October 31 2014 / 7 Cheshvan 5775 Volume 18 – Number 37 Gideon Mendel basks in south african beautiful Yeoville again. (page 14). Jewish Report www.sajr.co.za Photo: Ilan Ossendryver Photo: Havdalah oomph for Shabbos Project Letting it rip: Israeli-American Modi’im-based Jewish rock band Moshav Band, giving the 5 000 strong audience at the Havdalah Concert on Glenhazel’s Yeshiva College field last Saturday night the time of their lives, seeing Shabbat out in the culmination of this year’s Shabbos Project. Moshav Band is popularly considered one of the first groups to combine Jewish music with a rock beat, blending elements of alternative rock, folk and funk. Pictured are the band’s vocalist Yehuda Solomon and guitarist Duvid Swirsky. The concert also included performances by prominent British singer/songwriter Alex Clare, who became observant in the mid-2000s, a decision which he hasn’t allowed to hamper his meteoric rise to popularity. See pages 2, 5, 10, 11, 12. A millennium-long Jewish Woolies still bears brunt Did BDS outfox the DA on Schoub: Ebola - a A round of applause for history of Poland of BDS’ anti-Israel action Israel trip? humanitarian tragedy these round ball sponsors “Our national cultural heritage At Johannesburg’s Killarney The DA constantly walks a fine The history of global health Last Sunday, a soccer team is impoverished without all that Mall “activists carried out a line on Middle East politics, will, in the future, record this from Soweto’s Elias Motsoaledi Jewish history in Poland had successful ‘die-in’ flashmob” counting on many Muslim voters Ebola outbreak to be one of the Informal Settlement, proudly been bringing for centuries,” - where they simply lay down and much Jewish votes and humanitarian disasters of this donned their new kit, sponsored said retired Polish diplomat in all the aisles and obstructed funding. century. by Chabad’s Rabbi David Krzysztof Kasprzyk. customer movement. Masinter and Miracle Drive. 6 3 4 7 8 In the spirit of keeping Shabbos together with Shooby Doob Shloimy Thinking of continuing to walk to Shul? Call to view our portfolio of properties. IT’S HOME TIME For a free no obligation valuation of your home, 011 731 0300 please call Hayley on 011 731 0300 or jhb@fi rzt.co.za www.firzt.co.za Jake, Zoe and Rael Fine 2 SA JEWISHJEWISH REPORT ShabbosNews Project 31 October01 – 7- November08 June 2012 2014 Keeping it together, all around the world Thunderstorms in Johannesburg couldn’t dampen the spirit of the Johannesburg challah bakers last week Wednesday. Photo: Ilan Ossendryver Photo: OWN CORRESPONDENT What went into this mammoth venture equipment to prepare their challah dough: blew over, groups of women began to sing was “a year of anticipation, several months 1 250 litres of water, 1 ton of sugar, 70 kg of and dance under the stars. Last weekend’s momentous Shabbos Project, of preparing and planning and two full days yeast, 10 tons of flour, 1 200 litres of oil, In Cape Town 1 200 women attended a truly went viral and united Jewish commu- of setting up”. Set in the open field of the 10 000 eggs and 200 kg of salt. similar challah bake event at the Company nities all over the world as one big family War Memorial in Saxonwold, under deco- Thousands of umbrellas decorated the Gardens the same night and similar events with indestructible “family ties”. This worthy rative lanterns and bunting, the women venue, as women gathered to “knead it took place across the globe - from Mexico project, the brainchild of Chief Rabbi Warren donned raincoats and gathered their family together”, pray together and sing together. to Melbourne; Miami to Raanana, kicking Goldstein, gave its first steps last year and and friends for a night of blessings and bak- Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein welcomed the off the first- ever global Shabbos Project in was warmly embraced by Jews of all stripes. ing. crowd, followed by a step-by-step challah- which over a million Jews from all walks of A foretaste of what was to come from this As the crowds gathered and waited for the making demonstration by Robyn Smookler. life were expected to “keep one full Sabbath Jewish unity initiative, was a global “challah rain to subside The Moshav Band performed. Breindy Klawansky added to the entertain- together”. bake”. Children sat on the floor while women ment, followed by a performance by inter- A snapshot of numbers of women who at- In Johannesburg 5 000 women got to- clapped and swayed to the spirit-lifting national singer-songwriter Alex Clare, who tended some of the events: Johannesburg: gether last week Wednesday to make challah tunes sang his heart out while participants danced 5 000; Buenos Aires: 5 000; Miami: 4 900; “under the stars” and not even inclement Each woman received a pre-packed bowl in the rain. Melbourne: 2 500; Sydney: 2 000; Cape weather could dampen their spirits. filled with all the necessary ingredients and As the night drew to an end and the clouds Town: 1 200; and Manhattan: 500. Leaving home - for good into the world, mix with the people, and then amazing and inspirational success story. didn’t you know she limps?!” Quite unflustered, let us see what kind of Gaon you will be.” But the fact is that for the most part, as the shadchan retorts, “But, what’s the problem, Rabbi Yossy Goldman Indeed, it is much easier to be scholarly and their businesses succeeded, their religious lives it’s only when she walks!” Sydenham Highlands pious in our sequestered ghettoes than it is in failed. Unquestionably, Judaism took a severe It is when we walk away from our comfort- North Shul the outside world, so often oblivious - or even body blow. Most were unable to sustain their able cocoons and spiritual safety nets into the hostile - to Jewish values. Old World values in New World America. The wider society that we may find ourselves limp- The story is told of an encounter between two This, in fact, was more or less the test of Abra- transition from shtetl to suburbia proved too ing somewhat, losing our Jewish equilibrium. famous rabbis of yesteryear - the Vilna Gaon ham in this week’s parsha. “Go from your land, formidable and children and grandchildren grew It is then that our faith, our values, our morals and the Dubner Magid. Apparently, the Magid, from your birthplace, from your father’s house up blissfully unaware of their own sacred tradi- and beliefs are truly challenged. or Preacher of Dubna, once visited Vilna and to the land I will show you.” tions. And the South African Jewish experience Please G-d, the children of Abraham will went to pay a courtesy call on the great sage, And it was there - far from his natural envi- wasn’t so different. emulate their forefather who left his land and Rabbi Elijah of Vilna. ronment and immediate comfort zones - that Today, we see this phenomenon playing out remained strong in faith and family, going on to The Gaon asked the Dubner Magid to preach Abraham accomplished G-d’s mission of mono- on a lesser scale when families emigrate or move achieve remarkable success, both spiritually and to him, as was his specialty. “Give me mussar theism. He spread the name of the One G-d to a from city to city. Displaced from their spiritual materially. (words of rebuke). Chastise me,” said the Gaon. pagan world and, in the process, his own name support systems, they flounder. The bulk of “G-d forbid that I should have the chutzpah to and reputation was established for eternity. It their efforts are directed at just resettling and Shabbat Times chastise the great Gaon of Vilna,” replied the was only after leaving home that Abraham be- reorganising their lives. Putting religious infra- October 31 / 7 Cheshvan Magid, quite horrified at the suggestion. “No came the founding father of the Jewish people. structures in place, often comes last - at great Niovember 1 / 8 Cheshvan matter, that is your forte and I want to hear A hundred years ago, a generation of Yiddish- cost in the long run. Parshat Lech Lecha mussar from you,” insisted the Gaon. speaking, observant Jews migrated from It’s like the story of the shadchan, the old- 18:06 18:57 Johannesburg So the Dubner Magid thought a while and Europe. They came to America as the golden fashioned matchmaker, who suggested a young 18:15 19:49 Cape Town then, most reluctantly, acceded to the wishes of land of opportunity, to escape pogroms and lady to a fellow and absolutely raved about her. 17:59 18:52 Durban his illustrious host. Said the Magid: “Is it a great persecution. With blood, sweat and tears they After their first date, the fellow calls up the 18:15 19:09 Bloemfontein achievement to be a Gaon sitting in Vilna in transformed themselves from rags to riches and shadchan and gives him a piece of his mind. 18:15 19:21 Port Elizabeth your little secluded kloiz (small study)? 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