question for writers remains, “Do we tackle the subject brought him fame and controversy. surrender before the challenge of representing Hilsenrath continued to write until his death in 2018. that, or do we strive to find adequate literary forms Out of his oeuvre, he regarded The Story of the Last to express various things that have happened?” Thought, published in 1989 and 20 years in the making, Hilsenrath strove to do so. As The Story of the as his best book. Last Thought itself self-reflectively declares within “He referred to it as his most poetic book. It was really its pages: “Sometimes one has no other choice the culmination of a lifelong study and preoccupation than to seek the final truth in the imagination.” IS PROUD TO LAUNCH A NEW AND EXCLUSIVE PODCAST SERIES CALLED

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CALL 011 784 8551 · SHOP ONLINE AT SCOINSHOP.COM · T’S & C’S APPLY 12 SA JEWISH REPORT 30 April – 7 May 2021 Cape Town school urges community to connect with a phone call TALI FEINBERG to do something for the community, whose morale was the rabbi. “Te culture of voice notes isolated for many months,” says the particularly low after the second wave [of COVID-19]. isn’t as real – it’s not as connecting,” rabbi. “We also want to encourage hen last did you make a phone call to a friend We felt that making phone calls is something anyone can says Silman. the parent body and broader or family member just to chat? Not a voice do. Te initiative crosses all borders and boundaries, all “Te other day I left a voice community to reach out to note or a text, or a WhatsApp message, or sectors of the community, and all demographics.” note for a friend on individuals whom they aW Facebook message, or a Zoom session, but an actual He and PJJDS educator Rebbetzin Leah Silman also his birthday, and would normally telephone call? Ease of technology means that most of us wanted to focus on the teachings in Pirkei Avot (Ethics then decided WhatsApp, or send messages to each other every day, but we don’t really of our Fathers). “Chapter 1:15 Shamai says to ‘greet to actually those they connect. Tat’s why the Phyllis Jowell Jewish Day School all people with a pleasant countenance’ – to reach out call him. We haven’t been (PJJDS) in Cape Town has launched a #makethecall to others with kind words and greetings,” says Ziegler. had a half- in touch campaign to challenge the community to make phone “Rambam says in Chapter 4:2 – Ben Azai, ‘Run after an an-hour with, and calls as a way to connect in a time of disconnection. easy mitzvah like a difficult one, as one mitzvah leads to chat, and I give them “We wanted to show our pupils that education isn’t just another.’ In Chapter 4:15, Rebbi Matya says, ‘Be the first felt much a call. about books, but about actions,” says Rabbi Gavi Ziegler, to greet all people.’” better We hope campus rabbi at PJJDS. He explains that the idea came “We feel that one good deed leads to another, and you afterwards. people will about as part of an educational project. “We also wanted never know what can come out of one phone call,” says I had challenge strengthened each other and our connection,” spread the word. Time travelling autobiography gives says Ziegler. “We We also envision want people to see different classes from glimpse into the past the benefit in making Phyllis Jowell Jewish Day School different schools a call, even if just to campus rabbi Gavi Ziegler and connecting with TALI FEINBERG whom Herzlia’s Minyan Yosef Shul is named), as well as Zalman Avin a friend. Ultimately, principal Theodore Thomas each other, and that and other colleagues at the Cape Town Talmud Torah, out of which one phone call can change someone’s phone calls become a regular thing, e was the very frst headmaster of Herzlia School in Cape Herzlia grew,” says Benatar. life, especially when so many people especially between young people and Town, and a pioneer of Jewish education, but when “The description of Mr Levin’s arrival by ship in Cape Town and have been so isolated during the the elderly.” Alexander Levin died in 1960, he took with him a wealth of the sight of Table Mountain is a poignant reminder that the natural pandemic.” To motivate children to get Hwisdom and knowledge in spite of the fact that he had written a book landscape is much more enduring than we inhabitants of it. Usually Ziegler says that there has been involved, every child who makes five in Hebrew about his life. our stories die with us. Autobiographies preserve memories, of much interest in the project from phone calls will be entered into a Levin’s recently rediscovered, translated, and published which this book contains many – both happy and harrowing. It’s a Jewish schools and organisations draw for a prize. autobiography, titled Education – My Life: Memoirs of a Hebrew fascinating read.” across the country, and they hope it PJJDS has invited parents to Teacher gives us insight into who he was and the historic events he Former Herzlia educator and principal, Solly Kaplinski, worked will grow. learn with children to kick off the witnessed. hard behind the scenes to ensure the book made its way out of Te campaign will run from 3 to project on 3 May. “Every child from Levin was born in Lithuania in 1882, and grew up in the shtetl obscurity. Writing from Jerusalem, he says, “To be a pioneer is 7 May 2021. “Tis will be achieved 18 months to Grade 6 will receive a of Pilvishok, part of the vibrant Jewish religious world that was daunting and intimidating. It requires immense bravery and courage through a Facebook ‘challenge’, beautiful Pirkei Avot book to launch destroyed in the Holocaust. in the face of enormous odds. Alexander Levin was the frst in an in which we motivate schools the project,” says Silman. After early religious studies in a yeshiva, he became a teacher, inhospitable climate in South Africa and in the shadow of the Shoah, in and around Cape Town and While Ziegler would love the specialising in modern Hebrew. He witnessed pogroms and how to take the reins of a fedgling and untested school and to take the Johannesburg to encourage their project to go global, “Even if it Jews grappled with choices and challenges at the time, including plunge [in establishing a Jewish school]. All who followed stood on students, parents, and communities affects one person’s life positively, the early Zionist movement. He even witnessed the beginning of the the shoulders of a giant who deserved more credit and recognition in to #makethecall this week. By we’ve done our job. Our goals Bolshevik Revolution in October 1917 as he was walking subsequent years. taking just a few minutes to reach are learning and connections. down the streets of St Petersburg the moments that events “The book sheds light out and be there for someone, We hope it catches on, but we’ve unfolded. on a little-known period you can brighten their day and lift achieved our aim if one person Arriving in South Africa in 1928, he immediately in the development of their spirits. Tis is how a simple feels more connected and less became a pioneer in Jewish education in Cape Town, going Jewish education, Hebraic phone call becomes a meaningful alone.” on to become the founding headmaster of Herzlia School scholarship, Zionism, and connection,” says Ziegler. • To find out more, visit Phyllis in 1940, eight years after he originally proposed the idea. communal life in South PJJDS has contacted seniors in Jowell Jewish Day School on Says Michael Belling, who recently translated the book, Africa, and it begs the Cape Town asking if they would like Facebook and Instagram, or “Published in 1954 by the Histadrut Ivrit, his book was question: why should to be contacted, and many said yes. share your phone call stories on soon forgotten, apart from a mention in a much later parents decide to send “Our students will reach out to those social media with the hashtag bibliography published by the Kaplan Centre [for Jewish their children to an untried in our community who have been #makethecall. Studies at the University of Cape Town].” Belling says and untested school of the manuscript was rediscovered about four years ago. modest means? This was Bible Quiz a nail-biting adventure Levin’s family then decided to have it translated and get it also a time when the PERSONAL STORY SHIRI KAPLAN published in English. cheder was the option of “They weren’t just interested for themselves, but realised choice. It says something his year, I got into the fnal round on a two-week Tanach camp in Israel. My its value as a source of frst-hand Jewish history in a time about those pioneering for the top 16 contestants in the brother, who represented South Africa in of change and upheaval,” Belling says . “This includes parents who put their trust International Bible Quiz, broadcast the quiz in 2019, described the camp as the the Zionist revival, a portrait of a lost Jewish world, and in Levin. And it says even Tlive on Yom Ha’atzmaut on 15 April. best two weeks of his life. But the intrusion descriptions of Jewish life in South Africa in the 1930s and 1940s.” more about Levin. His relevance as an outstanding educationist The Bible is the greatest compendium of of COVID-19 meant that the camp translated “Alexander’s frst-hand, rich, and unique experience of travel, is of value to students, teachers, researchers, and communities. I tales ever compiled, with murder, infdelity, into a fve-hour online tour on Zoom. I felt events, and people is on multiple levels: Eastern Europe, Herzlia, and believe the book will be a driver for further research, exploration, bloodshed, sibling rivalry, deceit, love, war – invigorated seeing the battlefeld where wider South African Jewish history,” says his grandson, Mervyn Levin. and community engagement. every plot twist imaginable. young David vanquished the giant, Goliath, For him, the book is important frst because it has superb “Finally, the book also sheds light on the impact of distinguished The South African fnalists included but honestly, it didn’t replace the in-person recollections of the diverse range of people he met throughout his academic graduates from Lithuania on Jewish education, studying Liron Krawitz from King David Victory Park, camp we’d been looking forward to for so life across many countries. It also has Levin’s in-depth and fascinating the Hebrew language, and being connected to Israel,” says Kaplinski. Temima Goldfein from Hirsch Lyons, and long. observations and perspectives on education, community, and “The ‘Litvak DNA’ – Jewish community, Jewish education, Hebraic myself, representing King David Linksfeld. It was exciting to be broadcast on Israeli Jewish life. Finally, “The autobiography is a unique and authoritative studies, and Zionism – runs strong through the South African Jewish The highest achievers usually embark television. While sitting there, I received contribution to the establishment of Jewish education in South community and expats abroad thanks in the main to the infuence pictures of my friends watching me from Africa,” Levin says. of Alexander Levin and his peers from Lithuania who emigrated to Shiri Kaplan a projector in the school hall. My heart The book is published in collaboration with United Herzlia Schools South Africa.” swelled as I realised how many people (UHS) and the Kaplan Centre. Says UHS Director of Education Geoff Writing in the foreword, Kaplan Centre Executive Director Adam across the world were supporting me. I felt Cohen, “It’s incredible to think that while European Jews were being Mendelsohn says, “South African Jews often describe two features honoured to represent my school and my slaughtered, people such as Alexander Levin had the vision and that lend a distinctive air to Jewish life in this country. The frst is the country. foresight to establish a place of Jewish learning at the tip of Africa. In common Lithuanian origins of a signifcant portion of the Jewish On the eve of the fnals, I received a the 80th year of Herzlia’s existence, it’s interesting to see how it all population. The second is the elaborate school system that educates heart-warming message from Rabbi Gary started and who the early pioneers were in creating a Jewish system the majority of Jewish children in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Braude, who said, “I hope that the more of education.” “This memoir connects these two features of South African Jewish you learn, the more you will see that the Professor David Benatar of the philosophy department at the life. His account roots the history of Jewish education in South Africa Tanach is an unfnished book, a story University of Cape Town was one of the earliest readers of the English into a much longer and larger story. In doing so, Alexander Levin of the Jewish people that continually translation. “Although it’s an account of one person’s life, it provides offers us a new way to understand and appreciate the cultural legacy unfolds with all the modern miracles and an insight into a bygone era,” he says. of Lithuanian Jewry on these shores, and how strands of this legacy challenges as occurred in biblical times. “The reader is transported back in time, and given a taste of are still enmeshed with us in the present day. It’s a ftting tribute to all I hope you will see yourself as having a Jewish life in Eastern Europe, the hardships there, the disruption of that made the present possible.” chapter to write in that narrative.” emigration, and Jewish life in Cape Town from the 1920s. As such, It wasn’t what I dreamed about when the book is an historical resource. • ‘Education – My Life: Memoirs of a Hebrew Teacher’ is available for I watched my brother in Israel two years “There are too many highlights in the book to enumerate, but for purchase from the Herzlia uniform shop at the high school campus, ago, but it was a special and a pivotal me they included references to such people as Joseph Homa (after and from Kollel Bookshop in Johannesburg. moment in my life. This page is proudly sponsored by We’re sharing our big ad space with small businesses to help create better futures

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ARTISANAL JAMS 14 SA JEWISH REPORT 30 April – 7 May 2021 Israelis move heaven and earth to resist climate change SIMON MATTHEWS diplomatic partners, and government high water temperature levels there. agritech. Alternative protein comprises cultivated representatives across the globe all came together “Israeli research to understand the mechanism of meat, plant-based meat, and fermentation [micro- s climate change becomes an emergency, to deliver messages of support for Israel’s green coral thermal resilience is important because in only organisms producing animal proteins], and is one the initiatives Israel has in place to initiatives. 30 years, 50% of global coral reefs have been lost. of the hottest investment fields in the Israeli tech combat it domestically and through Environmental projects spearheaded by Israel This research will give other countries the toolbox to industry.” internationalA collaboration can only stand the are found all over the world. The installation improve their coral bleaching resilience.” Israel’s transformation into a low-carbon, planet in good stead. of Israeli irrigation technology in Hanoi in Climate activist Yosef Abramowitz said, “The sustainable economy is fuelled by similar internal An Israeli broadcast last Thursday, 22 April, Vietnam is one example of Israel turning crisis forestation of dry desert is an Israeli innovation, projects: renewable energy storage, clothing livestreamed from Jerusalem, focused on these into opportunity. Another is a sustainable overcoming water scarcity to decrease the size of printed by 3D printers, environmentally-friendly initiatives, marking the 51st anniversary of Earth urban gardening venture in Riga, Latvia. The its deserts and passing on the knowledge to other concrete, and turning dirty plastic into construction Day. Israeli ambassador to Latvia, Orli Gil, said, “This water-challenged nations in a ‘pay it forward’ sheets, to name a few. “Global challenges require global solutions, and groundbreaking project, in collaboration with approach.” Closer to home, Utilis is an Israeli company climate change knows no boundaries,” said Israel’s Israel, allows us to connect with the soil and attract Professor Uri Shanas, the founder and chief which detects leaks and saves billions of gallons foreign minister, Gabi Ashkenazi. “Decisive action is beautiful butterflies to the area.” executive of TiME (This Is My Earth), said his of water globally. Said chief executive Elly Perets, needed urgently. Said Gila Gamliel, Israeli minister of start-up’s mission was to focus on “biodiversity “Our company’s technology processes microwave “Israel is working with the United Arab Emirates, environmental protection, “Extreme weather, hotspots, biogeographical regions significant in signals from satellites to detect water leaks for Jordan, and Palestinians, among others, on several food insecurity, and land degradation mean the number of species that they hold which are governments and water corporations. Algorithms environmental projects,” he said, emphasising that climate change is a threat to international peace under immediate threat”. detect suspicious points of water leakage, sewage, climate change is a priority for the Israel’s foreign and security, and global citizens must engage “Around the world, 50% of hotspot areas are drainage faults, and water accumulation on the affairs ministry. “Israel’s arid climate and in climate action. Governments must engage in privately owned, and through membership ground.” lack of natural resources has co-ordinated policy integration, and innovation contributions, we purchase these global areas with The company’s technology has been made it a world leader in in science and technology is key to addressing unique ecosystems in order to protect them.” implemented in 400 projects in 55 countries, smart farming, agritech, and these challenges.” Alla Voldman, the director of strategic alliances including the United States, Italy, the United food technology. A new climate bill was recently adopted by at The Good Food Institute Israel, said, “Improving Kingdom, Chile, China, and South Africa. “Using advanced Israel to reduce greenhouse gas emissions lifestyles in developing countries means that Climate-change mitigation is no longer on the technology such as satellites by 25% by 2050, and bolster co-operation meat consumption is rising, which has an impact back burner. Israel, from the Dead to the Red Seas, and drones, Israel has between all stakeholders to promote on the climate and increases microbial resistance is a shining example of what can be achieved increased food productivity regional stability. and disease outbreaks. Alternative protein is when civic society and government combine in and minimised environmental Said Maoz Fine, a produced in Israel at fewer external costs, without public-private partnerships to heal the world and harm. Israeli start-ups are marine biologist in the possibility of zoonotic diseases, and is a huge commit to a smarter, greener future. pioneering work in Eilat, “In southern economic opportunity. alternative protein Israel, coral reefs “Major international food company uptake • For further information, go to and food sources. are resistant to ensures this is no longer a niche market in food or https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2021/ Greening projects bleaching from will benefit future global warming generations, our because the Flocking to raise funds for children, and coral was their children.” forced to Yeshiva Primary International Israeli Foreign Minister adapt to the eshiva Primary School “focked” embassies, Gabi Ashkenazi naturally north, south, east, and west before Pesach in an innovative fundraisingY campaign to build shade sails on the school playground. Nine famingo focks made their way around Joburg, “nesting” on the lawns of primary school pupils and teachers in the early hours of the morning and at lunchtime, leaving after a small, voluntary donation was made to the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). From Fourways to Glenhazel, every child at the school was successfully “focked”, and no family escaped. The PTA managed From left, Yeshiva parents Simone Weil, Jacqui Schewitz, to raise enough funds for beautiful shade Lisa Klotz, Lauren Defries, Simone Kahn, Nicole Mandelberg, sails over the playground. Lauri Isserow, and Nikki Meyberg KDS kids in their element with new library t’s often said that a library is a cathedral for books, a museum for stories, Iwhere silence is law and the librarian rules. This idea was fipped on its head with the launch of the magnifcent new Elements Media Centre at King David Sandton (KDS) Primary CLARITY. School, which aims to reinvent learning. ORDER. The centre was driven by the passion of Natalie and Ian DIRECTION. Lutrin on behalf of the Lutrin family in honour of Ian’s late Our team of over 1 400 professionals, operating mother, Shelley Anne Lutrin, from 7 offices in South Africa, offers a unique KDS pupils enjoying the new Elements Media Centre combination of local market knowledge coupled who in the early 1980s, with with an international network, personal service and no existing library at KDS, walked from classroom tree pods provide a comfy reading space within the a professional approach. We shine a unique lens on clients’ businesses to see the people beyond the to classroom, pulling a wagon flled with books, earth element, and the fnal element, air, brings numbers and establish where they are going. determined to get every single child to read. to life the digital space. As if this isn’t enough, the The interior is inspired by earth, air, water, and ceiling displays the universe, its planets, and stars. www.bdo.co.za fre, with each element bringing its own explorative “It lends itself to stimulating lessons using top-of- magical experience. Within fre, students can read the-range technology and equipment, and creates and play in the tepees, discuss ideas around the the perfect environment to collaborate, communicate, proverbial campfre, play on the giant magnetic and create views and ideas,” says Asher Marcus from Scrabble board, or lose themselves in the largest Hubo Studio, the architects of the centre. Where’s Wally feature in Africa. Flued columns and “It’s a magnifcent, safe place for our students a wave table create an “under the sea” experience in to use on a daily basis, where a trip to the library

TLG8062 © 2019 BDO South Africa Services (Pty) Ltd. the water theme, where students read on spinning becomes a magical learning experience,” said Lynne shell chairs beneath a giant whale. Tree snakes and van Dellen, the head of school at KDS.

16 SA JEWISH REPORT 30 April – 7 May 2021 Cubans to the rescue eing blessed with fve children and not enough time in the day to give them all what they need, we have begun considering importing a few BCuban youngsters to help our children to be children. INNER VOICE Howard Feldman Because Cuban kids, much like their doctors and engineers, apparently offer something unique that we department, “The highly-qualifed Cuban specialists simply can’t fnd here in South Africa. will assist as advisors at provincial and local levels across South Africa’s obsession with Cuba and her people the country, sharing their vast skills in the areas of had me wondering if there wasn’t something that I mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering, as well as was missing. First, the African National Congress (ANC) project management.” imported doctors to assist in our fght against COVID-19. Not everyone was happy. Political parties and labour The move took place at a time when our own doctors were organisations criticised the government’s decision to unable to fnd posts, and yet the outcry from local doctors obtain help from Cuba at the expense of local talent. failed to stop the initiative. Labour union Solidarity went so far as to send the And now, in their latest Cuban import programme, department a list of 120 South African engineers who it said were qualifed, competent, and willing to help fx the country’s water infrastructure. The union What if we could consider Cubans to fll roles at my wife isn’t fully on board with this, but I have started to said it was unjustifed to import foreign workers in home and in our community? With the shortage, for threaten our children with bringing in Cuban substitutes the midst of an unemployment crisis, with South example, of qualifed Hebrew teachers, it could well be if they don’t clear the table when I ask them to. Because, Africa’s offcial unemployment rate at almost 33%. time for the South African Jewish Board of Education to G-d knows, I will fnd a willing Cuban child who will. And But the ANC remains undeterred. It’s clear that start importing them from Cuba? Work visas won’t be a they are the best at it. Apparently. the government knows something we don’t. And it problem, and they must be known to be the best in the All said, we do need to be grateful to the Cubans. So cannot be without good reason that it places such world (the ANC will provide references). often as South Africans we underplay the talent that we immense faith in the quality and expertise of this Further, I know of many a shul and community in have, the training, ability, and quality of what our own remarkable nation. search of a rabbi. Why not bring in a newly minted country has to offer. We need to be grateful to the Cubans To be fair, I have never met a Cuban I didn’t like. Cuban one? Mashgichim for the Beth Din? Car guards and the ANC for reminding us that in spite of what the Not that I have ever met one. But I trust the research outside KosherWorld? Community Security Organisation government is telling us, our qualifcations and skills are it was announced that 24 engineers from Cuba had the government has done, which made me wonder if volunteers? Talk show hosts for ChaiFM? The list is pretty decent and our kids aren’t not nearly as lazy as we arrived and been welcomed in order to assist with there isn’t a pool of talent that could be the answer to endless. thought they were. Even if they don’t clear the table when water, sanitation, and infrastructure. According to the some of our other challenges. I have taken this strategy home. It has to be said that we ask them to.

A column of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies Eternal vigilance - the price we pay for democracy n Freedom Day, Wendy Kahn, The 1994 elections ushered in a new era offce clearly violated these rights. Both It was also disturbing, to say the the national director of the of freedom and equality for the country. were subjected to a barrage of questions least, that questions posed to both South African Jewish Board of After many decades of racial discrimination, pertaining to their Jewish identity in a way candidates focused extensively on ABOVE BOARD Shaun Zagnoev ODeputies (SAJBD), at the invitation of the violence, and repression, the famous that no other candidates were subjected their association with the SAJBD. The MEC for sports, arts, recreation, and culture, opening words of the Freedom Charter, to regarding their religious identity or SAJBD itself is the acknowledged participated in a Freedom Day walk to Chris “South Africa belongs to all who live in it”, affliations. One was even pointedly asked representative elected body of South forum, and why was it that only Jewish Hani’s house in Dawn Park, Boksburg. were poised to be realised. Well aware that about his level of religious observance, African Jewry mandated to uphold the civil applicants, not Muslim, Christian, or other, Many of us remember the national trauma “the price of democracy is eternal vigilance”, implying that this might have a negative and religious rights of the community, were grilled about it in this way? From occasioned by Hani’s assassination by those responsible for framing the new impact on his ability to fulfl his judicial including combating antisemitism. We the questions asked at the JSC interviews right-wing fanatics back in 1993, and how post-apartheid order instituted safeguards duties. The statement we released earlier asked why it was that an organisation with this month to Jewish candidates, one close this came to derailing the negotiation to prevent those hard-won democratic this week drew attention to the prejudicial the objective of protecting constitutionally unfortunately has to ask whether the process. Thankfully, good sense prevailed, rights and freedoms from being eroded. nature of this statement, which ran “contrary sound principles of religious freedom and principles outlined in the Constitution and almost exactly a year later, on 27 April They included a Bill of Rights in the new to the basic constitutional principles of fghting hate would be so objectionable apply equally to members of the Jewish 1994, South Africa’s frst fully democratic, Constitution, which entrenched the rights of protecting our citizen’s rights to practice to members of the panel of the Judicial community. non-racial elections were held. Appropriately all to dignity and equality. their religion without fear or discrimination”. Service Commission (JSC). Equally enough, when new public holidays were Regrettably, the manner in which two We further pointed out that no other disquieting were the barrage of questions • Listen to Charisse Zeifert on Jewish Board introduced, the date chosen for what would Jewish candidates were treated recently candidate had been questioned about their concerning the Palestinian-Israeli confict. Talk, 101.9 ChaiFM, every Friday from be Freedom Day was 27 April. when being interviewed for judicial religious practices. Why was this issue brought up at all in this 12:00 to 13:00.

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