south african n Volume 25 – Number 11 n 26 March 2021 n 13 Nisan 5781

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n Volume 25 – Number 11 n 26 March 2021 n 13 Nisan 5781 We will not be south african publishing the newspaper next week, but will resume the following week (9 April). The source of quality content, news and insights t www.sajr.co.za Israeli company turns SA water from toxic to drinkable TALI FEINBERG between. But half a million people rely on it for drinking water. We came n Israeli company is assisting to help get good quality drinking local government authorities water to these communities.” Local to transform toxic water to government departments and healthyA drinking water in what could officials had been “extremely helpful be a game-changer for South Africa as ... everyone is working together”, a water-scarce country. Harel said. “Even in this time of Te company, BlueGreen Water pandemic and reduced budgets, they Technologies, is a world leader in are doing an excellent job.” eradicating toxic algae from water He said the condition of the dam sources, and has offered its expertise meant it was impossible to treat it to South Africa. from the ground, so they have had With a branch in South Africa, to deploy helicopters to distribute the company started working at product from the air. “Tis is the first Setumo Dam on the Molopo River operation of its kind in the world. It’s in North West province earlier this new for us too, and requires lots of co- month. Te project is in collaboration ordination with government officials, with Sedibeng Water, the company water boards, and locals.” Water treatment being deployed from overseen by the Department of Water Te company describes its the air at Setumo Dam in North West and Sanitation. products as “floating, slow-release Speaking to the SA Jewish Report formulations of market-approved from Germany where he is currently algaecides designed to prevent the and was there during the height of foremost a drinking water source,” he he says. “In all likelihood, if the based, BlueGreen Water Technologies intensification of cyanobacterial toxic the drought in 2018. said. “It’s in a rural area that borders dam isn’t maintained, it will go Chief Executive Eyal Harel said, blooms in freshwater bodies [also “I remember the term ‘Day Zero’, Botswana, and the communities are back to the way it was. So, our “Toxic algae blooms are like a ‘global known as ‘blue green algae’]”. and how frightening it was,” he about as poor as it gets. So it’s our ultimate goal is to train local pandemic’ of bacteria. Tey infest Harel said he was motivated to said, pointing out that drought small way of helping.” communities to be able to assess bodies of water, and when that work with water as “water touches all also contributes to algae blooms He emphasises that the company water conditions. They will be the population of bacteria explodes, it people, no matter their differences.” because with less water, “pollution is “completely non-political” and is ‘boots on the ground’ and raise makes the water toxic. You can’t use With 22 March being ‘World Water concentrates and bacteria grows. It simply trying to reach out to areas the flag that there is a problem. that water for drinking or recreation, Day’, he emphasises that “two billion becomes even more toxic, less liquid, where it knows there is an acute We work with real-time remote it depreciates property, it makes that people around the world only have and makes the existing problem problem. It has even reached out sensing capabilities and satellite body of water too hostile for other access to poor quality water. About much worse. Tat could be the reason to other Middle Eastern countries imagery to assess conditions in life forms, and it creates health and 99.9% is left untreated, and people Setumo Dam was in such appalling that aren’t friendly to Israel. “We the lake, so they will be part of economic problems.” think there is nothing they can do. condition.” aren’t here to make a political that process. Te company believes in the We want to educate decision-makers Te company also assisted stand but a humanitarian one, and “We have established good value of all people having access to that this isn’t the case anymore. Roodepoort Dam, reducing toxic any human-rights organisation relationships with the government. quality drinking water, Harel said, Lakes can be treated, even much levels of algae in the water two weeks should understand that. It sees the problem for what it is, and and it’s doing the work in South bigger lakes than Setumo Dam. In before a rowing competition in March “Part of our agenda is to is taking a long-term approach. We Africa on humanitarian grounds. addition, algae blooms can actually be 2020, just before the pandemic hit. empower local communities to are totally committed to improving “At the Setumo Dam, it’s more like prevented.” However, Harel said Setumo Dam was take responsibility for their local water quality in South Africa, and lots of bacteria with a bit of water in Harel got married in Cape Town, in much worse shape. “It’s first and water source. We come as guests,” Continued on page 32>> Appliance Repairs on Site 2 SA JEWISH REPORT 26 March – 9 April 2021 rs, ashe ishw s , D s, Stove Koleinu calls out horrific attack on London Jewish woman es chine dg Ma TALI FEINBERG treatment for minor injuries. A man in his late 50s has On 10 March, her remains were discovered in a ri ing F sh re been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, and woodland near Ashford, Kent. Couzens was charged with a ryers & mo W le D young, pregnant Jewish woman walks down is now in custody at an East London police station. kidnapping and murder two days later. mb Call Jason Tu a London street without a care in the world. Rabbi Herschel Gluck, the president of Shomrim, South African organisation Koleinu SA, which supports 082 401 8239 / 076 210 6532 Behind her, a man strides purposefully, said the woman was left “deeply traumatised”. He noted victims of abuse in the Jewish community and runs FREE QUOTATIONS quickeningA his steps as he gets closer. As he reaches her, that “[The perpetrator] followed her for about a mile. In education programmes to prevent it, said the attack on DECEASED ESTATE he takes out a bag or pillowcase that he throws over her other words, it was clearly premeditated. It wasn’t an the pregnant woman was “a wake-up call that shows how HOUSE CLEARANCES head. He then punches her four times in the stomach, opportunistic incident.” The brother of the woman later vulnerable women are when they walk alone in cities all throwing his full weight behind each blow. The woman told the Jewish Chronicle that “It was because she was over the world”. The organisations’ founders, Rebbetzin Entire households cleared somehow breaks free and runs away, and then man runs Jewish. She was wearing a Jewish headscarf at the time.” Wendy Hendler and Rozanne Sack, said they were professionally & confdentially. off in the opposite direction. He confrmed that she did not know her attacker, and he “shocked to see something so horrifc and inexplicable”. It sounds like something out of a movie, but this scene had followed her for almost 20 minutes before the attack. “Pregnant women are much more vulnerable and less We will take the burden off your played out on a London street on the evening of 18 March Describing how over the past month, there have been able to defend themselves, as they have a baby to worry shoulders and pay you for it. 2021, in the neighbourhood of Stamford Hill, which has seven similar assaults on women and girls in the area, about,” Sack said. “That could be the reason he chose her For a trusted service call a large Haredi population. The assault was captured on Gluck said, “It has reached a new level of violence. It as a target. Continued on page 10>> Ladislav Miklas on 082 920 5907 surveillance cameras, but local neighbourhood watch seems he wanted to kill her. It’s a very [email protected] group Shomrim has since deleted the video from its shocking picture.” He said the Jewish Yom Tov/Shabbat Times Twitter feed, saying, “It’s community was “deeply concerned”. 26/27/28/29 March a very violent attack, and The attack comes just weeks after CL CL/MS CL YTE can be triggering for 33-year-old Sarah Everard disappeared 17:54 18:42 18:41 18:40 Johannesburg KIN-SEARCH many victims.” in South London on the evening of 18:31 19:22 19:20 19:19 Cape Town KIN-SEARCH The 20-year-old 3 March. On 9 March, Metropolitan 17:42 18:31 18:30 18:28 Durban woman, who is about Police Offcer Wayne Couzens was 18:01 18:50 18:49 18:48 Bloemfontein 28 weeks pregnant, arrested on suspicion of Everard’s 18:02 18:53 18:51 18:50 Port Elizabeth was taken to hospital for kidnapping and later her murder. 17:53 18:43 18:42 18:41 East London CL – Candle-lighting YTE – Yom tov ends MS – Motsei Shabbat Torah Thought Rabbi Ari Kievman, Sandton Central Shul, Going From I-llness to We-llness Chabad Seniors Programmes esach is again here. Another yom tov doesn’t know or care enough even to show year, we need to take under the confnes of the pandemic, up. It’s our task to ensure that this lost Jew extra care that there though this time, baruch Hashem, also attends a seder. are no people who Pthe end is in sight. We are on the cusp of Yom tov this year is unique as it starts are alone, that social healing and wellness. This Pesach can be an immediately on the heels of the departing distancing doesn’t inspirational boost for our morale. Let’s cast Shabbos, a rather uncommon set up. result in more “ffth sons” who don’t feel away our troubles, and rejoice! Interestingly, this confguration is how it worthy of a seder. That even those unable to G-d took the Jews out of Egypt 3 333 was the very frst year after the original participate should feel cared for, and those years ago, and ever since then, we are exodus, which meant that the Korban celebrating alone still not feel lonely. We must in the process of removing Egypt from Pesach offering was prepared earlier in the look out for one another. The focus must pivot ourselves. As thinking, feeling humans, day, while it was still Shabbos. from I-illness to WE-wellness. we still struggle with an inner slavery, Ordinarily, in the Temple, only communal In the Zohar, matzah is called michla whose components include materialistic sacrifces were offered on Shabbos, not d’mehaymnusa (food of faith) and michlah challenges, emotional disappointments, or personal ones. Although the Pesach d’asvasa (food of healing). It reminds us of the spiritual setbacks. sacrifce is considered a personal, individual faith in G-d that our ancestors had at the time Freedom is an expression of our offering, it also contained an element of of exodus. They were prepared to go into a unbridled soul. Poverty, illness, or prison community, since everyone was doing the barren wilderness without knowing how they walls, can restrict our ability to express the same thing simultaneously. would survive. When we eat matzah, it’s like soul’s organic freedom. So, too, with internal It reminds us that the individual and injecting “a jab of faith”. confnement. A person experiencing the community need to work together. So, while we anticipate the means of VEHICLES WANTED depression, loneliness, or feelings of futility, Our beautiful community is made up of freedom from the pandemic, we should can feel equally shackled in spite of having individuals who may be different from each also consider the feelings of others, and that no external restraints. other in many ways, but when we all come they achieve inner liberation from worry and One of the rebbe’s famous campaigns together, we form something far greater constraint. was his call to remember the “ffth son” than just individuals. Let’s pray that when we sit down at our at the seder. We are all aware of the four As the population is vaccinated and life seders and eat matzah, we’ll discover spiritual children mentioned: the wise, wicked, gradually resumes, let’s make sure that healing within ourselves fortifying our faith in simple, and the one who doesn’t know everyone is remembered. Nobody should G-d, and that faith will bring freedom, healing, to ask. Yet there’s a ffth one, the one who be allowed to fall through the cracks. This and salvation to the entire world.

Any make, any model, any condition Editor Peta Krost Maunder – [email protected] • Sub-editor Julie Leibowitz Journalists Accident damaged vehicles and non-runners also wanted Nicola Miltz • Tali Feinberg • Jordan Moshe • 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 % Arnold Orkin 082 823 7826 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, AUTO AFRICA Benjy Porter. • Advertisements and editorial copy do not neccessarily reflect the views of the editor, staff and board of directors. Tel: 011 430 1980. 26 March – 9 April 2021 SA JEWISH REPORT 3

Bibi or not Bibi – is there I want to even a question? buy your bobba! old or new, PAULA SLIER the legal system and curtailing the rule of law. we’ll pay you Te health and vitality of Israel’s democratic a wow price “Citizens of Israel – thank you!” wrote Israeli system could hang in the balance,” he said. for your car. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Meanwhile opposition leader Yair Lapid Hebrew on Twitter shortly after Israeli polls of Yesh Atid (Tere Is a Future), said he, too, closed on Tuesday night, 23 March. would try to build a coalition to “create a sane A few hours later, a delighted crowd government for Israel”. welcomed him at his Likud party headquarters Speaking early on Wednesday morning, he Call Alan: 082 850 0004 in Jerusalem. “Bibi, Bibi!” they shouted, filling declared, “At the moment, Netanyahu doesn’t www.alfinauto.co.za a large hall with balloons, banners, and Likud have 61 seats but the change bloc does. We’ll COVID-19 masks. wait for the final results but as it stands, there But the excitement might be misplaced and won’t be a government based on the votes of premature at best. the racists and homophobes.” won 13 seats. In the 2020 election, it increased violence and crime in the Arab community, As the hours ticked into Wednesday Te anti-Netanyahu bloc is far from a to 15, remaining the third-largest party until economic issues, and the recent normalisation morning, the exit polls started changing their homogenous group, consisting of left, right, Yesh Atid split off from Blue and White to lead of Israel’s relations with several Arab countries. initial predictions. Only on Friday afternoon and centrist factions. Tey have fewer options the opposition. As in the previous three rounds, this election will the final tally be known. in forming a coalition than Netanyahu. Should Earlier this year, Abbas quit the Joint List, was largely seen as a referendum on the tenure What won’t alter is the fact that the neither side succeed, it will be back to the polls indicating his willingness to join a coalition of Netanyahu. Personality politics has so prime minister’s Likud party won the most for Israelis – the fifth election in two years. headed by Netanyahu. And the prime minister overtaken the race that there has been almost parliament seats by a large no mention of the Palestinians after years margin. President Reuven Rivlin of frozen peace talks. will therefore task him first with Te day before the vote, Palestinian forming a government. But then it Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh gets tricky. described the election as an “internal” At the time of writing (at midday matter for Israelis, but decried the effect on Wednesday) exit polls predicted on Palestinians living under Israeli

Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc fell Ilan Ossendryver Photo: occupation. short of the 61 seats it needed to Netanyahu used these elections to secure a majority coalition. Te once again portray himself as a global kingmaker could well be the prime statesman uniquely qualified to lead Israel minister’s former ally and defence through its many security and diplomatic minister, Naftali Bennett. His challenges. Yamina (Rightwards) party won But unlike the previous election at least seven seats, and although held last March, he didn’t have the Bennett avoided explicitly declaring support of former American President who he would support, it’s widely Donald Trump smiling alongside him in expected he’ll join Netanyahu. In campaign posters. Instead, Netanyahu return, he’ll exact a high price in made Israel’s coronavirus-vaccination terms of ministerial positions and campaign the centrepiece of his re- other powerful appointments. election bid, repeatedly stressing that he Tis would bring Netanyahu was personally responsible for Israel’s closer than ever to a narrow impressively fast rollout. government that would include Only a few short months ago, it seemed the most extreme elements of New South African oleh that COVID-19 would kill his chances Israeli society. Exit polls showed Terry Rendell casts his vote of winning another election, and his the Religious Zionist Party, that in Netanya this week critics still accuse him of bungling the includes far-right and homophobic management of the pandemic for most of elements with roots in the overtly the past year. But most Israelis appreciate racist Kahanist party, receiving enough votes to Which in part explains why Tuesday’s welcomed him. Whereas in the past Netanyahu his efforts. enter parliament. turnout was the lowest since 2013. Voter “incited” against the Arabs, this time around, Tis was the first election held in the throes Yohanan Plesner, the president of the Israel fatigue and apathy are starting to sour even the he changed his strategy and appealed to Arab- of the pandemic, and five thousand additional Democracy Institute, warned that such a most ardent supporters of Israeli democracy. Israelis to vote for him. polling stations were set up to deal with the coalition could back Netanyahu’s attempts to Te lack of enthusiasm was most noticeable He paid rare visits earlier this year to Arab situation. Workers in hazmat suits collected find a political solution to his legal troubles. in the Arab community. Many residents cities in the north of the country purportedly ballots in hospital wards while buses were “In this case, it will be imperative that elected confessed they had lost confidence in their to encourage citizens to get coronavirus parked outside some polling stations to serve as leaders from across the political spectrum, representatives and the two main Arab blocs vaccinations, but many were suspicious that remote ballot drops for coronavirus-positive or civil society organisations, and all those – the Joint List and the breakaway United he was taking advantage of the rift within the quarantined voters. who advocate on behalf of a vibrant Israeli Arab List (Ra’am), headed by Mansour Abbas – alliance of Arab parties. As things stand now, it’s unclear if four rounds democracy, make it emphatically clear that the warned of a “disaster” due to the low turnout. Netanyahu appeals to some Arab voters of elections have resolved the longest political results of this election don’t constitute a license In the 2015 election, the Joint List became because they believe he can make things happen. crisis in Israel’s history. Te country remains as to promote radical proposals aimed at eroding the third-largest party in parliament after it He’s also promised to focus on the growing divided as it has been over the past two years.

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tretching from Libya in the north to Mozambique in the south, from Mali in the west to Somalia in the Seast, over the past two decades, Africa has become a theatre for terrorist activity. Unemployed youth are being radicalised through modern technology and environmental degradation. Terrorist leaders provide seemingly simple answers thousands killed and millions forced to fee terrorists had used non-government to complex questions, such as, “Kill, and their homes. One reason is “poorly trained organisations and new charities to channel you will go to heaven.” And states seem all and equipped armed forces”, Solomon said. fnancing during the pandemic under at sea about what to do about it. In spite of intense training from the United the guise of relief. Cyber-fraud and funds This was the key thread running through States (US), “Mali’s armed forces are no from the African diaspora had increased. a dozen presentations in a Zoom webinar match for the Islamists, who have captured However, tracking mobile money is diffcult. titled “New Frontiers of Terrorism in Africa”. an area the size of France in northern Mali.” Dr Sergey Kostelyanets (IAS) looked The virtual event was jointly hosted on Solomon said the US and France failed at Russia’s growing counter-terrorism 17 March by the Institute for African Studies miserably due to ignorance of local efforts in Africa since 9/11. Moscow had (IAS); Russian Academy of Sciences from culture, the nature of the African state, and concluded 30 bilateral military co-operation Moscow; the department of political studies African armies. “Paris and Washington,” agreements with African countries, and and governance at the University of the he said, “fundamentally misdiagnosed 20 since 2015. These entail regular Free State (UFS) in South Africa; and the Ezri the challenges of terrorism in the Sahel, counter-terrorism and intelligence sharing Center for Iran and Persian Gulf Studies at viewing insurgents as part of global operations, weapons sales, and sharing the University of Haifa (UoH) in Israel. jihadists incorporated, the local franchises Russia’s anti-terrorism database. Professor Theo Neethling (UFS) analysed of Islamist extremist parent bodies.” These ties are related to geopolitical the increasingly brutal Islamist extremism While appealing in simplicity, “to speak competition with the West, Russia trying in northern Mozambique since 2017. There of a global war on terrorism in the African to end its international isolation (after have been 800 attacks in the area, and context is fundamentally wrong. The real annexing Crimea from Ukraine in 2014) 2 600 people have been killed, with challenge is domestically-based terrorism and protecting the security interests of 700 000 displaced. This insurgency is trying in fragile societies.” Russia and African states. One weakness has to impose Sharia law in southern Africa. The This builds on deep-rooted corruption, been the lack of multilateral agreements perpetrators have linked up with Islamic bad policies, and authoritarianism in the in this area, for instance with the African State (IS), and have been dubbed “the Al- Sahel, as ethnocentric nationalism has Union. Another is the lack of transparency. Shabaab of Cabo Delgado”. This area is rich been stirred up, reinforcing socio-economic Dr Moshe Terdiman (UoH) explained in oil and natural gas, and has attracted cleavages and worsening poverty. The why the environment is a tool for terrorists massive investment from international “politics of identity” is rife. The region in Africa – for recruitment, funding, and oil giants amid a sea of poverty and needs more democratic and responsive promoting their agendas. Climate change underdevelopment. These investments are governments, and more inclusive economic and drought in the Sahel have increased seriously threatened by the violence. development. suffering and created openings for terror Mozambique’s armed forces have Dr Anneli Botha (UFS) discussed groups. People displaced by environmental proven too weak to counter the threat, terrorism in East Africa, saying the region damage and governance failures have opening the door for Russian and South had experienced a 141% increase in become recruits for groups such as Boko African private security frms. They have terrorist incidents between 2015 and 2020. Haram in West Africa. Natural-resource also had no tangible success. Organised The use of frearms increased 159% in the revenue is a major funding stream for crime in the area – the smuggling of drugs, period, and explosives use rose 26%. Use extremist groups. Al-Shabaab makes timber, rubies, ivory, and human beings of knives was up 111%. She also noted that millions from elephant poaching and the – exacerbates the confict as it boosts the the age of those radicalised was getting illegal ivory trade. IS in Libya has launched coffers of extremists. progressively younger. The solution lies, attacks on energy and water infrastructure. Professor Hussein Solomon (UFS) she said, in building specialised counter- It’s clear that terrorism in Africa isn’t discussed terror in the Sahel region that terrorism capacity and fxing social welfare going away, and demands more serious cuts through the Sahara, describing the and education systems. attention and action than it has received situation “a humanitarian catastrophe”, with Professor Leonid Fituni (IAS) said that thus far. From Cairo to the Knesset – with a SA connection STEVEN GRUZD Israel. At Herzlia, she unsuccessfully tried to avoid studying Afrikaans as she knew she would make aliyah lbert Einstein said, “If you don’t believe in after school. Today, she is fluent in Hebrew, English, miracles, you are simply unrealistic.” This was Russian, and Arabic. She admits that her Afrikaans is a motto of late Israeli President Shimon Peres poor. andA is a mantra of his former advisor Wasserman Lande got permission to and now member of Knesset, Ruth study before she went to the army in Wasserman Lande. Israel. She served for three years and Wasserman Lande – who lived in became an officer. She then entered Cape Town from age nine to 17 – was the diplomatic corps and asked to be hosted by the Western Cape Women’s posted to Cairo. International Zionist Organisation in “I wanted to go somewhere that a Zoom discussion on 17 March. wasn’t easy, but was strategic and She was approached by Benny where I could make a difference Gantz, the leader of Kachol Lavan for Israel.” She did a crash-course Ruth Wasserman Lande giving her (Blue and White party) to be on its inauguration speech at the Knesset in in Arabic over four months, but party list for the Knesset, and given 2021 soon had to adapt to the patois of 15 minutes to think it over. But she served just four the Egyptian street. “I was learning the culture and days in January 2021, before being booted out by a dynamics in a completely different world.” former minister through the Norwegian Law. She soon “As a young, unmarried Israeli woman in Cairo, in regained her seat after another resignation from the the minds of most Egyptians, I was a representative Knesset. of ‘the forces of evil’ that would do G-d knows what to Wasserman Lande showed a penchant for political the Egyptians. It was a very challenging three years. organisation from a young age. When her father There may be a peace agreement, but there is little suggested moving to South Africa when she was eight, normalisation.” she corralled her third graders to demonstrate outside Wasserman Lande said bringing Eli Amir, her her parents’ home, to no avail. favourite Israeli author, to Cairo was a highlight. She “When I first went to Herzlia in Cape Town, I knew had to go over the head of the Egyptian minister of no English,” Wasserman Lande said. She grew up culture to the intelligence chief, and hosted more than in a Russian-speaking family in coastal Ashdod in Continued on page 8>> LOTS OF IN-STORE SPECIALS FOR PESACH & ALL YEAR ROUND

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Two utility buildings for police of the year, it would all be long over, and we would be Africans. accommodation, holding cells, and witness waiting back to normal. So many happy recollections of weddings, Bnei rooms were added. How wrong I was! mitzvah, and Brit Milahs flooded my memory, and my This further dehumanised this once magnificent Now, we go into our second Pesach during the eyes filled with tears. I thought of the significance of vestige of Jewish life in Pretoria. These utility buildings pandemic, and while the numbers are down, we still this majestic building that witnessed the start of the were created with strict racial segregation, another face a potential third wave that some experts say could Rivonia Treason Trial of 1960 and 1964, as well as the painful reminder of our tragic past. surface after Pesach and the Easter weekend. I sure inquest into the death of Steve Biko. The area of the Aron Kodesh and bimah were hope not! Today, the building lies in ruins, designated to the converted into judicial benches, windows, were bricked We have so much more freedom than we did this ash heap of a bygone era. The pain in my chest was up, the Magen David replaced by the South African time last year when we were still in the honeymoon acute as I looked at this wonderful monument that coat of arms, and the seating converted to that of a stage of the pandemic. At the time, it was still fairly exciting to be at home all the time and has been vandalised and abused instead of being conventional court. there was a certain charm to the streets being so quiet and being able to clearly hear the cherished and preserved for generations to come. The neshomah of the shul was removed in its birdlife. As part of my oversight visits to buildings owned by entirety, but it started to have importance in our Tere was something very special about spending all our time with our immediate the department of public works and infrastructure, I democratic life. The first treason trial was transferred to family, eating and cooking every meal together. Zoom had its pros too. I mean, you really was asked by Councillor Wayne Helfrich and Candidate this holy building on 1 August 1958, and lasted until only had to dress the top half of your body for a serious meeting. Councillor Leanne de Jager to come to Tshwane to 29 March 1961. Now, I long for a board meeting in a real boardroom where I can actually look into investigate a number of heritage buildings. The belief Those who made their appearance in this building the eyes of the person I’m speaking to. I long to hug people I care about. And more than was that while they had all been abandoned, they in the two treason trials (of 1958 and 1962) included anything, I would love to go to a dinner party where I don’t know everyone and have a could be repurposed and reused. Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Elias good chat with someone I’ve never spoken to before. It’s of the utmost importance that buildings such as Motsoaledi, Andrew Mlangeni, and my late uncle, Denis Who would have thought that anyone could miss these day-to-day experiences from our this magnificent shul should be preserved at all costs Goldberg. Their sentencing in the infamous Rivonia Trial, former lives? to tell the stories of a bygone era. It needs to serve as however, took place in the Palace of Justice. I laughed the other day when a friend said she was going to go to the supermarket to get a reminder of the tremendous impact it played as a During the trial, one of the witnesses, M Mkalipe, groceries, and her husband told her she didn’t have to bother, she could order online. She catalyst to the birth of democracy in South Africa. brought his Bible into the witness box. To the surprise of was incensed that he would take away her freedom to get out of the house and be among The first stone of the Old Synagogue was laid in the judges seated where the rabbi used to stand, Mkalipe strangers, albeit masked and socially distanced. I could relate to that. 1897, and the shul was consecrated on 20 August read a few verses from the book of Daniel to his “assembled I even look forward to getting dressed up to go to shul over Pesach. I don’t get dressed 1898, making it the first permanent shul in Pretoria. congregation”. He said he did it deliberately to invoke the up enough these days. How often I would want to find excuses not to go to functions in The view of the outside of the rich history of the Old Synagogue – a religious space the past. Now, I would love the opportunity. building from Paul Kruger Street distinct from the Calvinist Dutch Reformed roots of the It’s all about having the freedom to choose, freedom to do what we want, freedom to be apartheid regime. who we are. Just plain and simple … freedom. “We cannot allow such a magnifcent, signifcant, And that’s what Pesach is all about. Jews moving from slavery to freedom. and authentic piece of our history as Jews and as What’s always so interesting is that when you have freedom, you often don’t appreciate South Africans to disappear,” says Helfrich. “We have what you have until you don’t have it. Tink about it. When you are on holiday in Cape to come together as a community to restore this Town and you drive along the Atlantic Seaboard or over Lion’s Nek, you appreciate the once great symbol to its former glory. The Jewish breathtaking beauty of the shoreline, the mountain, and the sea. When you live in Cape community in Tshwane has expressed a deep sense Town, do you enjoy the pleasure of what you have all the time? of sadness at the demise of the building, and would Is this human nature? Are we always longing for that which we don’t have, or can we be love to see it restored as a Jewish and major South happy with our lot? And if you are happy with your lot, do you still create goals you can African heritage site. work towards? Or is being happy with your lot a case of giving up your freedom to grow? Tis last year has brought monumental change for most of us. I’m amazed that almost The staircase to the upper gallery everyone I know has gone through some kind of trauma. Just when I’m about to feel sorry for myself, I hear someone else’s story, and realise how lucky I am. It has been a year in which we have all had to draw on our strength, our internal flame, and keep moving forward. On the radio recently, there was a discussion about how the numbers of people reaching out to helplines doubled within months of the pandemic hitting South Africa. Few of those people were directly affected by actual illness, but it was various traumatic offshoots that hit them. We shouldn’t underestimate how tough this year has been for us – and it’s not over yet. In fact, there is no way of knowing what life will be like this time next year. As a result of the end of the Anglo-Boer War in What I do know is that Pesach will still be a special time for our community. It will still 1902, the community had financial constraints. In be a time of family gatherings, a time to reflect on our freedom and those who don’t have 1906, legendary philanthropist and businessman that luxury. It will be a time when we will once again read the Haggadah and remember Sammy Marks settled the mortgage of the shul, and who we are and where we came from. It will be a time when we remember how we donated it back to the community. He had three witnessed miracles that saved our lives. Tere is such comfort in knowing that some things strict instructions: stay the same. • The property couldn’t be sold, ceded, or assigned In our annual special Pesach edition, we bring you a host of phenomenal thought to anyone, but was to be used exclusively for a leadership pieces written by wise spiritual leaders. We also have a selection of other shul in perpetuity; fabulous Pesach stories. A personal favourite of mine is the kneidel story, which you’ll find • No mortgages, charges, or encumbrances could on page 34. be applied or laid on the property; and “So many promises have been made to the We also bring you the latest news and features to ensure you have lots of exceptional • The house on the property could be used only as the community that this beautiful home will once again be stories to read over Pesach. residence of the minister of the congregation (rabbi) able to teach and inspire our youth that they have given I’m proud to include in those stories our lead (page 1), which is so inspiring and or some official of the shul. up hope of them ever seeing the light of day.” uplifting. It tells of how a local branch of the South African government has welcomed What would Sammy Marks be thinking today? He As Jews and South Africans, we need to change this. help from Israel in improving drinking water in outlying areas. Tis humanitarian venture and his descendants would be horrified if they stood We need to restore hope that history has a place in our will save lives and help those in dire straits. Is this new relationship a miracle or a blessing where I stood and saw – and smelled – the destruction lives, that we can continue to celebrate the rich heritage to herald Pesach? that greeted us when we entered the building. that is housed in this building, and that we can free the Whatever the case may be, it warms my heart that there are people in government that I can still feel the heaviness in my heart as I gazed voices that once rang out in this shul so that they can understand that you don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, and if people want to help you up at the once ornate, beautiful ceiling and the speak to us again. and you need help, let them. galleries that had held so many faces smiling down on Perhaps the South African Jewish Board of Deputies In my interview with former Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon (page 15), he the simchas that marked this building’s history. in conjunction with the Tshwane Jewish community mentions how irritated he was when the African National Congress boycotted Israel’s offer But the building wasn’t just a source of joy and can breathe life into this Grand Old Dame of Jewish to help Cape Town in its water crisis, choosing instead to go to Iran to get help. I hope this miracles. In 1952, the growing Jewish community heritage. Let’s mobilise and make a difference. Let’s new endeavour is a sign of things to come. moved to another building in Pretorius Street, taking revive this legacy, and let it be a historic museum, a its Aron Kodesh, menorah, cornerstone, and stained- testimony to the past, and an inspirational teaching Shabbat shalom and chag Pesach sameach! glass windows with them to their new home that could space for generations to come. Peta Krost Maunder accommodate increasing numbers. Editor The site was then expropriated and transferred to the • Madeleine Hicklin is the Democratic Alliance shadow PS: We won’t be publishing the newspaper on Chol HaMoed, but will resume the following state with the intention of redeveloping the entire block deputy minister: department of public works and week. on which the shul stood into a new Supreme Court. infrastructure.

8 SA JEWISH REPORT 26 March – 9 April 2021 Holocaust educator takes message to the masses TALI FEINBERG Mashishi says people welcome the information he shares “People can sit in their yards and watch it, but still keep a with them. “There has been an amazing response. I thought social distance. It will give people a little bit of information, live Mashishi is a man on a mission. A former the first #WeRemember banner I put up would then they can continue with their own research.” construction worker, he left his job to educate be removed within a day. But it stayed up, But he doesn’t want to stop there. “My goal is to go to local communities about the Holocaust, people took photos, and wanted to other provinces. More vocal antisemitism often comes from CIsrael, antisemitism, and Jewish history. Last know more. People called and asked rural areas.” year, he joined the World Jewish Congress’ me what we were remembering, Mashishi often thanks the person who taught him the International Holocaust Remembrance and I explained about the basics of what he knows, and he sees himself as continuing Day initiative, #WeRemember, stringing victims of the Holocaust. that chain. “I loved the Jewish community but I didn’t know banners across busy bridges and roads, Many were amazed to the history. He found me in a political party, fighting with opening up avenues of education for hear what the Jewish people about being anti-Israel. He didn’t tell me to leave, people who had never heard about community had faced. but after that, I realised that it wasn’t the right movement. the Holocaust. People become invested, He motivated me to study more. And now I’ve met a kid in So how did a man from the they want to learn more, Mafikeng, and he’s just like me. He’s very interested. So, it’s Vaal area of Gauteng who had no they read up about it about educating the next generation.” Jewish background or connection on their smartphones, Mashishi’s work is supported by donations, but he come to be the face of Holocaust or they borrow books. emphasises that he has found his purpose, and will remembrance in the region? He When they ask me more continue no matter what. He could benefit from having his says that while his father called him questions, I can hear they own transport so that he can travel further and work with Clive after his Jewish boss, and his Clive Mashishi know more than they did more people. grandmother worked for a Jewish before.” People don’t see how much the Jewish community works woman, he had few interactions with One result of his work to uplift others in the country, Mashishi says. His own work Jews. In his community, stereotypes is that people have asked goes beyond education – he has worked closely with The about Jews abounded, although he to visit the Johannesburg Angel Network (TAN), distributing food and other urgently- always had a fondness for the Jewish Holocaust & Genocide needed resources during the pandemic. community. Centre. “People didn’t have that “We first met Clive in 2019. He was a quiet, shy, It was only after a long journey through education, and now they want to unassuming young man,” says Glynne Wolman, the founder various political parties and movements, gain knowledge that they missed out of TAN. “At that time, he was trying to feed desperate eventually finding a “home” at the South African on.” people, and we tried to help where we could.. Now he assists Friends of Israel (SAFI), that he first realised the full Mashishi has started his year-long campaign us in distributing a portion of the South African Jewish extent of the Holocaust, and it changed his life. with an advert on Hope FM radio station talking about Board of Deputies’ R15 million food relief fund (of which “When [former SAFI director] Dr Gavi Sacks spoke to the #WeRemember campaign and linking it to Human TAN is the custodian), to those most in need. He is one of me about the Holocaust, I saw pain in his eyes. I’ve seen Rights Month in South Africa. He says he expected people our biggest advocates, and we are extremely proud to be antisemitism at universities, and I’ve read a lot of books, to question the advert, but there have been only positive associated with him. He’s done everything from helping watched a lot of movies. But it’s not the same as speaking responses. people after a fire to mentoring drug addicts. He just wants to someone connected to the history of the Holocaust,” he His next step is to screen the film The Boy in the Striped to fix the world.” says. Pyjamas on a projector screen in various communities. “Then, during International Apartheid Week, I spoke at the University of Cape Town and Wits [the University of the Witwatersrand]. I saw antisemitism and hatred From Cairo to the Knesset – with a SA connection there, even people saying the Holocaust was fake. After >>Continued from page 4 need to include everyone.” Abraham Accords. Jordan wouldn’t that, I worked with the World Jewish Congress on the 200 brave Egyptians at his lecture. Wasserman Lande describes the allow Netanyahu to fly over its airspace, #WeRemember campaign. At the other end of the scale was atmosphere ahead of the fourth Israeli so he had to cancel a trip to the UAE. “Then last year when the pandemic started, I saw the coming home to find her apartment elections in two years as one of fatigue. “Israel hasn’t paid enough attention hatred grow. Texts like The Protocols of the Elders of Zion door slightly ajar, a subtle warning “Te key issue isn’t the economy, or to nuance, which is very important in were distributed around communities, and people believed from the Egyptian authorities that she the pandemic, or the conflict with the the Arab world,” she said. Jerusalem’s that Jews had created COVID-19 to control the world. was constantly under surveillance. She Palestinians. As it has been all along, unilateral closing of the Allenby Bridge After seeing that and knowing what Jewish students had been spied on during salsa dancing it’s about saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to Prime border post with Jordan to clamp down were facing, I sat with my small team and we decided to lessons in the Cairo Hilton Hotel lobby. Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.” She on coronavirus upset Amman. Jordan dedicate this year to educating our communities [about the She served as an advisor on Jewish said she hated to bear bad news, but retaliated by shutting down the Sheikh Holocaust].” diaspora affairs for Shimon Peres a fifth election wasn’t unthinkable, Hussein crossing, stranding hundreds He aims to educate based on fact. Many people simply before joining the Federation of Local as many parties have already said in the West Bank. Wasserman Lande don’t know about the Holocaust, he says, and their Governments in Israel, where she they refuse to be in a coalition with was instrumental in helping 500 perceptions of Jews are based on stereotypes and a lack of used her Arabic skills to connect with Netanyahu. Jordanians to return home. knowledge and interaction as opposed to malicious intent. Israeli Arab communities. “Twenty- Commenting on Israel’s recent She described the Abraham Accords However, often political leaders buy into antisemitic ideas. two percent of Israel’s citizens aren’t strained relations with Jordan, she as an “absolute game-changer” and a “Political parties are antisemitic, even if they try to hide Jewish, but they are part and parcel said both small countries were huge “huge strategic achievement, regardless it. They put it in the category of ‘white monopoly’, but of this country. My huge love of Israel strategic assets for each other. “A of what people think of Netanyahu and you can sense it’s there in their policies and ideological makes me work for inclusion, mutual stable, Jewish Israel was a strategic Donald Trump”. thinking. I used to hope I could make them listen, but respect, and a change in the discourse, asset to Jordan even before 1948.” But Wasserman Lande is writing a novel I’ve realised I can’t. So I would rather educate the masses. uniting people rather than excluding relations have never been warm like titled Unveiled in Cairo, loosely based You can’t trust politicians, but if you go to the people, the and disrespecting them. For a vibrant those budding with Bahrain and the on her years in the Egyptian capital. It’s politicians will listen to them.” and viable economy and country, we United Arab Emirates (UAE) under the sure to be a rollicking read.

KKp your family safe.

26 March – 9 April 2021 SA JEWISH REPORT 9 Czech Republic recognises Nates for Holocaust work JORDAN MOSHE atmosphere was wonderful in spite of the such as the creation of the children’s pandemic, social distancing, and masks. The magazine, Vedem and its 15-year-old editor, ali Nates, the founder and executive food was delicious, and the singing in Czech Petr Ginz, who was murdered in Auschwitz, director of the Johannesburg of Dvořák was superb.” is important not only for the Czech Republic Holocaust & Genocide Centre Being recognised for the work the JHGC is but also for us in South Africa. T(JHGC), has received an international doing in the field of memory, education, and “I’m grateful for that recognition, and award for her part in South Africa’s efforts lessons for humanity is gratifying, Nates said. the partnership between South Africa and to remember those who perished in the “It also means that dedication to counter the Czech Republic in remembering and Holocaust. hate speech and working to strengthen educating about the Holocaust and genocide. An accomplished educator, Nates democracy is recognised,” she says. “My “Being the first South African to be received the esteemed Gratias Agit Award, dream of creating the centre including the honoured with this prestigious award presented annually by the Czech Republic. important stories of Theresienstadt, of hopefully brings joy and pride to the The award was presented at a reception Tali Nates with Japanese ambassador to South children’s poetry, music, and drawings, was country, especially the Jewish community, at the residence of the Ambassador of the Africa, Maruyama Norio (left), and Czech Republic recognised. as this award directly honours the work Czech Republic to South Africa, Dr Pavel ambassador to South Africa, Dr Pavel Rezác “Telling about the role of the teachers in in Holocaust and genocide memory and Řezáč, in Pretoria last Thursday, 18 March. (right) the ghetto, highlighting stories of resistance education we do.” She is the first South African to receive the award. “I received an official email announcing that I was chosen to receive this Independent living prestigious award in May last year,” she told the SA Jewish Report. She was invited to Prague for three days in October to for senior citizens receive the award, but because of the pandemic, it wasn’t possible to go. “I never expected to be recognised for the work done over the years of memorialising and educating about the Theresienstadt Ghetto and other aspects of the Holocaust in the former Czechoslovakia, as well as the role the Czech Republic played in trying to prevent genocide in Rwanda,” she said. “I’m honoured and touched that the work has been recognised.” The only statutory prize awarded by the Czech ministry of foreign affairs, it’s becoming an increasingly prestigious prize for voluntary activities of people committed to working for the benefit of society, for the promotion of friendship among nations, and for the promotion of the good name of the Czech Republic in the world. The Pretoria reception included several Independent living for senior citizens ambassadors who work closely with the JHGC, including the German ambassador to South Africa, Martin Schafer. SCALE DOWN IN SIZE – SCALE UP IN At the ceremony, Czech Minister Counsellor Alice Mžyková explained that COMFORT AND PEACE OF MIND the award had been presented annually since 1997 by the Czech minister of foreign Afordable rates – no monthly levy affairs for promoting the good name of the Situated in Orchards, Garden Place ofers the ultimate in choice and value Czech Republic abroad. “It’s an instrument which allows the for money when it comes to independent living for senior citizens minister to appreciate a prominent person or organisation for developing activities in non-government fields, as well as the • Three diferent types of accommodation • Relax at one of our pools in the increasing role of civic society,” she said. to choose from: standard rooms, studios magnifcent gardens and make use of “In the past 23 years, the Crystal Globe has been handed over to almost 350 laureates with kitchenette and cottages with the 2 conference centres - ideal for card around the world, 12 in 2020. lounge/dining room, bath and walk-in games, lectures or even pilates classes. “The Gratias Agit is becoming an even more prestigious prize, celebrating the shower plus fully equipped kitchen. • All residents have the option of a panic voluntary activities of people committed • All units are fully furnished, have a button with direct access to CAP and we to work for the benefit of the society as heated bathroom and are serviced are easily accessible to doctors, dentists, a whole. We thank Tali for promoting friendship between the nations, and for 5 days a week. nurses, physios and Hatzolah. spreading the good name of the Czech • Rates include: Electricity, Wi-Fi and • Management resides on the property. Republic in the world.” Mžyková paid tribute to Nates for 24-hour security, DStv, aircon, fridge, • There is a daily shuttle to nearby malls work including a unique remembrance microwave, safe, cutlery and crockery, and we are within walking distance exhibition at the Johannesburg centre dedicated to the Holocaust as it unfolded linen and towels. to 4 shuls. during World War II in the former • There are 2 lounges and we cater for all • Garden Place is a 4-star establishment Czechoslovakia. “Special attention is paid to what meals in our beautiful dining room and and has been operating for more than happened in the concentration camp braai area. 23 years. Terezín,” she said. “Tali has presented the occurrences sensitively, using drawings and poems. These drawings and poems CALL US TO VIEW were created by the children of prisoners, WE’LL CREATE A (under strict COVID-19 regulations) THE COMFORT & and form a part of the new exhibition.” Said Nates, “The ceremony was PACKAGE THAT 011 485 3800 CONVENIENCE emotional, with speeches, the award of SUITS YOUR www.gardenplace.co.za YOU DESERVE FOR the famous crystal ball, the certificate STYLE OF LIVING A GREAT PRICE signed by the Czech foreign minister, [email protected] and a beautiful bouquet of flowers. The 10 SA JEWISH REPORT 26 March – 9 April 2021 Jewish values central to SA democracy, judges say JORDAN MOSHE they celebrated their Barmitzvahs, they would ask, ‘Albie, human rights in South Africa,” recalled Davis. “It was to play a role in broader South African society. when’s your barmy?’ I just kept quiet.” extraordinary, and it showed a lot of thinking that went “The Jewish community is well implanted, and has ews continue to play a pivotal role in securing “My mom told me that if I wanted to have a barmy, into the Bill of Rights later. adapted better than many other whites,” said Sachs. democracy in post-apartheid South Africa, their she would support me as much as if I didn’t. I grew up “What was unbelievable was that we didn’t have a “This is partly because people like Dennis are in the values and social consciousness central to the in a very secular home. My parents gave me the choice, war here. The African National Congress had the stronger community and remind other people of the wider issues. democraticJ project. and it was the hardest decision I had to make completely forces, but it didn’t impose anything. The Bill of Rights “People respect ideas, values, idealism, and So say esteemed judges Albie Sachs and Dennis on my own. was a negotiated settlement, and it ftted with what compassion. I see a strong presence of Jews, and while Davis, two towering legal giants who have become they are very diverse, they’re also very coherent, with household names following years of furthering justice many networks and support.” in South Africa. Last Thursday, 18 March, they refected Davis agrees. “Like many of my generation, when on the 25-year journey of the South African Constitution people like Albie were in exile, it seemed the values he through the lens of their Jewish identity. espoused would never come to pass. I thought about “His Jewishness is central to his being,” Sachs leaving at one point, and even sat the Israeli bar exam said of Davis at the online event hosted by the Cape and passed.” South African Jewish Board of Deputies. “He sees the Davis then took to politics, however, and chose to world through Jewish eyes, not narrow eyes, but eyes remain in his native country. flled with a sense of reason, idealism, compassion, “This was where I was born, and where I wanted to be,” questioning, and challenging. “I thought that if I went Albie had captured years he said. “It was my struggle. It seems to me that right “Dennis is one of the great parts of South African through with it, I would before.” from those days, the right thing to do is to do the best for public life, with an energy and pungency of a vigorous be dishonouring myself This document South Africa, and that remains the case today. mind.” and G-d, if he existed. I offered the best possible “I’m continually saddened by those who leave. We’ve Davis described Sachs similarly, stressing that it didn’t believe in G-d, and I hope for constitutional lost so much talent, and I think how much it could have was impossible to encapsulate Sachs’ career in a few couldn’t have a Barmitzvah democracy in South contributed to the betterment of our society. minutes. if I didn’t. It was painful Africa, said Davis. “My Judaism is conficted between Marxist tradition “This is someone who has almost every aspect that being a Jew but being an “It wasn’t a sell-out. and studying Talmud. Central for me is what we say each any person could be proud of,” he said. “His early career outsider like that as well.” Participants in the online event We need to defend it day in the Aleinu, that our job is to purify the world in was central to [the development of] non-racism, and he Nonetheless, Sachs felt and be proud of it. It the image of G-d. It means to inculcate our foundational transcended all the atrocities that apartheid wrought a distinct bond with his Jewish identity, connecting with secured a social democracy which offers the best chance values into society. upon him. fgures like Marx, Freud, and Einstein. for all of us to live in peace and harmony.” “Judaism traditionally ascribed thirteen attributes to “You don’t need to study Talmud to know it, but if “These are my heroes,” he said. “Jews who were Sachs agrees, saying that in spite of the corruption G-d,” said Davis. “We need to apply these in South African you want to understand its two fundamentals of G-d’s displaced but very much part of the world. Theirs is my which plagues the country, we cannot lose sight of what society. justice and compassion, just look at Albie’s career. He kind of Judaism. My parents gave me a sense of honour the Constitution means for South Africa. “We need to comport ourselves in line with those encapsulates both of those with eloquence and power.” and integrity, and while these aren’t exclusively Jewish, “It remains a huge achievement. Yes, so many things attributes. How much compassion, justice, mercy, and Indeed, Sachs said that in spite of his secular they are part of my Jewishness.” are bad, but we know about them in an open society, forgiveness should we have in order to recalibrate our upbringing and not believing in G-d, his Jewishness The judges refected on the Constitution, agreeing which owes itself to the Constitution. We have free and society? We are really privileged to do this. resonated deeply within him, and informed much of his that it remains one of South Africa’s defning fair elections, something we take for granted. “If you want to go to Australia, be my guest. But approach to the law. achievements. “It doesn’t make up for corruption and crime, but it if you want a moral challenge which comports itself “I was the youngest in my class during World War II. “Years before the Constitution was brought in, I had gives us a framework to challenge, speak our minds, and with the values of our Jewish tradition, South Africa Half of the boys in the school were Jews, and one by one, a student who came into the library and gave me a feel free.” is the place. I want to throw in my lot with those who they had their Barmitzvahs. I was the youngest, and as crumpled copy of a document penned by Albie about Both judges say that the Jewish community continues stay here.” Koleinu calls out horrific attack on London Jewish woman >>Continued from page 2 “We are desensitised as South Africans to violence is behind us. I do feel much safer in London than I did against women as we are exposed to horrifc acts of in Johannesburg. I’m not on edge 24/7, but I have a femicide on an almost daily basis. So it’s interesting that heightened sense of awareness.” we are still shocked to see something like this. And not Speaking on condition of anonymity, another South necessarily because she’s religious. As South Africans African Jewish woman in her 30s who emigrated to and Koleinu, we should be aware of the trauma and London in 2019 said, “Obviously the attack on the long-term consequences that such an incident can have Jewish pregnant woman is shocking as in South Africa, on someone’s life, no matter who or where they are.” we weren’t exposed to religiously-motivated attacks. Hendler notes that the man is full of rage, and said it “It makes me more aware of not letting my son walk was important to pinpoint why men were so angry, and around in public with his tzitzit and kippah. Regarding why they would take out that rage on a woman. Sarah Everard, this can happen anywhere. I haven’t really “This incident is extreme,” she said. “But we see had a false sense of security coming from South Africa. thousands of daily incidents of a violent nature – verbal I’ve always been overly cautious where possible.” and physical. It highlights its prevalence, and how many Another ex-South African woman who emigrated to women live in fear. This video shows how violence London decades ago was shocked to hear of the attack against women happens in every community, country, as she hadn’t seen reports about it in the mainstream and stream of religiosity.” She urges people to report any British press. “The volume of violent attacks against act of violence they witness or abuse they suspect. “We women is really overwhelming. Perhaps it’s because she need to be brave enough to take a stand and hold others ‘sustained light injury’ that it isn’t newsworthy. Last year, accountable.” a mother and daughter were murdered in a park and it didn’t get the coverage that this most recent horrifc “This seems to be yet murder [of Everard] received. The mother and daughter another example of Orthodox were black ...” Jews being physically and The attack on the pregnant woman was condemned by Shadow Justice Secretary David Lammy, who said on violently assaulted because Twitter, “This hateful attack on a pregnant Jewish woman of their Jewishness.” in Stamford Hill is absolutely gruesome. As a society, we have to do so much more to tackle antisemitism as well Take advantage of our SA Resident “The attack was totally frightening and just so awful, as violence against women.” especially on a pregnant lady who was walking, minding Also on Twitter, author Professor Kate Williams rates while you still can! her own business,” said 37-year-old Talya Zwiers, who wrote, “The footage from the #StamfordHill attack is so emigrated to London in 2007. “Attacking her in broad distressing. She looks so happy, walking and swinging ALL-INCLUSIVE FROM R R3,999 PER PERSON PER NIGHT daylight shows that we are all vulnerable, in spite of us her handbag. And then he attacks her and her unborn thinking it’s safe to walk during the day. baby in a despicable act of antisemitism. And we are still SELF-CATERING FROM R13,000 PER NIGHT FOR 10 PEOPLE “I left South Africa after my twin brother was hijacked being told that attacks on women in the street are rare.” and kidnapped, and as a result, lost all sense of safety “This seems to be yet another example of Orthodox and security in South Africa. I didn’t have the naïve belief Jews being physically and violently assaulted because that attacks and muggings don’t happen in London, but of their Jewishness,” said educator and author Ben M. I most defnitely went for a safer way of life, especially for Freeman, whose recent book, Jewish Pride: Rebuilding my family,” she said. a People, aims to empower Jews to reject the “shame of Thornybush @Thornybush.Safari Thornybush “This attack left me feeling vulnerable, exposed, antisemitism”. scared, and actually quite worried. It has made me “Orthodox Jewish communities regularly aware that as women, we need to be constantly vigilant, endure violent anti-Jewish racism,” he said. “It’s our +27 11 253 6500 [email protected] www.thornybush.com aware of our surroundings, and cannot let our guard responsibility to stand with them in solidarity, and to down. We cannot just walk carefree, unaware of who condemn the normalisation of violence against Jews.” 26 March – 9 April 2021 SA JEWISH REPORT 11 Youth movements get creative to keep in touch with their channies JORDAN MOSHE At camp before COVID-19 channichim trust us to create a safe and socially distanced environment. We take this very seriously.” he past few months haven’t been easy for our Madrichim have also adapted to the changes with kids, with restrictions on in-person interaction aplomb, remaining committed to inspiring their severely limiting the range of youth-movement channichim in spite of the limitations. Tactivities they are used to. “Madrichim most defnitely still want to be involved,” December camps, Shabbos gatherings, and casual says Bourne. “While the pandemic may have posed some activities that typically involve meeting others have had limitations on face-to-face activities, the use of online to be shelved, but Bnei Akiva, Habonim Dror South Africa, platforms has meant that there is greater ease of access and Netzer have risen to the challenge, and the bonds for our madrichim to join up and plan activities online. between madrichim and channichim are strong. “Madrichim who maybe wouldn’t have had as much “The pandemic has taken away personal interaction time to give before the pandemic fnd that their time within our movement, which is core to how we run,” says is utilised a lot more effectively, and those who weren’t Aaron Sher, mazkir klali (secretary general) of Habonim. sure about wanting to take up a more serious leadership “Moving online in the beginning of the pandemic was role within the movement now feel more comfortable challenging, but our chaverim understood the necessity.” Similarly, Bnei Akiva and Habonim went virtual, our values of connecting to our channichim, living a life doing so.” Bnei Akiva’s rosh (head) for Johannesburg, Jessa Marx, moving whatever activities they could into the online of Torah, Zionism, and chesed weren’t. 2020 was truly a “The madrichim of Habonim Dror have been agrees. “Bnei Akiva is based upon connection between space. year of taking the video call and making it holy.” incredibly supportive during the pandemic,” says Sher. our channichim and madrichim,” she says. “These Says Sher, “Our leadership in 2020 managed to move The youth movements continued to be supported by “They are bringing in new initiatives to help keep relationships are unique and give them a platform for active events online to platforms such as Zoom, and channichim and their parents, the vast majority of them Habonim active. We haven’t seen a decline in their learning, inspiring, having fun, and solidifying values released monthly or bi-weekly newsletters. Our social- sympathetic to the enormous challenges they faced. involvement since the pandemic began. We have even for life. media presence picked up, with many chaverim creating “None of these decisions were easy to make.” says Sher, been able to bring more [maddies] into the movement.” “In 2020, a year in which these connections couldn’t fun educational videos to share on our pages. “That support defnitely helped keep Habonim going.” Says Marx, “Madrichim can no longer rely on models be strengthened through face-to-face contact, we were “We were forced to adapt to a changing world, and Marx says there has been a gradual reintroduction of what was done in the past. They are called on to adapt, called on to adapt, be creative, and fnd ways to keep still managed to bring our chaverim together regularly of some in-person activities subject to strict COVID-19 take initiative, and to be more creative than ever. While relationships, our values, and our way of life alive.” to discuss current affairs in South Africa, Israel, and the protocols. this is an incredible opportunity for growth, it calls on As in most cases, the new reality demanded migration rest of the world. We managed to incorporate the classic “We have been truly blessed to return our beloved them to take responsibility. to online platforms, with Zoom learning sessions and games we would play at camp by playing them online.” Bnei bayit each Sunday for our EQT [Extreme Quality “Their commitment to the movement and the values events becoming the norm. In spite of much effort, Habonim decided to cancel Torah] learning programme,” she says. “We were also we stand for pushes them through the diffculties. Every “Since the beginning of the pandemic, all of our its end-of-year camp, substituting it as much as possible able to host a COVID-19-safe Purim event, with a laser tag madrich and madricha in the movement has exceeded activities had to be taken into the virtual online world,” with other activities. event for Roim and Moledet and Megillah reading and everyone’s expectations in spite of the challenges we are says Jason Bourne, Netzer Camp head. “We have Bnei Akiva madrichim and channichim also connected Adventure Golf for Refael and Sinai. experiencing.” had to come up with new ways of engaging with online for some time (including a hummus making “Parents have obviously had some reservations about While the road ahead is less than certain, Netzer, Bnei our participants while still giving them the fun and competition and learning sessions), though they were their children coming to events because of the number Akiva, and Habonim remain positive about maintaining educational environment they are used to. able to attend an in-person week-long day camp held of people there and the restrictions. However, since Bnei engagement with their channichim, and are open to “We have had to fnd a balance between engaging locally in December. Akiva strictly adheres to all the protocols, the majority if rolling with the punches our participants while not overloading them with the “We hosted a morning kollel and midrasha, some not all the parents are happy for their children to attend “The pandemic as a whole may have brought new number of activities available, especially when most fun events in the afternoons, and an evening learning our events. challenges that we have had to learn to adapt to, but the of our participants spent a good portion of their week programme,” says Marx. “With each event we take on, we realise the opportunities it has brought us are just as many – maybe online at school.” “In a world where in-person events were cancelled, responsibility we are shouldering. Parents and even more,” says Bourne.

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12 SA JEWISH REPORT 26 March – 9 April 2021 Bobba granted dying wish to be buried on Mount of Olives NICOLA MILTZ “I left Rustenberg when I was 11,” ball rolling for what turned out possible,” said Kalmonowitz. Gurion Airport on Purim on the night said granddaughter Nicole Salkow. “I to be a Herculean effort by the Tey confirmed that the plot of 25 February after a long layover he late Flora Hovsha, 95, didn’t attribute my knowledge of Judaism Johannesburg Chevrah Kadisha, and existed, and got on to securing in Turkey, where she was transferred ask for much when she was to my bobba’s love and dedication Flora’s family here and abroad to help a flight. “Not many airlines are from a passenger carrier to a cargo alive, her family said. But she to the religion. We were one of the realise this dream. operating at this time, and most plane. Thad a lifelong wish to be buried next few remaining Jewish families left in Chevrah Kadisha Funeral Director won’t transport a COVID-19 body,” Te Jerusalem Chevrah Kadisha to her beloved late husband, Eliezer, Rustenberg when I was a little girl, Phillip Kalmonowitz helped with the Kalmonowitz said. was on standby. So too were Flora’s who died more than three decades but this never stopped my bobba from two granddaughters in Israel, Shana ago. Sounds reasonable. keeping a meticulously kosher home Flora and Eliezer Hovsha Hovsha and Leigh Chazan and her However, throw into the equation and following all the rich festivals.” husband Idan. the fact that her husband is buried Flora, a resident of Sandringham Family from around the world in the Mount of Olives Cemetery Gardens, succumbed to COVID-19 watched as the livestreamed funeral in Jerusalem, one of Judaism’s on Shabbos towards the end of procession made its way through the holiest sites, add to that a worldwide February. Her funeral was set for streets of Jerusalem until Flora’s body pandemic, and it becomes a little Sunday 21 February, at 11:30. When was laid to rest near the gravestone of more complex. And when a person’s her son, Joseph, who also lives at the her husband. death is as a result of COVID-19, it retirement home, mentioned to the “It was a sight to behold,” said complicates matters even further. Chevrah Kadisha that his late mother Salkow, “My bobba would have been However, nothing was going to had a plot reserved for her in Israel, it dancing had she seen the journey she stop Flora’s devoted grandchildren threw a local spanner in the works. took through the streets of Jerusalem from trying their best to help realise Joseph, worried about COVID-19 with the city lights flickering below.” their bobba’s dream. and the costs involved in transporting Te ancient Jewish cemetery, Teir bobba and zaida were well- his mother’s body, prepared himself which overlooks Jerusalem’s Old City, known members of the Rustenberg mentally for the burial to take place at is the holiest place, being closest to Jewish community. Teir popular West Park Cemetery. His determined repatriation. It included having to Tey eventually secured a space on the Temple. It’s the most ancient and jewellery store, Rustenberg Jewellers, daughter had other plans. “I simply obtain multiple letters of permission, Turkish Airlines. “About 19 pages of most important Jewish cemetery in stood in the centre of town. Flora asked the Chevrah Kadisha what it permits, and certificates from documentation went with her,” he Jerusalem. kept a strictly kosher home, and went would take to do this, and then I said, doctors, the health department, and said. With an estimated 150 000 people out of her way to instil a deep love ‘Let’s see if we can make it happen’,” the Israeli embassy. After two days of intense planning, interred there, including those of of yiddishkeit in her three sons and Salkow told the SA Jewish Report. “We needed to act fast so that her Flora’s body left South Africa on the famous rabbis in Jewish history, grandchildren, the family said. With those words, she set the funeral could take place as quickly as night of 24 February. It arrived at Ben there is barely any space left. Flora’s plot was reserved after the late Eliezer was buried there in 1985. According to David Weber at the Teen’s heartfelt book helps others conquer their fears Johannesburg Chevrah Kadisha, JORDAN MOSHE thereafter. there were requests from about “It was truly a dream come true to see it printed,” said Lily. “I was four families to repatriate loved he underwent a heart operation at the age of four, so Lily Senior overwhelmed to see the end result. It was really the best feeling I could ones to Israel during the hard knows the meaning of courage. Now 13, she is helping other have imagined. lockdown, but it wasn’t possible. children conquer their fears by sharing her story of bravery in a “My husband and I cried when we saw it,” said Regi. “Lily really came Teir bodies will be exhumed at a Sbook that’s all heart. up with an unbelievable idea. In the story, Grace wakes up after a scary later stage. Tere have been three Titled Grace’s Hospital Journey, the book is based on Lily’s experience at operation and sees the scar on her chest, her badge of honour for her repatriations to Israel in the past six Sunninghill Hospital almost 10 years ago. bravery. Tis was what Lily had.” months. “I suffered from an atrial defect, which basically means I had a hole Te narrative captures Lily’s experience, but makes it accessible to Jonathan Fox, the rabbi of in my heart,” Lily told the SA Jewish Report recently. “I had a narrowed children. Sandringham Gardens, said, “Tis artery as well, and the doctors took skin from around my heart and put it “Te doctors like to get you up and walking after the operation, and is an incredible story of how one over the hole. I remember seeing Lily and Tiffany with their IV determined family managed during a “In the first few years of school, drips attached walking through the hospital,” she pandemic to get this special woman I didn’t think about it at all. said. “Tey roamed the corridor, and I followed to her final resting place. It took When I got to Grade 6, I started behind them with Tiffany’s mom.” enormous effort and determination.” becoming more aware of it, and “Lily created the idea of her and Tiffany being He described the late Flora as “a realised how grateful I was that I Lily Senior glitter girls and going for rides in wheelchairs lovely, friendly lady” who was “very could have a normal life.” down the corridors. She took a scary moment, and committed to Torah in such a quiet Although not an emergency, wrote about it in a way that other children could and modest way”. the procedure prevented future relate to.” “She loved attending shul complications, said her mother, Although the book hasn’t been published, a services on Shabbat and during Regi. Cape Town-based printer has produced 150 copies the week. She also enjoyed shiurim “Te doctor said that when so far. Te Seniors hoped to deliver copies to and never failed to compliment the she became a young adult, children in the wards at Sunninghill Hospital, but rabbi. She was incredibly proud of she would have possible heart COVID-19 complications prevented them from her children and grandchildren.” complications,” she says. “It was delivering them in person. Joseph, said his late mother suggested that the sooner we did “Te idea was to give books to children in the often expressed her wish to be it, the sooner we could prevent wards going through the same experience,” said buried next to his father in Israel. issues later in her life. Regi. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t do that, so “She told me and my two brothers “Like any parents, my husband we gave some copies to Lily’s cardiologist, that this was her wish. Knowing and I were fearful of what open- Dr Jeff Harrisberg, who thought it was absolutely she is there is a big comfort,” he heart surgery meant for our little incredible.” said. girl, but the doctor explained that Lily’s was a simple case in comparison A copy was also given to Tiffany’s family, as well as other family Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft, rabbi to to others.” members, friends, and some schools. the newly-established small Jewish Tis became especially clear after the operation. While Lily’s recovery “Tiffany’s parents were very grateful to know we were thinking of Communities Association, said, was straightforward, a fellow patient called Tiffany, a girl a little younger them,” said Lily. “I’ve had so many supportive responses so far. It’s been a “Te Hovshas were well known, than Lily, passed away almost a year after the two met at the hospital. dream come true. active members of the Rustenberg Te book was conceived in Tiffany’s memory. “I never would have thought I would write a book. If my parents had Jewish community.” “We were sitting at the dinner table on the anniversary of Tiffany’s asked me this a few years ago, I would have thought they were mad. “My special bobba has been passing last year, and Lily announced that she was going to write a book Now that I’ve done it, I’ve seen how much I can take from it and give to reunited with my zaida in the and dedicate it to Tiffany,” Regi said. “She wanted to tell children about others.” holiest place on earth,” Salkow her experience and inspire them not to be scared of the unknown. Lily hopes that other children will draw inspiration from her said. “Some very special people “In September, I sat down with my dad and we wrote down some ideas experience, bravely facing whatever procedure they may have to undergo including David Weber and Phillip about the things I could incorporate into the book. I started writing the in a hospital. Kalmonowitz from the Chev and book itself a little later,” Lily said. “You mustn’t be scared,” she concludes. “I want other kids to feel they Hashem made this possible. She “It was interesting to relive the memories. It did take some time for me can do anything. Whatever the surgery or procedure, they must feel asked for so little in her life, and to get into the process and actually write it. I went online and found an positive, hopeful, and grateful that they can get it. You can conquer your this was something she really illustrator, Peet Nieuwenhuizen, at Creature of Habit, and I emailed him. fears.” wanted. Tere is a huge amount “We started chatting, he gave me some ideas, and I guided him through of comfort knowing that her wish what I wanted to do. He sent me a final product, we made some changes, • Copies of Grace’s Hospital Journey are available for purchase from Regi came true.” and we created the book. It was amazing.” Senior, who can be contacted at 082 852 3485. Te proceeds will go towards Flora is survived by her two sons, Te book was completed in November, and trademarked soon helping other children in need of heart surgery. seven grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. THE HOLOCAUST - REMEMBERING TOGETHER

Join us as #WeRemember Yom Hashoah ONLINE Friday, 9 April 12:00

& FOUND ATION 14 SA JEWISH REPORT 26 March – 9 April 2021 Legendary pilot tilts his wings at scribing JORDAN MOSHE they would have their teeth attended to. the aerobatics fying. I competed in and won a few “I realised only afterwards that I had forgotten certain “He and my dad were pals at university, and because championships and started the aerobatic team. Later, I things and really should have included them,” he laughs. “I never set out to achieve things or make a name he few and was a dentist, I wanted to be one too. I found myself doing demonstration fights for SAA at air “I few in 56 movies, and forgot to put them in. I met for myself. Whatever happened, happened by good thought I would be a fying dentist like him.” shows. What could be better than that?” people like Sylvester Stallone, Sharon Stone, and Herbert fortune,” says Captain Selwyn “Scully” Levin, whose name However, after completing three years of service in the Levin even performed in the United Kingdom (UK), Lom, and did a lot of work doing stunt fying.” is synonymous with fying in South Africa. airforce, Levin joined the ranks of South African Airways making a name for South African aviation in a country Nonetheless, the book has given Levin the This legend has blazed a trail across the aviation (SAA), and became a commercial pilot. which takes fying very seriously. opportunity to reconnect with many people and industry as a commercial and show pilot in “The British are far more air minded than establish new friendships. an astonishing career spanning 56 years. Selwyn “Scully” Levin any other nation,” he says. “England hung by “As I went along, I remembered certain people, how “I’m a very enthusiastic guy who makes a thread when Germany wanted to invade, they had helped me, how good they had been to me, things happen, and when I rushed ahead and everybody owed the Royal Air Force a and sent books to them because of what they had done and did things, I sometimes created a vortex debt of gratitude for what it did. for me. behind me,” Levin says. “The British are air-crazy, with air shows “I’ve also heard a lot from people who have read it, Now retired, the 74-year-old fying ace drawing 90 000 people. We arrived with especially pilots. I sent a batch of books to Israel with a has penned Punching Holes in the Sky, a a Boeing 747 and did what other display friend and suddenly, one guy who had been a top pilot collection of anecdotes drawn from his years pilots had never done, showing a monstrous in the Israeli Air Force and with El Al wrote to me to say as an aerobatic pilot. airplane, and we won the award for the best he couldn’t put my book down. It makes me feel good.” “My daughter, Hayley, is in the media display. We stole the show.” Levin also reconnected with his father through the business,” Levin told the SA Jewish Report. “I Levin scored a win for South Africa again in book. had done a fair amount of writing for some Reno, Nevada, in the United States (US) when “Every time there was cause to mention my dad, aviation publications she had put out, and he few in the national air races. I had a tear in my eye thinking about him,” he says. she said I should write my own story. He recalls, “I arrived in my veldskoene, “Nothing will bring him back, but I dedicated the book “I wrote my memoirs and realised that rugby shorts, and t-shirt. The Americans didn’t to him. I wrote a lot about him, and my wife proofread no one would be interested in my life story take me seriously, saying I’d probably need a it and reminded me that it wasn’t a book about my dad, besides my family, so I put it aside for my lot of help and I should ask if I was unsure. I but about fying. kids and grandkids who may read it one day. thanked them, and who came frst? I did.” “Still, the book helped me get in touch with him I changed tack, and reorientated the book These were some of Levin’s memories again.” towards my air show career instead.” when putting his book together, giving Although he believes readers need a slight Levin qualifed as a pilot in the South readers a sense of the thrill of taking to the knowledge of aviation to really appreciate the book, African Air Force in 1964, inspired by the skies. Levin feels that almost anyone will enjoy reading it. example of his father, also an accomplished “There are so many followers of air shows “When it became a little technical, my wife struggled pilot. “I couldn’t believe my luck,” he says. “I’d sit in the in South Africa, no matter where you go,” he says. “Our a bit with it,” he laughs. “But she has no problem “All I ever really wanted to do was become a pilot,” says cockpit and pinch myself because I couldn’t accept that shows are smaller compared to those in the US and UK, reading a recipe or knitting pattern, and things like that Levin. “My dad bought an old plane for me to play in as it was true. Up until very recently, I’ve been pinching but they have a hell of a following. baffe me. a child. He had an enthusiasm for aviation which was myself every day.” “I fgured that people would enjoy the opportunity to “I hope that my book gives aspirant fiers the catching, and he has always been a hero in my life. Levin progressed rapidly, becoming a fying instructor understand what it’s really like. I decided I’d take them message that if they want to do it, they must just go out “Another hero was Dr Max Muscat from Vryburg, a for the airline, and later holding positions in fight into the cockpit and show them what it’s like through there and give it their all.” fying dentist who would go all over, fxing people’s teeth operations management. However, he wanted to do writing this book.” in really out-of-the-way places across the country. He’d more. There were also highlights in his career that didn’t • Punching Holes in the Sky can be ordered at land on the side of the road, farmers would come, and “I loved it,” he says, “but it wasn’t quite enough, hence make it into the book, Levin says. https://bit.ly/3ngr25r 26 March – 9 April 2021 SA JEWISH REPORT 15 Tony Leon pulls no punches in new book PETA KROST MAUNDER makes a comparison between the ANC and the Israeli ony Leon has never been one to mince words. Labour Party. “They [Labour] lost power after being Ever since he became involved in politics in the arrogant, and that’s what happens with time. What Progressive Federal Party, the former leader of the will replace the ANC is another question, but there will TDemocratic Alliance (DA) has had strong opinions and has be a South Africa that won’t be governed by the ANC. fearlessly made them known. Whether its successor is better or worse, or corrupt, I can’t Some thought they were inspired, while others guarantee.” despised him for them, but most people took notice when Being married to an Israeli woman, Leon is very aware he said something. of the ruling party’s sentiments about Israel, and he fnds So, when publisher Jonathan Ball suggested that he it distressing. “When Michal and I got married, the word write a book about South Africa, he wasn’t suggesting in the ANC was that I was marrying a Mossad agent,” he Leon write the consummate guide to the country. He said. “Posters went up in Athlone [in Cape Town], which wanted a view of where we are through the eyes of the is a very Muslim area, and they said a vote for the DA is a founder of the DA and the longest serving leader of the vote for Israel. It had barbed wire and blood printed on it. offcial opposition. “The ANC is fundamentally anti-Israel, anti-Zionist, “Apparently, people wanted to hear the views of and there is a fair amount of antisemitism. In the book, I someone who was actually in the trenches,” Leon, who mention an extraordinary headline that was in a national retired as leader of the DA and from mainstream politics in newspaper in 2019: ‘Cyril’s in the pocket of the Jews’. 2007, told the SA Jewish Report last week. Two weeks after There is all that recognisable negative narrative going on the meeting with Ball, COVID-19 struck and South Africa in the background.” went into lockdown. What really riled him was when Cape Town was “I then realised this book would be my sanity,” said running out of water and Israel was offering to help. Leon. “I would have an afternoon project and every day “South Africa took pride in boycotting this, and to work on it. Even if it was rubbish, I would have been the minister of water affairs went off to Iran productive during lockdown.” to get water,” he said. Leon is executive chair of Resolve Communications, He insists that too often, the ANC’s Meet the PINK Family an advocacy company for reputational management argument isn’t about the borders of Israel, and strategic communication, but spends much time which are worth negotiating, it’s about giving his political opinion through writing, the very existence of Israel. “And on Real Estate Ofce in speaking, or interviews. that, it removes any room for any And his book, Future Tense – Refections conversation.” on My Troubled Land tackles issues South Africa makes as including why the African National if it’s an important global Israel Congress (ANC) is bad for business, player and Israel is irrelevant, problems in the DA, and revenge but it’s not like that anymore, economics. He even addresses Leon said. “This world view is the Jewish community. simplistic and counterproductive Thinking of Making Aliyah? Leon, however, doesn’t long for our country, but deeply to be back in the political playing ingrained. They could do this feld. “I don’t miss it one bit. I’m not posturing under Mandela because How about owning a short of platforms to express myself Tony Leon he was a world icon, but South now, but when I was leader of the DA, Africa has fallen so far that nobody it was all-consuming and that sucked all the oxygen from is really interested in us shouting these sentiments about Holiday Home or me. By the time I left, I had really done and had enough.” Israel.” At the time, a few people in power asked him when He doesn’t pull his punches in regard to those within he was retiring, but it was his late father-in-law who the party he represented either. Leon said he thought an Investment Property made it quite clear. “He called me, and said, ‘You are like at one stage that the DA was in serious trouble, and told Alexander the Great, your party has done what it can do, Mmusi Maimane, then DA leader. Maimane called him in you have no more kingdoms to conquer, what are you to sit on a panel of three to help guide them forward. in Israel? going to do now? You aren’t going to become president “They were a victim of their own success. They had done and you have been there for 30 years.’ I realised he was so well in the 2016 elections, but this had happened right, so I resigned and went to Harvard without a career because the folk in the township stayed home rather than Ofering many great options plan,” said Leon. voting, while the suburbanites went out in their masses.” While he lives happily in Cape Town and believes in Leon said the DA’s mistakes included not factoring a future here, he’s not happy with the status quo in the in Ramaphosa coming in, the party soft-pedalling what of Re-sales, New Buildings country. it stood for, getting involved in internal fghts, and At the end of 2019, South Africa’s borrowing costs were alienating Afrikaans voters. “They made the mistake of a billion rand per working day. “When I fnished this book, thinking they [the Afrikaners] had nowhere else to go, and and Existing Projects. we were borrowing R2 billion rand a day, so debt-service the truth is that voters always have choices. If politicians costs doubled in a year. We have a big problem,” he said. think for a single second that they have a captive market, “All our essential policies are wrong, the people we they are in the wrong profession.” have implemented to manage them aren’t performing, He spoke of having a “complex relationship with his and we need to change both. Unfortunately with successor, Helen Zille, whom he recruited to the party”. LET THE PINK TEAM HELP Ramaphosa, he just appoints another committee, usually Admitting to having had a number of disagreements, headed by the wrong person, and then diddles around he said her record as a leader was “crowned with great and doesn’t make decisions.” success”. Although “she was purpose-driven and governed Leon said that although there was talk about course well”, he isn’t sure about “second and third acts in politics”. MAKE YOUR DREAM correction, he had seen little sign of it. “If you keep going As for Maimane (who took over from Zille), he said, in the same direction, doing the same thing, you are “He is a great chap, but evidence of his leadership was going to go over a cliff. And we are pretty much on the profoundly absent.” He referred to him as “confict averse” cliff’s edge at the moment.” and “pointing in two directions at the same time” at the COME TRUE He insists the country’s saving grace is the private helm, which didn’t serve him as leader. Under Maimane, sector, which has “stepped in to mind the gap that has Leon said, “There was an overwhelming sense that the been left by the state” and those within it do it willingly party was parev, not really one thing or another.” Maxine Marks and with world-class standards. However, he has confdence in the present leader of “These are people who want to contribute to this the opposition, John Steenhuisen, with whom he has a +972-54-443-3589 country and have the skillset and right political views, close relationship. yet they are debarred because they are white,” he says. He identifes strongly as being Jewish, but said he “When a country throws away its knowledge base, that’s wasn’t “a great practitioner”. However, he believes that just ludicrous. These people want to help and contribute, the future of the Jews in South Africa “will be no better or but can’t. worse than the rest of the white people in the country”. “They then leave and go overseas, but the country He spoke of being taken with how the Jewish community www.luxury-propertyinisrael.com suffers, the tax payers suffer, the young kids who would was “exemplary at looking after its own” and other have had a better education with an inspired university communities. suffer. You then live in a mediocre place, lead and “I’m really impressed with the fact that there are people governed by mediocre people, not because of a racist who have incredibly busy lives and still insist on giving view, but from a knowledge-based view.” back,” Leon said. “Provided there is that kind of leadership [email protected] But Leon is confdent that “change will happen”. He and generosity, this community should be okay.” 16 SA JEWISH REPORT Pesach 26 March – 9 April 2021 Let’s start talking about Pesach OPINION CHIEF RABBI DR WARREN GOLDSTEIN or the past few weeks, my family and I preparation, and the more we have been doing something really special. prepare for it, the greater the We’ve been getting together every Sunday experience is going to be. Fnight, sitting around the table, and going Tere’s something that can help you get the through the Pesach Haggadah. process started. My family and I were so excited It’s just me, Gina, and our children – our and inspired by our Sunday night learning eldest, Mordi, his wife Avigayil, and Levi, sessions, we decided to record our Haggadah Shayna, and youngest Azi. We have supper discussions. We’ve turned these recordings together, and then we get stuck into the into a special Pesach series, called Te Goldstein Haggadah, discussing, debating, sharing as Family Podcast, which you can access via my a family, covering everything from the four website or wherever you get your podcasts. Te sons, the four questions and the ten plagues, to sessions have been cut and edited into eight matzah, maror, and the four cups of wine. episodes ranging from 10 to 30 minutes each to It has been a truly memorable experience. We make them as accessible as possible. started this family tradition a few months ago, Tere’s not much time left before Pesach, but setting aside the Sunday night slot to connect I would like to encourage you to devote some as a family and share Torah ideas. It’s an open time to preparing for the seder, and our podcast forum, a space for every member of the family can be a good place to start. Even just a couple to express their thoughts, ideas, and opinions. of hours can make all the difference to your We’ve covered the Rambam’s 13 Principles of seder. Faith and the weekly parsha, and now, most Especially at this time, after a year of being recently, the Haggadah. Jewish experience. Te seders we had as kids emotional experience that changes us, that truly battered by a pandemic, we need the healing, Going through the Haggadah, which tells seem to stay with us. Even as we grow older, we frees us from our tired routines and habits and the meaning, and the deep inspiration of the the story of the Jewish people and goes to the recollect them fondly and vividly. It’s so much brings us closer to one another, to G-d, and to seder more than ever – the message of faith in very heart of who we are as Jews, has been more than a ceremony, a procession of rituals, our true selves. A rebirth in the deepest sense. Hashem, connection to generations past, the particularly special. We’ve fine-tuned our it’s the rich soil in which our families and our Tat’s why I would like to call on all of us to sense of rootedness it gives us in an uncertain understanding of the story, and gained so many very Jewish identity are formed. start these meaningful family conversations in world. new insights and ideas. Just as importantly, Of course, as we grow older, there’s the preparation for Pesach, to discuss the ideas and Let’s take this opportunity to prepare so that we’ve grown closer as a family, and feel more temptation, given how familiar the story is, themes and get a deeper understanding of the we can connect with the ancient words of the connected to each other and Hashem. Now, as to slip into autopilot on seder night. But if we seder itself. Of course, we need to prepare our Haggadah – with the great origin story of our we head towards Pesach, we all feel that this prepare, we can avoid this and enter the seder homes – cleaning and cooking are incredibly people – in ways we’ve never done before. is going to be a dramatically different seder charged with inspiration and filled with rich important because they help us to fulfil all the Gina and I wish you all a chag kasher experience. Our mindset is different. new perspectives. In doing so, we can transform mitzvot of this special chag and ensure we have a v’same’ach – a beautiful Pesach – and deeply Te Pesach seder is perhaps the formative it into an incredibly powerful spiritual and proper, kosher Pesach. But the seder, too, needs meaningful, enriching seders. Is antisemitism good for the Jews? OPINION RABBI YOSSY GOLDMAN ne of the traditional songs dark and difficult days of our long marvelled at our miraculous Jewish leaders sided with him, going onto campus from the Pesach Haggadah and tortuous history. We have survival. Over 300 years ago, hoping he would finally bring an in the dead of which has become hugely always believed and trusted in King Louis XIV of France asked end to Czarist persecution and night to paint Opopular in recent years is Vehi G-d’s promise that, in the end, it the philosopher, Pascal, to give extend to Russian Jewry full civil a few swastikas on the student Sheamdah. An original version would all come right. him proof of the existence of G-d. rights. However, Rabbi Schneur union building! composed by Yonatan Razel was That’s the simple meaning. Pascal famously replied, “Why the Zalman of Liadi, the founder of Maybe that would jolt them turned into a mega hit by Yaakov But a few years ago, I had a brain Jews, your majesty, the Jews!” Chabad, thought differently. He out of their apathy. Of course, Shwekey, and was named Song of wave of a rather alternative Our tiny nation’s survival actively opposed Napoleon, and we never actually did it, but the the Decade in Israel. interpretation. Later, I was while all the greatest empires of even had his Chassidim assist fact that the thought crossed our The passage in English reads, gratified to see the same idea the world have come and gone in intelligence gathering for the minds demonstrates how external “And it is this that has stood by in the writings of earlier rabbis remains powerful confirmation Russian army. threats have a way of making our fathers and us. For not just much more learned than I. that there is a higher power When his colleagues challenged Jews bristle with pride and one alone [Pharaoh] has risen What occurred to me was that ensuring our continuity and him and questioned his apparent righteous indignation. against us to destroy us, but in the Haggadah may have been destiny. lack of concern for the well-being We see it today as well. Outside each and every generation they giving us another message as Indeed, there is a strong of his own people, he argued that many shuls around the world, you rise against us to destroy us and well. The very fact that “in every argument to suggest that while Napoleon might be good for will find young men and women the holy one, blessed be He, saves generation they rise against antisemitism has been good for the Jews materially, his victory who volunteer to do security us from their hand!” us to destroy us” is itself what the Jews. The French philosopher, would result in spiritual disaster. duty. Many of them are never What is meant by the opening has stood by us and given us Jean-Paul Sartre, made that Tragically, the record proves him seen inside the shuls they protect. words, “vehi” as in “it is this the strength to persevere. point in his book Anti-Semite & correct. Minus the Little Emperor, Going to shul and praying isn’t that has stood by us”? What Antisemitism, and the fact that in Jew. History records that under Russian Jews remained staunchly their thing. But when enemies of does “this” refer to? The simple spite of all the existential threats regimes that persecuted us, we Jewish, while French Jewry Israel threaten Jews, these brave meaning seems remained virtually vanished. young people respond as loyal, to be that it steadfastly How many Jewish Rothschilds committed Jews. follows on Jewish, are left in the world? G-d knows It appears that as repugnant the previous whereas we could have used them. Most as antisemitism may be, in a paragraph in under more of French Jewry today hails from strange, perverse sort of way the Haggadah enlightened, North Africa. The originals are it may have contributed to the where we read, liberal few and far between. stubborn determination of Jews “Blessed is He forms of And the American experience over many generations to stand who keeps His government, confirms beyond a shadow of a up for their convictions and live promise to we became doubt that freedom, democracy, by the principles of our faith no Israel.” comfortable and equal rights, while wonderful matter what. It refers to in our blessings for Jews for which we So, when you sing Vehi Sheamdah G-d’s promise newfound should be eternally grateful, also at your Pesach Seder this year, to redeem the freedom, present a profound challenge instead of bemoaning our enemies’ Children of gradually to our Jewish identity and way hatred for us, find the positive Israel from embracing a of life. In the melting pot of side. Vehi – this very hostility and Egyptian exile. welcoming the United States, Jews have the never-ending attempt at our According to but integrated so successfully, they annihilation – has only served to commentary, dominant are virtually disappearing! strengthen our resolve to remain it also refers to G-d’s ongoing we as a people have suffered, culture and forfeiting much of our Back in the 1970s, when I was steadfastly Jewish. Indeed, it has promise to redeem us from all our we have survived, all bearing own. working with Jewish university stood us well! exile and persecution, including testimony to the Almighty’s Back in the early 19th century, students, we were struggling the final redemption at the end watchful eye which continues Napoleon was conquering to break through a wall of icy • Rabbi Yossy Goldman is the of days. to guide us through our special Europe and promising liberty indifference towards Judaism. rabbi at Sydenham Shul, and the This promise has sustained the providential mission on earth. and equality for all. When he It was so frustrating, that my president of the South African Jewish people throughout all the Jews and non-Jews alike have squared up against Russia, many colleagues and I even considered Rabbinical Association.

18 SA JEWISH REPORT Pesach 26 March – 9 April 2021 In tribute to modern-day Miriams

MIRAH LANGER Vivian Anstey every single night until I moved out of he loves speaking to me. It calms me,” and Dr Franklin home when I got married. Cecil was just Tradonsky says. His experiences have t the heart of the story of Exodus Kessler in Israel such an enormous part of my life.” shown her the “simplicity of life, but also lies the bond between sister and before the Tradonsky says her parents were fercely the reality of life”. brother. Indeed, “Miriam nurtured operation dedicated to her and her brother. They Over time, she has come to realise MosheA and Moshe, later in life, prayed for ensured that Shapiro received the affection the gift that she has been given by her her healing. It’s a beautiful relationship,” says and nurture of his family at all times. “My experience of being Shapiro’s sister. While Rebbetzin Tamar Taback. father used to say to me, even when I was a for many, there’s an element of discomfort “At the age of seven, Miriam had a little girl and didn’t quite understand, that when going to a place like Selwyn Segal, prophecy that her mother would give birth ‘Cecil is our responsibility; he isn’t yours’. for her it’s different. “It just comes naturally to the redeemer of her people. She nurtured He never laid guilt on me. That allowed me to me to be able to talk, hug, and love them that prophecy, trusted it, and did her part to do what I do with love. It wasn’t a sense because it’s all I have known. It gives me all the way through,” says Taback, the world- of burden or responsibility.” empathy and a sense of compassion.” renowned founder of Nexus, a school of friend who is a doctor. “The frst comment he will be revealed as sweet in the end. It’s the She is indebted to the Chevrah Kadisha She says her parents’ example taught Torah study for women. made to me was, ‘Do you realise that your deepest level of transformation.” and Selwyn Segal, where Shapiro now lives, her that “if you can get siblings to love each “When Moses was born, her father brother will be living with a life sentence?’ The relationship between Raelene for the love and care he has been given. other, then your job as a parent is done. celebrated Miriam’s prophecy coming to Not a death sentence, a life sentence, which Tradonsky and her brother, Cecil Shapiro, She even previously served as treasurer in Not just in our case, but even between fruition. However, circumstances in Egypt basically meant that my decision would is a tribute to fnding the sweetest joy in support of their work. siblings with different personalities. It’s became so dangerous for the Jewish people, infuence his life.” connection. While her father passed away some about tolerance, acceptance, and mostly that the family elected to send Moses down It made her realise that, “I wouldn’t have Shapiro is physically and mentally time ago, her mother died only recently just loving the person for who and what the river in the bassinet to try and save his been able to live with myself watching him disabled. Growing up together in of COVID-19. It’s a loss that has made her they are, not necessarily what you want life. Now, her father rebuked her prophecy. struggle being a doctor himself and having Johannesburg, Tradonsky’s memories connection to Shapiro feel even more them to be.” “Of course, Moses was well on his way to go onto dialysis a couple of hours every are of a very close bond. “Where I went, poignant. Time spent together, even when The deep sense of love between the two towards fulflling it, for he would soon be single day of his life. my brother went. We shared everything. I bringing him his favourite treats of biltong, is evident in Shapiro as well. When it comes found by Pharaoh’s daughter. Her father “The pain and suffering that he would didn’t know any different. I thought it was cold drinks, Flings, and popcorn, brings to talking about Tradonsky, he simply could see only on the surface of the disaster; have gone through and which I would have a privilege. equal joy to them as siblings. declares, “I love her very much. She is my Miriam had the capacity to dig deep into the endured as a bystander, wasn’t an option. “I literally brushed my brother’s teeth “I love speaking to him, as much as sister, my only sister.” reservoir of faith and keep on believing.” Being a sister, I had a sense of responsibility.” As such, Taback says, “Miriam embodies Anstey was also motivated by the Jewish the symbol of the well: when the earth is teaching that the question regarding organ The tale of Hitler’s Haggadah in Morocco dry and parched, you don’t see anything. donation of this kind is no longer whether JORDAN MOSHE Schnytzer writes in his blog at The Times of Israel that the text is The well is from deep within the earth; it’s a one should offer one’s assistance, but the risk “deep, dramatic, and sometimes comical”. “Above all, it carries an hidden reservoir.” of doing so. f you’re looking to add some novelty to your Pesach seder, why inspiring message of Jewish unity, solidarity, and a shared fate. “‘Am I my ‘brother’s not consider bringing Hitler’s Haggadah to your table? “One might think it’s tasteless to have chosen such a title, Raelene Tradonsky with keeper’? The reality is that if Before you express outrage, rest assured that the Nazi dictator but bear in mind that Hitler’s Haggadah wasn’t a traditional her sons and Cecil at her families are close and there’s a Ididn’t own or publish his own Haggadah. This unique volume Haggadah but more of a supplement, giving a rewritten take, a daughter’s Batmitzvah connection, then, yes.” named after him was in fact penned by a Jew, and while it may modern reading of the Magid section.” Anstey underwent not be a traditional Haggadah, it adds a meaningful dimension of Beyond that, the text is also a crucial window onto the oft numerous tests, and it salvation to the timeless account of Jewish redemption. neglected experience of North African Jewry during the war, emerged that “many of the Called Hitler’s Haggadah, this supplemental text has garnered addressing what Schnytzer calls a “black hole” of awareness. prerequisites aligned”. considerable attention in the press in recent years. It’s believed to According to the Jewish Museum of Berlin, Jews living in North She made plans to go have been written by a Jew called Nissim ben Shimon, also called Africa were constantly threatened by the Germans during the to Israel to undergo the Simon Coiffeur (Simon hairdresser) in French on the book’s cover, in North African campaign from 1940 to 1943. In the German- procedure with her brother. Rabat, Morocco, in about 1943. It followed the 1942 Allied invasion, allied French colonies of the Vichy regime, racial laws and forced The operation was a success. Operation Torch, that brought about an eventual Allied victory labour camps had already been established for the Jewish She remembers how after against the Axis powers in French North Africa. population. the operation, the hospital In a novel spin on the Pesach story, the text recounts the events Moreover, Nazi forces occupied Tunis for a time, wanted their families to be of that invasion, and frames them within the familiar narrative. establishing labour camps in which Jews perished from “This is the secret of Miriam. Even when involved in the recovery; so with two extra Writing under what is probably a pseudonym, the author presents disease and lack of food. Morocco, too, faced the grim reality the situation is dire and the earth parched, mattresses, she and her brother, along with a wartime Pesach narrative in Judeo-Arabic, inserting large pieces of anti-Jewish laws and ghetto confinement in some cases. she is able to send a bucket, a cord into his son and her husband, all stayed in the of the original Haggadah text while injecting certain novelties into Fortunately, the tables were turned by the Allied victory, a the deep wells of her soul, her emunah, ward together. the narrative. miracle and inspiration for the Haggadah’s author. her invigorating hope and capacity to see Since then, her brother’s health has “He does actually what the sages have told us for generation “It’s important for each of us to understand the narratives beyond the immediate constraints to a improved remarkably. “He started on about upon generation: to see and stories of different future.” 30 to 35 pills a day. Now he visits for check- ourselves as if we are part of groups, and ideally, for it To Dr Franklin Kessler, his sister, Vivian ups once a year, and is fully back to work. It’s the exodus,” Jonnie Schnytzer, to become part of how we Anstey, is the embodiment of a modern-day an absolute blessing.” a PhD candidate at Bar-Ilan see ourselves as Jews,” Miriam. Six years ago, she donated her For Kessler, Vivian is the core of this University, reportedly told Schnytzer reportedly told kidney to him. blessing. American Jewish news outlet, The Forward. “My sister and I were very close from early “I feel like I’m carrying with me a part of The Forward, earlier this month. “There’s an incredible on. So, when she decided that she wanted to an angel that is my sister. That sums up every Schnytzer discovered the message here, an donate one of her kidneys to me to improve aspect of her character and her giving nature. text in 2019, and has since inspirational message of my quality of life – actually to save my life – I’m thankful to her, and full of love for her,” worked on translating and Jewish Museum of Berlin Photo: Jewish solidarity, because that relationship became even closer.” he says. adapting it for re-publication he’s a Jew living in Rabat, Anstey, too, remembers a close childhood, Refecting on the Torah lessons drawn this year under the title, The in North Africa, and yet he’s growing up together in Bellville, Cape Town, from Miriam’s life, Taback says, “Miriam Hitler Haggadah: A Moroccan worried about what’s going Hitler’s Haggadah with Kessler, who is three years older than teaches us to have an expansive perspective: Jew’s Wartime Retelling of the on with his brethren in her. a big mind and a big heart. Although her Passover Story. Germany, in Poland.” Even when he made aliyah about 30 name comes from the Hebrew root letters for “[The author] suddenly sees ‘wow this is happening today’,” Thanks to Schnytzer’s efforts, the text has become widely years ago, they remained Schnytzer says. “The Allied forces, instead of G-d, are the ones that available internationally, featuring unique artwork and strongly connected and in bring plagues upon Hitler, instead of Pharaoh. He’s retelling a story, an accessible translation. The project was initially backed constant contact as her brother the story of his generation, which is the Allied forces beating Hitler and funded on the Headstart funding platform, but is now continued to experience and Mussolini.” available for purchase on Amazon. kidney deterioration. While the text’s format is familiar, names and locations are often “When I first read Hitler’s Haggadah, I fell in love with Then a few years ago, he altered, with Rabbi Joseph Stalin asking how Berlin suffered 10 the work,” Schnytzer writes on the Headstart page. “Not only told her that his condition plagues and Hamburg a whopping 50; the Royal Airforce named because of its charm, but also because it opened a window had reached the point that he as a plague; and Mussolini cast as the son who doesn’t know how into a whole new world for me, another piece of the diverse would have to go on dialysis or to ask. mosaic called the Jewish people. fnd a donor. The Axis forces are treated similarly in the text, which poses the “Hitler’s Haggadah, in spite of its name, is an opportunity Although he didn’t ask for question: “This Italy that we are fghting, for what reason?” It goes to catch a glimpse into the part of the narrative of North her help, Anstey decided that on to explain, “Because of Mussolini, who stuck to Hitler, saying, ‘Be African Jewry, precisely on a night whose sole purpose is to that she would research the careful not to betray me.’ And He brought upon them Montgomery, tell the story of our people – a people originally from one possibility of being a match. Cecil Shapiro and their dough didn’t even have time to turn into macaroni. And place, in time scattered across the globe and now, many “In retrospect, I realise that then the Eighth Army appeared, and they immediately fed.” generations later, which has a homeland once more.” even entertaining the idea clinched the deal the word ‘bitter’, this is in fact a celebration Comically, the writer adds that “they baked the dough and made right there,” Anstey says. of her attribute to turn the bitterest of times spaghetti. When they kicked them out of Egypt, and they didn’t • ‘The Hitler Haggadah’ can be bought on Amazon at A turning point in understanding this into those of hope, knowing that through the have time to shape [the dough]. Nor did they even have time to https://www.amazon.com/Hitler-Haggadah-Moroccan-Retelling- was when she had a conversation with a powers of compassion and faith, all in fact fast.” Passover/dp/1951324013 lior suchard ya_jewish report_.indd 1 2021/03/23 15:43:03 CHAG SAMEACH From

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A MEMBER OF THE LONG4LIFE GROUP 26 March – 9 April 2021 Pesach SA JEWISH REPORT 21 Following in the footsteps of children OPINION RABBI YOSSI CHAIKIN ne seder practice has always held a special anywhere, and that one must daven at home, alone, home. grandparents interact, the former mystique for me. It’s the point when Prophet when it isn’t possible to do so in shul. So, I will turn to Elijah the prophet, always referred to asking the questions and the latter Elijah’s cup is flled and the door is opened to It seems our argument was convincing – too in the Talmud as the one who will resolve an issue when responding, passing over the torch of Owelcome him. persuasive in fact. Hence, though places of worship are an impasse is reached and no halachic conclusion is the fundamentals of our faith. It’s also why a special seat As a very young child, the challenge was to stay now allowed to be open, our attendance is nowhere near possible. is provided for Elijah at circumcision ceremonies, so that awake until that late hour to witness the arrival of the pre-April 2020. This Shabbat in shul, on the eve of Passover, we read he can be there as a new generation is inducted into the special visitor. As I got older, I hoped to be chosen to go We have tried in every way to draw our people back, in the Haftorah the very fnal of all prophecies. It’s drawn faith of the fathers. to the front door, candle in hand, and stand sentry until through public announcements and private pleas, but from the last of all Books of the Prophets, Malachi, and I have a suspicion that this is the answer Prophet Elijah instructed to close and return to the table. we still have a long way to go. We can preach again refers to Yom Hagadol (the big day) of the fnal messianic will give to my burning question. He will tell me that we Equally exciting, however, was to remain seated and and again about the value of communal prayer over redemption, one reason why this Shabbat is known as must invest in our children, and draw them to shul with watch the level of the wine dip imperceptibly (in fact individual prayer. We can repeat that our shuls have Shabbat Hagadol. innovative and exciting activities. totally imperceptibly), convincing myself I had actually set up strict health guidelines – beyond what the law And what are the last words of the last prophecy of all? “Involve the youth in the services, call them up to seen Elijah drink some of the liquid. mandates. But, people have learnt to enjoy praying at “Behold, I send you Elijah the prophet, ahead of the big the Torah, let them open the Ark, chant Haftorahs, sing This year, I will be looking to Elijah to answer a day. He will turn the hearts of parents by means of their Anim Zmirot,” he will say. This will bring their parents question that has been weighing heavily on my mind: children and the hearts of children by means of their and grandparents to listen to them quicker than any how do I get my community back into shul one year “Involve the youth in parents.” beautifully crafted, compelling sermon, a chazzan with down the line? Before the dawning of the messianic era, the an amazing voice, or a melodious choir. It has been a long and hard year. For everyone. the services, call them generation gap will have to close and Elijah’s job will be Kinderlach, come to shul this Pesach! Grab your For rabbonim, it has been about ministering to our up to the Torah, let just that, to ensure that the hearts of children and parents parents by the hand, stop off on the way to collect your communities with shuls closed by law, or health are at one. This is why this prophet is invited as guest of grandparents. Elijah is watching! We want him now. concerns, for more than half of the past 12 months. them open the Ark, honour on the night of Pesach, so that he can watch frst- To our distressed congregants, eager to gather chant Haftorahs, sing hand the cross-generational experience of the handing • Rabbi Yossi Chaikin is the rabbi of the Oxford in prayer during these diffcult times, we patiently over of tradition. Synagogue Centre, and the chairman of the South explained that G-d listens to our entreaties from Anim Zmirot.” This is the night when children, parents, and African Rabbinical Association. Breathing new life into an ancient Pesach ritual OPINION RABBI DR RAPHAEL ZARUM

s a child, the seder is about staying up really (and adults) may drop off for a surreptitious nap and then Melech Mitzrayim (King of Egypt). hieroglyphics. Google Images late, but for many adults, it’s about how re-engage later without disturbance. Though some archaeologists question the historicity will lead you to numerous online quickly you can get to bed. Youthful wonder Pesach is zman cherutainu (the moment of our of the exodus, many are persuaded by a whole host of pictures which you could print. Essential is a bust of isA gradually replaced by disenchanted parenthood, and freedom), and that freedom is symbolised by reclining. data that suggests that the Pharaoh who enslaved us was Ramesses II which, along with many other Bible-related every year it can get harder to be inspired by the same We are encouraged to ditch the formality of the dinner Sethos I, and that it was his son, Ramesses II (1290-1224 treasures, is on the British Museum website. old story. table and take a more relaxed approach, at ease with BCE), who wouldn’t let our people go. Or you could create an “edible Egypt” scene as a Trying something new can get dampened by the ourselves, comfortable with being Jewish. For instance, there is the Stele of Merneptah, who was feature on your table. Pat some charoset into pyramid weight of family tradition – “we’ve always done it this Ramesses II’s successor, now in the Cairo Museum, made shapes; palm trees of parsley or spring onions (bathe way” – but I think we all want our home recital of the 2. Dip all night long up of a 28-line hieroglyphic text which concludes with the them in water and their ends will curl); and sand dunes of Haggadah to be a more memorable experience provided Early in the proceedings, we dip the karpas vegetable triumphant poem, “Plundered is the Canaan with every matzah meal or desiccated coconut. we don’t overly extend it. in saltwater and make the blessing. Following many All this isn’t to glorify ancient Egyptian culture, but to Too much discussion invariably frustrates the one or rabbinic opinions, this tantalising little appetiser is all we bring to life the story of the exodus and give realism and two who constantly ask, “When are we going to eat?” eat until the matzah than opens the meal. However, some texture to your seder. But all is not lost! Here are four (for Pesach, it has to have the ancient custom of eating crudités, with a whole be four) creative ideas to spice up your seder without host of different tangy dips, throughout the reciting of 4. Let freedom talk lead to action overstretching it. They will take a little pre-Pesach the Haggadah, not so much to ruin your appetite for the Why, asks Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks in his Haggadah, do preparation, but might be more satisfying than cleaning meal, but enough to stop you yearning for it. we begin the night with the invitation, “This is the bread out yet another rarely used cupboard that never had You could also give sweet treats to the children as a [matzah] of affiction … Let all that are hungry come and chametz anywhere near it in the frst place. reward for a word-perfect Ma Nishtana, asking their own eat?” Matzah, he says, also symbolises freedom, and questions, or correctly answering some simple Pesach- the matzah of affiction is transformed to the matzah of 1. Have a sofa seder related teasers you have thought up. Vegetables and freedom only by “the willingness to share it with others. Why sit at the dining room table for fve hours while not sweets are foods that don’t require grace after meals Sharing food is the frst act through which slaves become dining? It gets uncomfortable, and children fdget then (benching), so they are fne to eat before the meal, free human beings. In reaching out to others, we bring droop. So why not do your seder in the lounge, and then although it’s best to add the boreh nefashot (after-food freedom into the world.” move to the table for the meal? Our family have had sofa blessing) if you do. So let your discussion about freedom at the seder seders for many years, and it has had a transformative evil; carried off is Ashkelon; seized is Gezer… Israel is laid prompt action. Encourage everyone around the table to effect. Pillows and throws ensure everyone is comfortable; 3. Create an Egyptian feel waste, his seed is not...” Canaan, Ashkelon, and Gezer are commit to doing some acts of tzedakah (charity) or chesed side tables can be used to hold wine glasses and bottles; “We were slaves to Par’oh [Pharaoh] in Egypt …” written with the determinatives for “land” whereas Israel (kindness). Freedom is truly tasted only when we act upon and your coffee table can become the centre-piece seder (Deuteronomy 6:21) quotes the Haggadah. But which has the determinative for “people”. In Exploring Exodus, it rather than just talk about it. Then the lessons of seder plate. Pharaoh and when? According to TC Mitchell’s Nachum Sarna writes that this is “the frst mention of the night really will take us beyond that night, to freedom The Ma Nishtana ends with the words, “but on this The Bible in the British Museum, the “Hebrew Par’oh is people of Israel to be found in any extrabiblical source, for all. night we recline”. The Talmud (Pesachim 108a) tells us derived from Egyptian ‘pr-’ [great house] which was used and the only one, so far, to occur in any Egyptian text”. that lying on your back is going too far, but surely a soft from at least the 14th century BC to refer to the king.” So So why not adorn your seder with Egyptian imagery? • Rabbi Dr Raphael Zarum is dean of the London School of sofa is more in the spirit than an upright chair? Children the Torah uses the authentic Egyptian term and not just Pyramids, statues, ancient temples, maps, and Jewish Studies. www.lsjs.ac.uk THIS TOO SHALL AND WHEN IT IS

WHAT WILL MATTER MOST IS HOW WE TREATED EACH OTHER Help Jewish families in need this Pesach www.jhbchev.co.za 22 SA JEWISH REPORT Pesach 26 March – 9 April 2021 The wheels of the bus OPINION REBBETZIN AIDEL KAZILSKY

’m sure many of you remember the childhood about returning the world back to a G-dly existence, We’ve just closed a wheel – the month of Adar – a shackles of self-imprisonment and song, “The wheels of the bus go round and it’s also about returning ourselves to who we really time for joy when we were taught to serve G-d from a reuniting ourselves with our true round, round and round”? It’s one of my favourite are – a chelek elokai mima’al mamosh (a veritable part space of positivity and gratitude. Each day, we tried to existence – a connection to G-d and his world. Itunes, and I still sing it with my grandchildren. It of the divine). look at this world through a positive lens and see how This past year, more so than other years, we have has the beat of repetition. Its tune elicits a sense So, our motion on earth is cyclical – we measure G-d does good and bestows so much blessing in our been in bondage, physically and socially distanced, of predictability, a trust that, come what may, the our progress at every birthday. How did we grow, life. Simply put, we were challenged to practice the quarantined, and isolated. It’s undeniable that “wheels will go round and round, the door will open what did we become? What did we achieve? We also art of focusing on the glass half full not half empty. Mrs COVID-19 has been a very harsh taskmaster and shut, and the bus driver will say, ‘Move along, experience it at every Jewish holiday. Every year, we And now that this wheel has closed its cycle and we to us all. But at the same time, we have started to please’”. I smile because isn’t this a song about revisit the same time and space, the same energy, have internalised that lesson, we enter the month of taste a deeper, truer level of freedom. We have been life? In fact, the analogy is Nissan and the energy of freedom challenged to throw off the shackles of peer pressure, unbelievably relevant. beckons to be discovered. Now is the of keeping up with the Joneses, or was it the Cohens? While most of us time to work on freeing ourselves We have been pushed to look inside and ask very perceive that our life is from the shackles of our idol real and relevant questions about our purpose, who linear, that we start off worship. No, no. I’m not delusional we are, and why are we here. We’ve questioned our in one place and land in in thinking we live in biblical times lifestyles, our modes of work, the style of education another, in truth, it has a and are bowing down to molten, we offer our kids, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. more cyclical quality to graven images! You see, we have This year, our bus certainly went on a detour into it. We are born and then even cycled through the annals of uncharted territory, but the journey showed us that we die, we come into history. We now have developed there is more to life than wandering around aimlessly this world, and then we into “sophisticated”, 21st-century accumulating things and living empty lives. The leave, and in between idol worshippers – we worship bus driver on high is chiding us with a “move along that space of 120 years, we fashion, status, money, and the please, move along please”. No, we are not going back cycle through life events. pursuit of honour. We worship to “normal!” Let’s seize the energy of redemption, More so, Judaism strongly our egos, our selfsh inclinations, and start living redeemed! Let’s reconnect to our believes in reincarnation, and the incessant need to be original selves, take on a good resolution in the and so we cycle in and something. realm of spirituality, another small mitzvah which out of lives too. What is the Comes the month of Nissan when we celebrate our will add to the goodness and kindness the world so purpose of the wheel going round and round? Some and we ask ourselves, did I take the yom tov message nation’s release from the shackles of Pharaoh, and we desperately needs. You’ll then be able to start seeing might even ask: is there a purpose? to heart, and did I grow? Did I change myself, and did are challenged to get out of our personal Egypt, to the enormous change this life cycle has brought, Chassidic philosophy teaches us that we come I effect my sphere of infuence? move beyond that which is shackling and holding us and you’ll be on the bus that will bring this world into the world to make a dwelling place for G-d Even more, this experience isn’t a solo one, it’s a back from who we can truly be. to its fnal destination, with the arrival of moshiach – meaning that we transition through this crass, collaboration of many people, places, and times. We The one – most important – key, though, is to and a world flled with health, happiness, peace, and materialistic world in order to fnd the sparks of aren’t alone when we board the bus. There are many understand that true freedom doesn’t mean an prosperity. Wishing you all a redemptive Pesach and a G-dliness embedded in it and release them back to passengers, each on their own ride, going to a place abrogation of your responsibilities. It sadly doesn’t chag sameach. their source. We are miners, so to speak, on a mission. unique to them. Remember – “The babies on the bus mean just lying on a beach with a pina colada Our lives on this planet are transient, we’re merely go ‘waa waa waa’, the mommies on the bus go ‘shh watching as the world goes by (though it sounds • Rebbetzin Aidel Kazilsky is a radio and television passing through. But in that journey, we seek to fnd shh shh’.” What’s important, though, is that they are unbelievably tempting when contemplating the host, and an inspirational speaker who teaches the that which is eternal, that which has lost its way, and all on the same bus, and for everyone, the wheels of cooking and cleaning we need to do before the wisdom of Torah and applies it to contemporary return it back to its rightful owner – G-d. It’s not only the bus go round and round. holiday starts). True freedom is throwing off the times. The audacity of hope in 2021 OPINION ADINA ROTH

e will soon be singing the songs of Hallel at the dark. Tere is hope on the horizon. Te vaccine has arrived. to reflect not only on what is, but what could Passover seder. Although we sing Hallel many It’s being administered around the world and in South Africa. be. Te men might have felt undermined, times in the year, the line from Psalm 118 will People are chanting prayers of gratitude. oppressed, and despondent. But the play of reflecting and holdW particular resonance, “Min heMeitzar karati, Anani Just this past week, I went to buy groceries and an elderly reflection in these mirrors reminded them of the selves they bamerchavya” (From the narrow place, I called out to G-d, G-d woman wearing a mask made a joke to me as I passed by. I were and they might become. Perhaps the width of expanse answered me with expanse). looked at her with appreciation and awe to be able to connect begins not with G-d saving us in an outright gesture of Te resonance of this line for Passover is that Mitzrayim with older people again, to have moments of togetherness. redemption, but with our persistent and audacious hope. (Egypt) shares the same linguistic root as Meitzar (the Writer Mari Andrew characterises it well when she says, Just before Pesach 1939, on the eve of World War II, the narrow place). On Pesach, when we sing: “Egypt our place ‘’For now I want to embrace this finicky in-between season Hassidic Rebbe Kalnymus Kalman Shapira (writer of the Esh of slavery and the experience of constriction are one”, it when one day feels like a setback and the next feels like a Kodesh) wrote a letter to his community. He had exhorted seems as if freedom occurs dramatically and suddenly. We cry leap forward. Growth and decay, hand-in-hand, with delicate them to leave Poland but as the year rolled on, it became out to G-d from places of tightness, and G-d answers with flowers on the path.” almost impossible for many to leave. In this letter, knowing expansion, we are free. that the reality ahead for his people was grim and Tis might be how we tell the exodus story that evil huddled at the door, he instructed his thousands of years later. However, if we study followers to be joyous on Pesach. the story of exodus, we can see that it was a case He wrote, “Your joy should so exalted that you of stops and starts until we actually arrived at feel that you can barely hold yourself back from freedom. breaking into an ecstatic dance, leaping from the From the first time that G-d announced to Moses earth to the heavens. When you sit at the seder that he would respond to the cries of the Israelites table, you imagine yourself sitting down to a until we finally sang the Song of the Sea was a long festive meal in Gan Eden itself, participating in the road filled with ten plagues, increased suffering, celebration of the final redemption.” and glimmers of hope, an interplay of light and It’s not my intention to compare the hardships dark. of our pandemic to the monstrous atrocities of the Tis year marks exactly a year since South Africa Holocaust. But I’m struck by the rebbe’s radical went into its first hard lockdown. Indeed, it was resistance to despair. He knew what his people announced a week before Passover. By Pesach, faced, yet he invited them to feel joy on Pesach our entire world had changed. We had entered the night. It’s deeply moving! narrow place. Tis year, we are still betwixt and between. We Some of us had a seder alone, others were aren’t yet freed from our experience of the narrow fortunate to have immediate family. Yet, we all felt the pain of How do we “do” in-between? In the deepest time of despair place. Yet, how we long for it! We can sense its possibility. being isolated from the ones we loved dearly and we were all in the exodus story, the Midrash tells us that the men lost We may still have to deal with the ups and downs of confronted by the terror of not knowing how the fabric of our their desire to procreate. But the women resisted. Tey would this time. But on Pesach night, the Esh Kodesh invites known lives would be touched by the virus. go down to where the men worked. Ten they would take out us to become radical imagineers of possibility. We have a As we contemplated our own fate, we realised that this their copper mirrors and look into them with their husbands. responsibility to hold up the copper mirrors of the Israelite, would have devastating consequences for the most vulnerable She would say, “I am more attractive than you,” and he would and remind ourselves and each other of the expanse, the in our societies. say, “No, I am more attractive than you.” In this playful possibility of lives fully lived. One year later, many of us have lost beloveds. Many have manner, the women would awaken desire in their husbands, For seder night, we enter into joy and sing our redemption lost their livelihoods. Te inequalities in our society have and procreation resumed. song. Te time is a coming. deepened, and we shall have to work with this trauma for Clinical psychologist Leanne Zabow suggests that this years to come. idea of looking into mirrors is about re-awakening and re- • Adina Roth is a clinical psychologist in private practice, and a At the same time, we are now in an interplay of light and constellating the idea of potential. Mirrors became a portal teacher of Jewish Studies. C H A G S A M E A C H F R O M O U R F A M I L Y T O Y O U R S

S H O P I N S T O R E O R O N L I N E W W W . B E D B A T H H O M E . C O . Z A 24 SA JEWISH REPORT Pesach 26 March – 9 April 2021 Not just a story, but a healing journey TALI FEINBERG like the rhythm of beautiful music that can upside down, but our stories are the same. takes us to another ‘planet’ of experience.” put you in an hypnotic state. It helps us to Tis continuity is very important.” Clinical psychologist Sarit Swisa says, arrating the tale of the exodus from transcend the moment and ‘live’ in that space. Professor Joseph (Yossi) Turner, a lecturer “Te maror, the matzah, the symbols aren’t the Haggadah at the Passover table is Tis is why it’s so engaging year after year, in Jewish Tought at the Schechter Institute gimmicks, they give us empathy for what at its essence a ritual of storytelling, and we want to know what happens next, as of Jewish Studies, takes this point even our ancestors endured. It also changes our Nwhich psychologists say can be a force for if hearing it for the first time.” further. “Te continuity of Jewish existence picture of what liberation is – we leave, but healing, continuity, and sustainability Looking at storytelling as a foundation of a is dependent upon the success of Jewish it’s not over. Becoming free isn’t just the act especially during difficult times. nation or family, Bushkin says such “founding parents in every generation to convey the of leaving a confined space, so much more “Te motif of sitting around the fire narratives” are “are an anchor point to hold story of its past to its children. Should it ever healing needs to happen. By telling the story, while the leader of the group tells a story to onto. Tere is something very powerful in happen that the parents no longer have a we continue the healing.” children and adults has deep psychological a ritual that’s so familiar and predictable. It story to tell; or if the children are no longer “One of things we do in working with value,” says psychologist Hanan Bushkin, the creates a sense of security.” interested in hearing the story of their past, trauma,” Swisa says, “is to try to get the owner of the Anxiety and Trauma Clinic. Tinking about how Jews went to great the existence of the Jewish people will then person to hold in their mind the image or “Hearing stories allows people to attach lengths to have seders while suffering come to an end,” he writes. memory of what happened, while being fully themselves to mythical journeys, something focused on the present. Tat helps you to we are all hungry for. People have always heal because it makes you realise that it’s gravitated towards storytellers. Even if we’ve a memory and you won’t forget it, but you heard it a million times, we want to hear have moved on from there. Tere’s something it again. Te predictability of a beginning, beautiful about the duality of holding in mind middle, and end can give a sense of healing the memory of where we’ve come from, but and closure.” knowing where we are now.” At Pesach, we not only tell the story, Bushkin notes that the vital role children we put ourselves in the story, essentially play in the seder is a crucial part of passing bending time and space. Bushkin says this is a the story down from generation to generation. powerful tool. “Tey aren’t the audience, they are part of “By doing this, the story becomes a the show. In fact, they have a leading role. It’s metaphor for our own lives. As we live out also wonderful that this is an opportunity stories of wandering and coming home, for an 85-year-old and a five-year-old to talk we can relate in a very real way to getting about the same story. It transcends age, life through obstacles, the hope of making it experience, and temperament. Having the to where we want to be, and the resolution persecution, he says it was “something Bushkin explains that attaching objects opportunity to ‘walk the journey’ together is that it’s going to be okay. Tere’s something unwavering that could be held onto. In the or foods to the story, in the way we do with so rare in our modern lives.” magical about putting yourself in the role of same way, wherever we are in the world, at the seder plate, is also a powerful means of While it has been a traumatic year, Bushkin the characters so that your own individuality any time in our lives, we can tell the story. transcending the moment and immersing says Pesach can help us to “transcend the resonates with them. Tis is unifying and comforting, tying us to ourselves in the origins of the story. “To hold moment” and “reflect on a different reality of “Human beings are order and pattern- klal Yisrael. We realise we aren’t alone, even at something like matzah, the same object that hope, identity, and belonging. While the ‘here seeking machines,” Bushkin says. “Te seder times like this, under lockdown.” was held thousands of years ago when the and now’ might be painful, the story shows is full of order and structure, with the same While Pesach may look different this year, story played out, is incredible. Tying taste to we won’t be stuck here forever, and we are all pattern repeated year after year. It’s almost Bushkin emphasises that “our world may be the story, and using all our senses, almost connected to one another,” he says. A time to de-chametz our lives GILLIAN KLAWANSKY United States shortly before the COVID-19 crisis made such rid of, and whether to sell or donate items. endeavours impossible to train with Kondo and her team. “If something doesn’t bring you joy, don’t feel guilty about hat do chametz, COVID-19, and Netflix tidying Kondo’s method of tidying is rooted in the idea of keeping it, just say goodbye to it with gratitude,” suggests Mendelow. guru Marie Kondo have in common? Tey’re all only items that “spark joy”. Tis idea is the final element of Be mindful of how it once served you, but recognise that it contributing to the current cleaning craze. As we her six steps to decluttering. Tese steps include committing no longer has a purpose in your life. By being honest about combW our houses for chametz, it’s the perfect time to sweep to the process; cleaning by category and not by location, for whether the things you’re holding onto are bringing value away our physical and psychological clutter. example, organising the books in every room; and discarding and upliftment to your life, you free yourself from the weight Not just the season of our freedom, Pesach is also items first and then organising what’s left. of unneeded possessions. (unofficially) the festival of cleaning. Not only do we rid our Everything, be it toys or foodstuffs, is then arranged While it’s homes of chametz, but the word “seder” literally translates as into categories, the root of efficient tidying. “Everything rooted in a “Decluttering and order. “Cleaning for Pesach is a good springboard for looking goes back in its place and has a place to go back to,” says practical discarding objects creates at all the aspects of your home,” says Leanne Mendelow, a Mendelow. Tat’s what makes the method so sustainable. prohibition, space, induces the letting cleaning expert who is one of the first certified KonMari™ Tere are no more family arguments over where things go or clearing the consultants in Africa. stress about lost items. Tere’s a sense of peace that chametz in your go process, and brings a “When one starts a project like the cleaning comes with instilling order in your home. home before sense of freedom of chametz, it sparks an excitement to carry “Cleaning up has been proven to make Pesach also has and openness for on and get one’s home in order,” says you feel lighter and calmer,” Cohen says. psychological and decluttering and home-organisation Ultimately, it’s about what suits your spiritual implications. what comes next.” expert Mandy Cohen. specific needs. “I don’t use a ‘one-size- It inevitably brings us closer Pesach cleaning offers an fits-all‘ approach when it comes to to G-d and to our purpose in life. “Chametz – in comparison opportunity to give every room a Mandy organisation. I customise a system to matzah – represents the ego, the inflated ‘I’, the sins and spring clean, bringing order to our lives Cohen that will work for each individual, wrongdoings that I tend to commit because of my sense of and freeing up space for us to focus on which should help them keep their entitlement, self-dependence, and so on,” says Rabbi Yehuda the things that really matter. spaces organised,” she says. Stern of Sydenham Shul. It’s not only Pesach that’s made “When I start the decluttering “Today, we aren’t living in Egypt, but we all still experience a cleaning up a hot topic. Largely confined process, I always ask my sense of slavery and addiction to elements, character traits, and to our four walls during the various levels client which room in the social pressure that we know is not ‘us’,” he says. “Every year, as of lockdown, we’ve also faced unprecedented home is causing the we clear out the chametz, we are able to release ourselves again uncertainty during COVID-19. Tat’s why many of most distress. Tat’s from the negativity it represents, and to return to our true us have tried to create order inside our homes as the where the cleaning selves which will be free to behave as we choose based on the world outside seemingly spins off its axis. up begins. It’s rarely morals and values that Judaism teaches us. “Cleaning during COVID-19 has allowed us a simple process. “Te theme of Pesach centres on the ideas of spiritual to relieve anxiety by taking action,” says clinical Whether or not freedom, overcoming personal limitations, and ridding psychologist Amanda Fortes. “Tis makes us feel like you’re a hoarder, our homes of chametz,” says Fortes. “Tese ideas have so we’re doing something about the problem. It gives us you’d be forgiven for many connections to the psychological concept of letting a sense of being in control of a situation over which we Leanne feeling a good dose of go. For many of us, bondage represents the mental and have none.” Although we can’t control COVID-19, we can Mendelow Jewish guilt for getting emotional ties to the past from which we long to break free. control the mess. And there are numerous experts who can rid of your things, whether Decluttering and discarding outdated objects creates space, help us to do so. they be clothes, kitchenware, induces the letting go process, and brings a sense of freedom “Turning chaos into calm has always been a passion of or sentimental items.” and openness for what comes next.” mine,” says Mendelow. When she discovered renowned Trowing items away involves a heavy dose of decision- By ridding ourselves of the vanity chametz presents, and by Japanese organising consultant and author Kondo’s Netflix making, which can be daunting, says Cohen. “Uncertainty letting go of the clutter in our homes and by extension, our show, Tidying Up With Marie Kondo, Mendelow decided to makes us keep things that in all probability we won’t use or lives, we attain the kind of freedom that cannot be confined channel her passion into a business. She travelled to the need in the future.” She guides clients in deciding what to get by anything – even a pandemic. A BIT OF FREEDOM IS ALL YOU NEED CHAG SAMEACH TO ALL THOSE CELEBRATING PESACH!

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CALL 011 784 8551 · SHOP ONLINE AT SCOINSHOP.COM · T’S & C’S APPLY 26 SA JEWISH REPORT Pesach 26 March – 9 April 2021 Dreaming of a gorgeous, traditional seder Uncertainty about what Pesach entertaining holds for us this year has detracted from my normal plan-400-weeks-in-advance personality type. Last year, it was pretty much “let’s all wear pyjamas to the seder, and sit in the kitchen”. However, this year, there is a longing within me for a gorgeous, traditional seder with a tablescape to match. Perhaps it’s this nostalgia which has resulted in me hauling out all my bobbas’ recipes. It’s important to remember that there were no metric measurements in those days, so use your intuition. Taste for seasoning, and add extra matzo meal to the gremzlach if they feel too soft.

LAUREN BOOLKIN • 1 Tbsp salt You will probably need to add extra matzo meal in meat in the centre, and wrap the potato around • ½ tsp white pepper small increments. the meat. Place on the waiting baking sheet and Gremzlach to eat with your chicken soup • 6 jumbo eggs With wet hands, place about half a cup of the continue. I mince the meat from my soup to use in the mixture in the palm of your hands and flatten to Bake for 40 minutes until golden, flipping over gremzlach. Mincemeat is a good second choice. Method about 2cm thick. Place a heaped teaspoon of your when the bottoms are brown. Ask your butcher to mince round bolo. It works Soften the chopped onion and carrot in the oil particularly well. These freeze well, and are lovely until it is translucent. Add the mincemeat and to keep for an emergency Pesach meal. brown gently. Add the salt and pepper and taste (Makes 16) for seasoning. Set aside to cool. Preheat your oven to 200 degrees. Line three Ingredients for the meat quarter baking sheets with baking paper, and • 500g mincemeat grease lightly with sunflower oil. In a large bowl, • ½ onion chopped place your lightly beaten eggs, matzo meal, • 1 carrot chopped schmaltz, salt, and pepper. Working quickly, whizz • 3 Tbsp sunflower oil your potato and onion in the food processor until • 1 tsp salt chopped. Do this in batches. Transfer the mixture • ¼ tsp pepper to a strainer and over a basin, squeeze the water

Gremzlach to eat with your chicken soup Potato and leek kugel

Potato and leek kugel Heat two tablespoons of oil in a large pan. Add (serves 8) the leeks, and season with a pinch of salt and a It’s important to read the entire recipe first as quarter teaspoon of pepper. When the leeks are some of the ingredients get divided. You may soft, add the crushed clove of garlic. Remove from want to do this before starting. Double it if you the heat, and allow to cool. want it to fit your rectangular casserole dishes. Place the casserole dish in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Ingredients Meanwhile whizz seven of the potatoes and • 9 potatoes peeled (2 kg) the one onion in the food processor. Squeeze the Ingredients for the potato crust out of the potatoes. Tip the squished potatoes • 3 medium leeks (cut off dark green part) / water out in a strainer. Stir in the leeks, garlic, • 15 potatoes roughly quartered. into the waiting mixture. Continue until all the ½ packet checked leeks from Freshfellas eggs, one tablespoon oil, thyme, one teaspoon • 1 onion cut in quarters potatoes have been added to the mixture. Mix • 7 Tbsp oil salt, and the pepper. • 1 packet of Rakusen’s matzo meal (about 375g) well, and taste your potato batter for firmness and • 1 onion Thinly slice the remaining two potatoes and toss • ½ tub schmaltz saltiness. Be brave, it’s just raw potato and egg! • 2 jumbo eggs with the remaining one tablespoon oil, pinch of • 1 Tbsp fresh thyme if you like it (we didn’t) salt, and quarter teaspoon pepper. • ¼ tsp pepper Carefully remove the casserole from the oven • 1 clove garlic crushed and transfer the potato-onion mixture to the dish. Layer the potato slices on top overlapping. Bake Method for one hour, and then turn your oven to grill Preheat the oven to 180 degrees, and place the and grill the top for a minute or two, watching tablespoons of oil in your casserole dish. carefully.

Chocolate pecan tart with lemon curd Spoon into the tin, and leave to stand for 30 topping minutes. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the top is The combination of chocolate, lemon, and berries glossy and lightly cracked. Cool and store. These is amazing! And, you get to use up the left-over also work magnificently as biscuits, just don’t bake egg yolks. Don’t forget to add the berries for as long. garnish to your ingredient list. Lemon curd Ingredients Double the quantity as leftovers are wonderful • 2¾ cups pecans to have in the fridge. It tastes wonderful with • 3 cups icing sugar chocolate cake, meringues, or even on its own. • ½ cup plus 3 Tbsp cocoa • ½ tsp kosher salt (not normal salt) Ingredients • 4 large egg whites (at room temperature) • 3 egg yolks • 1 Tbsp vanilla • Juice and rind of 2 lemons • 1 cup of sugar Chocolate pecan • Pinch of salt tart with lemon • 2 Tbsp curd topping potato flour • 1½ cups of boiling water

Method Mix the water, sugar, and potato flour. Beat the egg yolks with the lemon juice Method and lemon rind. Very slowly, add the water mixture Heat oven to 180 degrees. Toast the pecans for to the yolks so as not to curdle them. Transfer the nine minutes, and then roughly chop. mixture to a pot and cook on the stove until it Lower the temperature to 175 degrees, and line thickens. Cool in the fridge. a springform tin with baking paper. Whisk the sugar, cocoa, and salt followed by To assemble the chopped nuts. Increase the speed of the mixer Place the biscuit base on a cake stand. Just before and add the egg whites and vanilla. Just beat serving, top it with the lemon curd, mixed berries, long enough to moisten the dough. These are not and grated chocolate. You could do a double layer meringues. to add grandeur. 26 March – 9 April 2021 Pesach SA JEWISH REPORT 27 Pesach, sweet potatoes, and lots of love Romi Rabinowitz comes from a large, close Jewish family, and learned how to cook and entertain from her mom, mom-in-law, grannies, and aunties. Cooking and stylish presentation of food is very important to her, and brings her joy. Here are a few of her favourite recipes for Pesach.

Sweet-potato pizzas Sweet potato chips These sweet-potato pizzas are a These chips are just off wonderful, healthy substitute for pizza. the charts! Perfect as a They can be enjoyed the whole year, side, absolutely mouth- but are especially fabulous for Pesach if watering, and more-ish. you are craving the real thing. Using a mandolin Slice sweet potatoes very thinly, or sharp knife, thinly lengthwise, using a sharp knife or slice the sweet potatoes mandolin. Brush with olive oil, sprinkle using the long side of with salt, and pepper. the sweet potato to get Bake at 180 degrees centigrade until the length of the chip. slightly crispy. Drizzle with a little Remove them from the oven, olive oil, salt, and spoon over tomato puree (such as the pepper. Bake on a lined Tuscanini brand, which is kosher for baking tray at 180 Pesach) or marinara sauce. Sprinkle degrees centigrade with grated cheese and a shake of dried until crispy (you may basil. Add toppings of your choice such have to take out some as olives, red onions, or garlic. chips earlier and let Place back in the oven, and bake for others cook for longer). a few minutes until cheese is melted. Sweet-potato pizza Sweet potato chips

Chargrilled lemon and herb chicken • 2 cloves garlic I am one of four sisters, and my third sister, Steph, • 1/3 cup olive oil is generally my first phone call of the day (and • A good grind of salt and black pepper then about 10 times after that). Often, we speak all the way home from the early school lift, yet we Method never run out of things to say. There is something • Grate the zest of the lemons, and then squeeze truly unique about a sisterhood. It’s one of my the juice out. life’s treasures. Steph loves finding healthy, • In a Magimix or using a hand blender, blend wholesome recipes that are great for the whole herbs and garlic, half of the squeezed lemon family. She shared this absolute gem with me, juice, all the lemon zest, olive oil, salt, and and my family was also totally mad about it, as pepper. I’m sure yours will be too. • Pour the marinade over the chicken, and let marinade for about an hour. Ingredients • Heat a griddle pan on the stove, and grill the • 8 butterflied chicken-breast schnitzels schnitzels until chargrilled and cooked through. • 3 lemons Drizzle with the remaining lemon juice. • A handful of fresh basil • Serve with thinly sliced sweet potato chips Poached salmon • A handful of Italian flat leaf parsley (available at with citrus mayo (recipe to follow) and a crunchy, green salad. Woolies or Freshfellas) Delicious!

Poached salmon with citrus mayo Quinoa salad This is a perfect Pesach dish using fresh herbs and citrus to season and flavour. Is quinoa kosher for Pesach? Yes, it is! As I always say, this is how I like to cook all year round using fresh and healthy This lunch idea is quick and easy to prepare and delicious to eat. ingredients. This dish can be served warm or cold, and is great for a yom tov or Boil one cup of quinoa according to directions on the packet. Shabbos lunch. Dice: Ingredients • One English cucumber • 1 side of salmon, skin removed • 2/3 tomatoes • ½ cup white wine • 1 red onion • ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice • A handful of olives • Freshly ground salt and pepper • Add the above to the cooled quinoa. • 1 handful of chopped dill Crumble over feta cheese. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and the • 1 orange, 1 lemon, and 1 lime thinly sliced juice of two lemons. Season with ground salt and pepper to taste. Method This is also wonderful during the year, when I like to add sun-dried Place fish in a roasting pan, pour over white wine and orange juice. tomatoes in olive oil and toasted pine nuts. Cover the salmon with thin slices of orange, lemon, and lime. Sprinkle with chopped dill, ground salt, and pepper. Watermelon granita Preheat oven to 180 degrees Chargrilled lemon and herb chicken I love the watermelon at the moment, and this watermelon granita centigrade and bake for about is the perfect dessert to end off a heavy meal like a seder. I make 25 minutes. Watch that you this throughout the year, and it’s perfect for Pesach, with very simple don’t overcook your salmon. ingredients. Serve with a citrus mayo: •1/3 cup mayonnaise Ingredients • Zest of 1 lime •1/3 cup white sugar • Zest of half a lemon • ¾ cup of water • 1 tsp lemon juice • 2 Tbsp lemon juice • 1 tsp honey • 4 cups of chopped watermelon • Mix the above ingredients together, and serve with your Method salmon. Make a light syrup by boiling together the sugar and water for a few minutes until slightly thickened (not too long), then add your lemon juice. Allow to cool. Process the watermelon in your Magimix until smooth. Add to the cooled syrup and freeze in a shallow Tupperware. After a few hours – don’t wait until it’s too frozen – scrape with a fork to make a slushy mixture, and then place back in the freezer. Chag sameach and love! You can follow Romi on Instagram @eversolovelysa or on Facebook @Romi Rabinowitz 28 SA JEWISH REPORT Pesach 26 March – 9 April 2021 To master time is to be truly free OPINION RABBI LORD JONATHAN SACKS elebrating Passover, I’ve been reminded of a very odd feature of week has grown longer, not shorter. And with emails, the biblical story. texts, smartphones, and the like, we can be on call Jews read the books of Moses not just as history but as divine 24/7. In terms of stress and control over our time, are Ccommand. The question to which they are an answer is not, “What we freer than we were, or less so? My guess is, less so. happened?” but rather, “How, then, shall I live?” And it’s only with the Part of the beauty of Judaism, and surely this is so for other faiths also, exodus that the life of commands really begins. is that it gently restores control over time. Three times a day, we stop According to Jewish tradition, the frst command the Jewish people what we are doing, and turn to G-d in prayer. We recover perspective. We ever received was the line in Exodus 12: “This month is to be for you the inhale a deep breath of eternity. Nor do we rush our meals. Before eating, frst month.” We interpret this as the command to establish a calendar, and afterward, we say a blessing. That, too, allows us to focus attention on with its Sabbaths, holy days, and special seasons. simple pleasures, turning our daily bread into momentary epiphany. Let’s study this the way Jews do, which is by asking awkward Ask any time-management expert for the most important distinction, questions. Here is the obvious question. Why was this the frst and she is likely to answer: the difference between the important and command? The Israelites were still slaves in Egypt. They were longing for the merely urgent. Under pressure of time we tend to ignore the things freedom. They were about to begin the long journey across the desert. that are important but not urgent. That’s why the Sabbath is a life-saver. Why did they need a command about calendars and holy days? What has It’s time dedicated to the things that are important but not urgent, like a diary to do with liberty? eating together as a family or celebrating together as a community To this, one Jewish scholar offered a brilliant answer. What, he asked, is or simply giving thanks. These are the things that food a life with the difference between a free human being and a slave? We tend to think unexpected happiness. On the Sabbath – unless you are a rabbi – stress that it has to do with labour, toil, and effort. A slave works hard. A free has no chance at all. person doesn’t. But in actuality, some free people work very hard indeed, It turned out not to be the head of a large business, football manager, Religious ritual is a way of structuring time so that we, not employers, especially those who enjoy their work. or prime minister, but rather, a bus driver. In 2011, the list was headed the market, or the media, are in control. Life needs its pauses, its chapter The real difference, he said, lies in who has control over time. A free by airline pilots, fre-fghters, and taxi drivers. These are people always breaks, if the soul is to have space to breathe. Otherwise, we may not be human being works long hours because at some stage, he or she has struggling with time against factors not under their control. The least in Egypt, but we can still be slaves. chosen to. A slave has no choice, no control over time. That, he said, is stressful? Bookbinder. Binding books soothes the soul. why fxing a calendar was the frst command given to the Israelites. It was Without arguing the point in detail – we all think ours is the most • Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks served as the chief rabbi of the United as if G-d was saying to them: if you are to be free, the frst thing you must stressful occupation – it’s an insight we often overlook. When I was Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth from 1991 to 2013. learn to master is time. studying economics in the 1960s, the received wisdom was that with He was an international religious leader, philosopher, award-winning It’s a fascinating insight, and one that still seems to hold true. Some automation, we would all be working 20-hour weeks, and our biggest author, and respected moral voice. The article was taken from a years ago, there was a study to discover the most stressful occupation. problem would be what to do with all our leisure. In reality, the working collection of his writing before he died. The great marathon of destiny OPINION RAV ILAN HERRMANN

ne could fnd fewer more appropriate of love and adoration, and with offers of prestige crumbled, falling like a house of cards. marathon, as well as preparing the metaphors for the story of the Jewish and prominence. “Just leave the marathon, drop the From being an oppressed, broken, and trapped next generation to do their part. people than that of a long and rigorous baton, you’ll have it so good!” But the Jew waved bunch of slaves, this people was raised up by the To be clear though, the retelling of this event, Omarathon in which the baton is passed from runner them off, and said, “Thanks, but no thanks.” Hand of the almighty Himself, taken to Him to be which essentially summons the Jew to recognise his to runner as each generation concludes its distance And so, the saga continued for millennia, and a people, and elevated to the highest heavens to mission and destiny, cannot suffce with only annual and a new stretch begins. continues today. The baton hasn’t been dropped. become “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation”. gathering and telling. We are bidden to “remember The marathon of the Jewish people started 3 The Jew’s march to the fnish line is uninterrupted. Once a year, on the very same date that this the exodus from Egypt all the days of your life”. It’s 533 years ago, and is destined to continue onto the So, what’s the unique formula of the Jew that has birth into nationhood took place, the Jew sits down mentioned in our daily prayers. We also recite it fnish line – the coming of Moshiach. Then, great enabled this seemingly inexplicable outcome of and v’higadta l’vincha – he tells the story to his twice a day in the Shema, morning and night. rewards and accolades will be meted out for the endurance and continuity? children of how they became a people. He speaks The conscientious athlete knows that in order incredible feat of seeing through this longest and We will touch on one fundamental component – of the uniqueness of their marathon run, and the to challenge for victory – and especially if it’s the hardest marathon in all of history, and a new epoch Pesach. The birth of the Jewish people was unique imperative that the baton is never coveted championship race – he needs to be will begin. among nations in in prime condition and must keep focus and Scholars, historians, and philosophers commitment throughout. He cannot afford are all at a loss as to how to explain the to drop the baton on his watch. So, too, we continuity that is the marathon of the cannot rely only on an annual retelling of our Jewish people. They are baffed at how peoples’ founding and this incredible start extraordinary it is that the baton hasn’t been to the cosmic marathon. Rather, we need to dropped, and how the run through history “remember the exodus from Egypt all the continues. days of your life”. Even more remarkable is how at So as to the question, what’s the Jew’s intermittent stages in the race, other runners unique formula that has enabled this of supreme physique and athletic prowess seemingly inexplicable outcome of joined in the marathon and, bragging of endurance and continuity? One vital their might and muscle and domination component of it is, indeed, the Pesach of the track, drummed in the message that seder, but perhaps an even more important they would easily be the victors. Many of dropped. He tells component is carrying the seder and the message these tried forcibly to cut down the Jew and history. They came to be a people of how they were forged in the miraculous, and of this birth of our people into the year ahead so eliminate him from the marathon using all kinds of not of their own gathering and becoming, but were of their destiny being intertwined with the very that the stretch of the marathon that’s run each day threat, menace, and brutal and savage attack. But gathered and became, as no other, by the Hand purpose of creation. is done with fresh knowledge, renewed pride, and these attempts proved futile. History shows that and doing of G-d. Their appointment as a people The Pesach seder is the annual event that deals clear and immediate conviction. Then, we can be each of these formidable runners eventually fell out took place amidst great wonders and miracles. It with the story of the birth of the Jew in particular sure that the baton will be held frmly and passed of the marathon while the Jew continued. was done in full view, out in public, open for all detail. The message at the seder comes from a on assuredly, reaching all the way to the fnish line There were those runners who entered the race to see. It happened in spite of the efforts of the runner in the marathon that received the baton with the coming of Moshiach. who realised that they couldn’t forcibly eliminate mightiest power of the day’s attempts to prevent when he/she was young, and is now passing the irrepressible Jew out of the race, and who it. Pharaoh and Egypt didn’t want to let this slave it on through the seder. In doing so, they are • Ilan Herrmann is the rabbi of Soul Workout shul, decided to use guile. Their method was to lure him people go, and tried to defy its happening. But G-d’s strengthened in their continued stretch of the race, publisher of ‘Soul Sport’ magazine, and the with promises of bounty and pleasure, with showers people had been chosen, and so Pharaoh and Egypt re-affrming their commitment to their part in the founder of Soul Workout outreach organisation.

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www.israel-properties.com MetropolitanRepublic/20732 Chag Sameach. Wishing youandyourfamilyahappyPesach. www. d is c o very . c o. z a @Dis c o very_ S A Dis c o very_ S A y o utube/ Dis c o very S A 30 SA JEWISH REPORT Pesach 26 March – 9 April 2021 Let’s fill Miriam’s cup OPINION RABBI GREG ALEXANDER wrote before Purim about the cooks the food? Who cleans out redeemed you from the house the wilderness. When Miriam Miriam provided masks that we wear. Not just the chametz? What do your Pesach of slavery, and I sent before you dies, the next verse describes the the well of water the COVID-19 ones, but the gender roles tell your daughters? Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.” Israelites complaining about a lack that sustained the Israelites in Ipermanent ones that hide our And your sons? (Micah 6:4). After all, there would of water (Num. 20:1). The Talmud their 40-year trek around the true selves. And I wrote about the In your Haggadah reading notes that this was Sinai Peninsula. precarious and fraught position and telling, do you because it was only Ask everyone to pour a little bit that Esther, the hiding heroine of mention Moses? in the merit of of water from their own glasses Purim, found herself in, not just I’m sure he comes Miriam that in turn into Miriam’s cup in through the Megillah, but beyond. up, even though a miraculous celebration of the unsung female In so many ways, that fragility he’s not even rock followed heroines of the exodus, and of remains today. Do you have mentioned in the their journey, women since. As they pour the children or grandchildren in Haggadah (well providing water, let them name a female nursery school? Did they dress up technically his name water for all ancestor (recent or ancient), who this Purim? Did your daughters does come up once the twelve has inspired them. want to be Esther? Gorgeous! in a drosheh of Rabbi tribes (BT Declare “Zot kos Miriam, kos Or is it? When we dress our Yossi, but blink and Ta’anit 9a). mayyim chaim [this is the cup of daughters as Queen Esther, what you’d miss it). Why isn’t Miriam, the cup of living waters]” are we saying to them? Any telling (the she discussed and place it next to Elijah’s cup on We tell kids that Esther won the mitzvah of the seder is and celebrated the table. beauty pageant (which is already a to tell the story, after at Pesach? Is it And if yours is the kind of seder problem – you want your daughter all, not just to read because she’s a that you can take a bit of time to aspire to beauty pageants?) But the Haggadah) will woman? And for to expand and discuss the texts the Megillah tells us that she was naturally include Moses, that matter, what and rituals, why not take time to trafficked into a prospective-wife- the leader, teacher, about Shifrah and reflect on the role of women in to-the-king competition and then interpreter of the Pu’ah, the midwives the world today. forced to enter a harem to await exodus, and perhaps who courageously Ask everyone to say how they her chosen night with his majesty. might make mention of saved the Israelite boys think we can be part of the And if she tried to fight against Aaron’s role alongside him. from being drowned process of freeing the world her situation, well, we saw what But do we talk about Miriam in the Nile, without from the slaveries of gender – of happened to Vashti. at our seder? How often does her be no Moses without Miriam. It whom there would have been no trafficking, professional glass Yes, she is the heroine of name come up at your table on was she who watched him down Israelites to free. ceilings, objectified bodies, and the story, and in spite of her seder night? After all, Miriam, the Nile River and negotiated In fact, the opening stories of rape and abuse. Those are more impossible position, she manages with her brothers is the eldest of with Pharaoh’s daughter to get Exodus are all about the courage worthy questions than, “When do to save the Jewish people, but her the “big three”, a woman who the Yocheved, his mother, to be his of women, women who have we eat?” position (even at the end of the Torah called a nevia (prophetess) wet-nurse. And it is Miriam Ha- largely been dropped from the This Pesach, may we commit to story) remains a fraught one, and (Ex 15:20) and who the Talmud Nevia alongside her more famous narrative. raising wise daughters and sons, G-d forbid any of our daughters tells us is one of the seven major brother who leads the Israelites in So here’s a custom that many and may we all come out of it should have to walk in her shoes. female prophets of Israel song and dance after the parting have started to include on their freer. Now that Purim is long-past (BT Megillah 14a). of the Sea of Reeds (Ex 15:20). seder tables. Decorate a beautiful Chag sameach! and Pesach is on the doorstep, The prophet, Micah, tells us It’s none other than Miriam cup for Miriam and give it a place let’s pause and ask a similar set of that G-d sees the three siblings that our tradition understands of honour at the centre of the • Rabbi Greg Alexander is part of the questions about your daughters’ as equally responsible for going was responsible for the entire table. At a suitable moment in rabbinic team at the Cape Town and granddaughters’ role models. out of Egypt. “For I brought you supply of water in the desert as the evening, tell a few Miriam Progressive Jewish congregation. Who leads your seder, and who up out of the land of Egypt and the Israelites wandered through tales and explain the midrash that Flooding, beating – seder customs you won’t recognise JORDAN MOSHE hold it thrown away. For this reason, some use either a disposable cup or their least f you thought that the Pesach seder favourite bowl that won’t be missed if experience was universal and uniform, thrown out. think again. While many of us may be If you’d like to add some bling to your Iused to a standard routine, communities table, perhaps emulate the custom of the around the world partake in a colourful yom Hungarian Jewish community. In line tov experience that goes well beyond matzah with the verses in Exodus that say that the and maror. Israelites received gold and silver from the For many of us in South Africa, a seder Egyptians, Hungarian Jews had a tradition typically follows the same procedure every of placing their gold and silver jewellery year. After returning home from shul, we on the seder table. If that’s too showy for hasten to the table to begin the evening, you, you may want to bring some humble moving through kiddush, hand washing, and scallions to the table instead. Tese were telling the exodus tale. Each person adds traditionally used by Jews in Afghanistan, an insight (“that was deep, Shirley”), little who reportedly used scallions or leeks to Joshy sings Ma Nishtana at the top of his represent Egyptian slave drivers’ whips, and voice (“he’s going to be a chazzan when he used them to beat one another lightly on the grows up”), and, after some wine and matzah us, by looking at it, for what purpose it was over his shoulder (and perhaps sporting a back at the seder table. sampling, we (finally) come to the meal intended”. staff for support), he enters the room and a If the splitting of the sea is something itself. Some communities focus on each dialogue follows. you’ve always wanted to experience, perhaps For many families, however, vibrant and individual at the seder using the seder plate. Te table asks, “Where are you coming give a Polish custom a try. Gerer Chassidim unusual customs enliven the evening. In A custom that reportedly originated in Spain from?” “Egypt,” comes the reply, sometimes who hail from the Polish town of Góra Gibraltar, for example, the sweet charoset is for the seder leader to walk around the followed by a brief story of the Israelites Kalwaria had the custom of bringing the paste contains not only apples and wine, table three times with the seder plate in following Moses out of slavery. “And where sea into their homes, reportedly draining but a dash of brick dust as well. Although hand, tapping it on the head of each guest. are you going?” someone at the table asks, a barrel of water across the floor and re- it shouldn’t affect the taste of the spread, Many North African Jews adopted this to which the traveller responds, “Jerusalem.” enacting the crossing of the sea by lifting the dust serves as a more realistic reminder tradition, which is said to bless those whose Finally, the table asks what the bag contains, the hems of their coats and walking through of the mortar which the Jews produced in heads are tapped, and each time this is done, and is informed that it contains matzah. the pool. Traditionally, they would name the Egypt while making bricks. the leader says, “In haste, we left Egypt.” Another Sephardi custom which towns they would typically travel through Some people made this more literal by Every person is thus made to feel as though departs from the norm takes place when in the region while “crossing”, toasting each using actual bricks at their seder. Such was they are personally redeemed from slavery. the ten plagues are recited. Unlike many destination and thanking G-d for helping reportedly the case during the American With some theatrical flair, many Sephardi Ashkenazim, some Sephardim don’t dot them to reach their destination. Civil War, when Union soldiers sought communities have the tradition of putting a plate with wine drops, but instead pour So, whether you want to pour water across out the resources to hold a seder in 1862. on a short skit to illustrate the story of from their cups into another vessel. Because your dining room floor or beat your guests Unable to produce charoset, they used a redemption. A seder attendee (usually the this wine is associated with plagues and with vegetables, you can enact some less brick, which, as one Jewish soldier wrote, host) poses as an Israelite who experienced is therefore “cursed”, it must be flushed than usual seder customs at your table this was “rather hard to digest, [but] reminded the exodus. Carrying the afikoman in a bag down the drain and the vessel used to year rather than keep up with the Cohens. 26 March – 9 April 2021 Pesach SA JEWISH REPORT 31 Seeing beside the Why this year isn’t like all others seaside NICOLA MILTZ people from bondage in Egypt thousands of years ago. OPINION RABBI SAM THURGOOD This Saturday in homes across the country, families will once s South African Jewry gather around the seder table to again ask why this night is different from all other nights. This year, t’s no coincidence, our sages say, that much the Jewish people were born as a nation – the commemorate the exodus from Egypt this Saturday the plague element of the Haggadah story feels even more real of the story of the exodus revolves around Sea of Reeds being the metaphorical birth night, it will also be a poignant reminder of the passing than it did last year. That extra plague – the 11th one – has stealthily water. canal. ofA the country’s frst COVID-19 patient who died on this exact day a crept into our age-old story, adding an unwelcome modern touch – IJewish babies are cast into the river Nile, Why does water play such a central role? year ago. as if one were needed. and even the one who survives (the infant One reason is a Kabbalistic one – water A lot has happened in the year since last Passover, when Feelings of anxiety 12 months ago have now been replaced who will become Moshe) is saved, ironically, represents chesed (kindness and giving) and coronavirus derailed everyone’s Pesach plans. Families hunkered with a hollow despair and emptiness after a year of death and by being placed in that river. Years later, the theme of Pesach, the festival of the exodus, down and held miniature stay-at-home sederim. dying, isolation, and too much change. While there may be a few when asking Hashem at the burning bush is Hashem’s chesed. The Jewish people (our Grandparents, usually the guests of honour, were concealed in extra people around the seder table – given the recent drop in the for proof that his mission is, indeed, divinely sages teach) didn’t “deserve” redemption, protective cocoons, deprived of the annual delight of grandchildren number of infections since our last COVID-19 surge – we approach sanctioned, Moshe is given three signs: his lacking as they were in spiritual merit, though regaling them with ancient tales of slavery and redemption. this night with a false sense of security. staff becomes a snake; his hand becomes they sorely needed to be saved. To help As sad as we were to be away from friends and extended family, This COVID-19 yoyo has taken us from one panicked surge to leprous; and water turns to blood. This is an someone in such a situation isn’t justice but it was a worthwhile the next sweet lull, making nutcases of us all. As the number of obvious allusion to the frst plague that is kindness and compassion – surely some of the price to pay for having That extra plague – those infected with the virus tapers off, so too does our vigilance shortly to strike Egypt, as the river Nile itself most precious attributes Hashem has given a Passover together the 11th one – has and caution. However, there is a looming third-wave cloud on the becomes blood. us? this year – or so we stealthily crept into our horizon. Rabbi David Forman points out that It’s human nature to be hopeful – even believed. Little did we age-old story, adding And a fourth and maybe a ffth. Lately, our joy and gratitude has this is more than simply a punishment for expectant – of kindness towards us, but to know. an unwelcome modern overfowed at weddings, Barmitzvahs, and other simchas that have the Egyptians or even a demonstration of want to weigh others on the scale of justice. Although there was been hurriedly taking place around the country before the Omer Hashem’s power, it’s recognition of the pain “You want a favour from me? After the way you a certain amount of touch – as if one (and the next wave of infections). and trauma suffered by the Jewish people for treated me? I’m sorry, if I would help you, I foreshadowing typical were needed. That blissful sense of almost normality as music flls the air, is so many years. They were all witness to their would have to help everyone like you.” of a horror movie, last reminiscent of days gone by. But no one can deny it, it’s a joy tinged beloved children being swallowed by the river Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks taught us that year, South Africans still had scant idea of what lay in store for them. with foreboding and unspoken dread as winter approaches. while the Egyptians pretended that all was chesed is “love as deed”, love not as a feeling There were petrifying scenes coming from hospitals in Europe Last year, we were stockpiling toilet paper, this year we wish we normal; now the murders committed by Egypt in the heart but as a living expression of that battling to cope with patients gasping for breath, but they remained could stockpile vaccines – something we hadn’t even dreamt about. have come back to haunt it. feeling. Living in Cape Town, by die see, I enjoy far from our backyard. Names such as AstraZeneca, Pfzer, and Johnson & Johnson Well, that took an unexpectedly dark turn! the magnifcent and ever-changing water of No one would have believed it then that the death toll would rise weren’t part of our everyday vocabulary as they are now. We were But the story of the exodus – like all stories in the ocean. We know, but need sometimes to from one to more than 52 000 a year later. Or that the number of still obsessed with phrases like social distancing, hand sanitising, the Torah – needs to be understood in terms of be reminded, that with all that we are going infections would go from 927 cases (this time last Passover) to the and mask wearing. real human experience beyond the childlike through, Hashem is so very kind to us. This staggering 1.53 million confrmed cases today. We’ve become armchair experts about variants and vaccine way in which we frst learn it. Pesach, may we all deeply feel Hashem’s love During last year’s Passover, barely two weeks into the novelty of rollouts (or the lack thereof!). Water returns as the source of the frogs in for us and for all of His creation, and may a nationwide lockdown, the country was in a sort of honeymoon Who knows what next year’s Passover will look like. the second plague, but comes fnally as the we all merit to channel that love on towards stupor of unity and solidarity. It was only later that the lockdown’s One thing’s for sure, as we move from micro-seders to slightly coup de grâce when the Jewish people cross others. devastating, ripple-down economic effects and the seemingly more guests this year, it’s the enduring power of this story of the Sea of Reeds, the Egyptian army is washed Chag sameach! catastrophic impact on people’s livelihoods began to be felt. freedom and the favourite table-banging melodies of the festival away, and they sing to Hashem of his might For generations Jewish families have gathered for the frst night that will give us hope. and their freedom. The Maharal of Prague • Rabbi Sam Thurgood is the rabbi at Beit of Passover to recount the 10 plagues – blood, frogs, pestilence, Maybe next year in Jerusalem. We just need the airports to stay teaches us that this is the moment in which Midrash Morasha @ Arthur’s Road. death – and to remember how Hashem delivered the Jewish open. 32 SA JEWISH REPORT Pesach 26 March – 9 April 2021 Nothing Norman about The mezuzah that saved a life PERSONAL STORY YOSEF KAUFMANN this seder “And you shall inscribe them upon The journey was treacherous, and his PERSONAL STORY STEVEN GRUZD the doorposts of your house and upon unit had to make its way under constant esach is a time of miracles, matzah, first. He once told me he planned to push your gates in order that your days may fire from the Germans. They reached Metz and memories. It’s also a time for his younger brother David out first, if need increase and the days of your children…” safely, and after a short rest, pressed on. families to come together, and the be, to prevent that from happening. (Deuteronomy 11: 20-21) After a few days of marching, they reached Pseder is one of the most-observed Jewish Steven II has a house in Oaklands, and Te mezuzah has long been associated with a forest and were able to make camp. mitzvot and practices. About 81% of more than 30 people were attending the protection. It has been compared to a helmet At about 01:00, my grandfather was South African Jews attend a Pesach seder, seder that year. I had settled myself into which a soldier wears in battle in order to woken up by two soldiers. One of the according to a 2019 study by the Institute a comfortable couch and was teasing my protect him from enemy fire. Te Torah states soldiers had fallen ill and they needed help for Jewish Policy Research and the Kaplan niece Hannah by calling her “Denise”, a that in the merit of mezuzah, your life and getting him to the aid station. Grampy was Centre for Jewish Studies at the University joke that never gets old. Well, not for me the life of your children will be lengthened. the platoon runner, so this was one of his of Cape Town. As we enter the second year anyway. I can definitively say that I wouldn’t be alive responsibilities. They started down to the of peculiar pandemic Pesachs, here are In walked a couple in their sixties, today if wasn’t for a mezuzah. aid station, and after about 10 minutes some of my seder recollections, including looking slightly disorientated. They went A mezuzah is traditionally placed on en route, he heard a tingling noise coming the Norman invasion. around the room shaking hands (this was the doorframe of your home. However, from around his neck. My earliest memories are of the seders BCE – Before the Covid Era) and said, there is an ancient custom mentioned in He reached his hand inside his jacket to conducted by my paternal grandparents, “Hello, howzit? Good yontif” to everyone. the Talmud that people Charlie and Minnie Gruzd in the 1970s. The man sat on the couch next to me. After would place a mezuzah The whole family gathered at their a minute of silence, he asked, “Where’s in their walking sticks little house in Walter Street, Fellside, in Norman?” People had begun whispering. for additional protection Johannesburg. Grandpa Charlie seemed I said, “Who’s Norman?” while on the road. This to know the entire Haggadah by heart, He looked like a sheep caught in the is a story of one such and intoned it in his thick Lithuanian headlights. He blushed instantly. mezuzah. accent, even when his eyesight had faded. “Doll!” he bellowed to his wife, “I TOLD Ray J. Kaufmann Granny Minnie would serve soup that you it’s the wrong house!” was a short, quiet, barely wet the bottom of the plate, topped Sheepishly, the couple rushed for the and intelligent with delicious knaidels. Chicken pieces door, on the way out reclaiming the man. He was a civil sometimes came with tiny feathers. Minnie wrapped present they had handed to my engineer, had worked would meticulously count her knives, forks, sister-in-law, Marilyn, on their way in. Her at NASA (the National and spoons after the meal, and placed them bemused look was precious. Aeronautics and Space in velvet-lined little boxes. Did she think We later discovered that Norman had Administration) and Frame with Kaufmann’s medals we would steal them? previously owned the house. The couple Boeing, and was a World War II veteran. He feel his dog tags and mezuzah, and passed My cousins and I would, however, steal had, in fact, been invited to friends of their was also my grandfather. I don’t remember out. He woke up in the field hospital in the afikoman from the wrapped towel children who lived across the road. much about him. By the time I was old Metz. Te doctor informed him that a piece besides Grandpa Charlie before he could 2020 was the saddest seder of all. South enough to remember, his Alzheimer’s had of German shrapnel had hit him directly in hide it. We would then ransom it back Africa was still in Level 5 lockdown, and already set in, and he generally didn’t say his chest. It would have gone into his heart, to him so the seder could continue after big family gatherings were banned. So it much. killing him instantly, but there was this little dinner. His song tunes are engrained in was just me, my wife, and my two teenage As a kid, my family would go to visit metal charm that deflected the shrapnel my head as the correct ones. I still find daughters – very lonely and surreal. We Bubby and Grampy every Sunday. I would into his lungs, saving his life. Te shrapnel alternative renditions jarring. connected by Zoom to my brother in Cape often go into his office to play while he was remained in his lungs until the day he died. A dozen years ago, we were at my Town to hear his children sing Ma Nishtana, sitting at his desk, usually painting. There There was a second incident in which brother-in-law, Steven, for the seder. Yes, but it most definitely wasn’t the same as was a frame hanging on the wall of his Grampy was miraculously saved. we share the same name. It was very much being together. office. It housed a large picture of his army After months of recuperating in various in vogue in the Johannesburg Jewish This year, we will have small, socially- battalion, the 87th Acorn Infantry Division, hospitals, he was re-assigned and sent to community from about 1968 to 1974. My distanced, and sanitised seders. as well as various medals and stripes he had a camp outside of Nancy, France. In April cousin, Kevin, born 10 days after me, would I guess we have to get used to the new received for his service during the war. 1945, his unit received orders to prepare have been a Steven if he had been born Norman – I mean normal. One of those medals was a purple heart. to ship out to the Pacific front, as the The purple heart is a medal that is given to war in Europe was nearing its end. The Steven and Mandy Gruzd, and the Fine family a soldier wounded in action. We all knew weekend before they were to ship out, my the story behind it. It was one of those grandfather and a couple of friends decided family stories that was told and retold to go into Nancy for one last night on the countless times. town. They hitched a ride and spent the In 1944, my grandfather was living in night drinking at various pubs in town. a small apartment in Staten Island, New There was a midnight curfew for soldiers. York, overlooking the New York Bay. He With midnight approaching, they hitched a would watch from his living room window ride back on a truck carrying other military as ship after ship was loaded with soldiers personnel. and would disembark for war-torn Europe. As my grandfather described it. In early 1944, he enlisted to join the United “It was raining, and the road was slick, States Army. He was sent to Fort Benning in but we were too intoxicated to care. Georgia for basic training. Upon completion, Suddenly, I was sober and standing in the his unit was sent to Camp Kilmer with middle of the road trying to flag down orders to embark for England. Camp Kilmer passing cars. I heard moans and groans all was close to Staten Island, so he received around me. I soon realised that the driver permission to visit his family once more had lost control and skidded off the road before heading off to war. right into a tree. There were 12 soldiers in It was October of 1944, and it had been the truck. Three of them were dead, two quite some time since he had seen his had serious head injuries, and everyone else Israeli company turns SA water from toxic to drinkable parents. They were surprised and thrilled besides me had broken bones and serious >>Continued from page 1 to see him. Before he left, his mother, Nana internal injuries. I had a few scratches and a we see the same from government.” And it’s never been looked at this way Helen, gave him a mezuzah on a chain, and mild concussion.” Te company’s director of operations in before. Water has been treated only at the told him to always keep it with him. They My grandfather spent the next two weeks South Africa, Jurgens van Loggerenberg, treatment facility. I don’t think the team weren’t a religious family, but they were in hospital, and while he was there, his unit told the SA Jewish Report that he had worked has ever treated water of this poor quality very proud that they were Jews. shipped out for the Pacific. in water-treatment processes throughout before, but it has a strong strategy. We Grampy said his goodbyes and hung the I remember seeing this mezuzah when I South Africa for the past 20 years. have the support of the Department of mezuzah around his neck with his dog tags. was a kid. It had an almost mythical aura “Over the past two decades, I’ve Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, and It was a tiny mezuzah, no more than two to to it. This was the mezuzah that saved seen a decline in the management of the Department of Water and Sanitation. three centimetres in length. It was in a silver Grampy’s life. In a way, it’s fitting that infrastructure and water quality. It’s a big They are standing behind it. They believe in case and the small “shin” on the front was today, I spend my time writing mezuzahs. problem as it affects people’s lives. So, the technology and what it can do for the embellished with three little coloured gems. Unfortunately, the mezuzah was destroyed when I saw BlueGreen’s technology and environment. They know it can help them My grandfather shipped out, and made in Hurricane Katrina. However, although what it could mean for the improvement of achieve their goals. it safely to England. From there, his unit the physical mezuzah is no longer, its legacy water quality, I was fascinated.” He joined “One thing we observed is that there are was sent to the small French city of Metz. will live on forever the company soon afterwards. so many shops in the area that sell bottled Te Germans were just beginning their last He believes the technology could “be water,” he said. “The day the community offensive of the war, the Battle of the Bulge. • Yosef Kaufmann is American import, a sofer, a game-changer for South Africa. Toxic can open the tap and have safe drinking Tey were to make their way to Luxembourg children’s author, and most importantly, a bacteria means that humans suffer. water will be a big day for the country.” via the small French city of Metz. father and husband.

34 SA JEWISH REPORT Pesach 26 March – 9 April 2021 Belarus, Kropman doesn’t just make her bigger the pot, the bigger the kneidlach” and The kinship of kneidlach own kneidlach, but also homemade chrein “never measure with a table spoon, only an (horseradish), ptcha (jellied meat), even wine. authentic kochleffel will do.” MIRAH LANGER rule” that is related to the modern matzah “I love it when my grandchildren and now Even as a teenager, Goodman would ask manufacturing process. great-grandchildren come and help me. her grandmother to show her the recipe. It on’t you dare open the pot while The Chassidic practice is to ensure that the About six weeks ago, they helped me to make was an elaborate internship, for “there were they are boiling; use a kochleffel matzah doesn’t get wet in order to mitigate the wine and the great-grandchildren were never any precise measurements. It was (traditional cooking spoon) and against pockets of four within the matzah laughing all the way through. It was great! We always ‘use this size spoon, use a little bit of Da bit of this and a bit of that; talk softly, possibly turning it into chametz (foods not were four generations making it together.” and take off your shoes; play music while permitted on Pesach). Her granddaughter, Rochie Isaacson, has cooking. As such, their tradition is to make warm memories of her time with Kropman. There might be divergent opinions on kneidlach on the eighth night, when the It’s an experience now passed down to her the best method to use when making Torah mitzvah of keeping the seven days own children, who fourish under Kropman’s the perfect kneidlach, but one ingredient of the festival have been fulflled. They also mentorship. is always the same: the love with which make a point of eating it during this last part “Days before Pesach, I would go to bobba this tradition is passed from generation to of Pesach rather than afterwards to show and wash hundreds of eggs to ‘clean’ them generation. unity with other Jewish people who do eat for Pesach,” reminisces Isaacson. “Thereafter, I The late Mattie Halpern, a meticulous it for the whole chag. would help bobba make about 200 kneidlach matriarch “It’s to show that we for the whole family. Bobba cooks with love The living legacy - Bobba Mary Kropman, her daughter Ingrid Weber don’t think we are actually brought a special dimension to and simcha. She blares Jewish music and and granddaughter Rochie Isaacson holier than you; we the chag. “While it was strange when I frst dances around the kitchen preparing food for just have a different experienced it, actually now the build-up all of us to share and love.” this, a little bit of that; feel the right texture’. It convention.” to the last day is like a beautiful send-off to Monty Fleisher’s late mother, Mattie wasn’t just ‘follow the recipe and hope for the Tauby, herself Pesach,” he says. Halpern, certainly should be lauded for the best’. It was a very tactile experience.” the mother of four Kayla says she started making the recipe most meticulous of methodologies in her The result was always so delicious that after daughters, says it only a few years ago, nervous to live up to culinary kneidel pursuits. the seder, “I used to eat her kneidlach for took her sons-in-law, the gravitas of its reputation. “It was this Fleisher’s daughter, Debbie, recalls how her breakfast because they were so good,” laughs who didn’t come big moment! Here was something that has father used to tell stories about his childhood Goodman. Three generations of kneidel queens and the littlest chefs Kayla Moore, Gilad Moore, Mish Berkowitz, Liya Moore and from a Chabad been passed down, and now I had better memories of this Pesach preparation. “When Another highlight of Shoshki’s culinary Pam Tauby background, some make it properly. The frst time was perfect. I my bobba used to make kneidlach, the whole creations is one that resonates with the The frst time Mish Berkowitz, now aged adjustment to get used to this waiting was so proud of myself, I even have a video house had to be quiet because [according Chabad tradition. On the last day of Pesach, 81, made kneidlach was in 1961. She was period. of serving it!” to Mattie] any loud or sudden noise would she would make “milk kneidlach”, a tradition newlywed, and got the recipe from a fellow However, Brendan Moore, who is Now, the family revel in the newest cause the kneidlach to fop. So they all had the family still follows. “We make them in teacher at King David school. married to her daughter, Kayla, says it has generation’s engagement with the chag. to take off their shoes “[My colleague] promised to teach me “I love seeing Pesach through my and tiptoe around the to make the best kneidlach in the world, Bobbie Mish’s fop-proof kneidlach recipe children’s eyes. We see it in a whole house. They also had to so she gave me the recipe, and I went • 1 egg new light,” says Kayla. open and close doors home and tried it.” • 1 Tbsp schmaltz Indeed most recently, “Bobbie very quietly.” What was her husband’s opinion of • Pinch salt Mish” taught her recipe to two of her The ironic outcome her frst attempt? “Oh, he said he loved • Matzah meal 14 great-grandchildren, Gilad, aged of this military matzah- them! But we had been married for only fve, and Liya, three. The pair have self- meal drill: the kneidlach three months,” she says with a smile. • Beat egg, schmaltz, and salt together. Add enough styled themselves as “gourmet chefs” turned out “fat”, Indeed, they must have been truly matzah meal so that you can just roll into balls. The complete with personalised aprons confesses her son. delicious, for they have been passed mixture must be quite sticky. (You can place the and a homemade cooking vlog! Meanwhile, for the down four generations. mixture into the fridge and roll the kneidel balls The fnal verdict after their latest late Sonia “Shoshki” Berkowitz’s daughter, Pam Tauby, when the mixture is cold and slightly hardened.) episode featuring Bobbie and her Saven, making Three generations - Jessica Goodman, her mother Beverley relishes this sense of continuity, recalling • Cook in salted boiling water for 20 minutes. kneidlach? A defnitive “yummy” from kneidlach was a craft for Schneider and grandmother, the late Sonia ‘Shoshki’ Saven how as a little girl, she shared the • Each batch makes six kneidlach. Gili, and a big thumbs up from Liya. which she had her own magic implements: butter and in a milk broth. It’s actually really privileged duty with her sister of being When it comes to the great big an imposing black pot and two gleaming delicious,” Goodman declares, adding a designated as the pot lifter for this Secret tips from Bobbie Mish customary cook-off of Pesach, Mary kochleffels brought all the way from the Mir caveat that perhaps it’s “only something an prestigious preparation. • “The water has to be boiling from before you even Kropman, 83, also revels in the shtetl in what was then Belarus. Ashkenazi Jew could love!” In her own married life, Tauby think of starting to make them.” involvement of younger generations, Today, etched with the wear and care of Ultimately, no matter the variation, the continued the kneidel tradition, albeit in • “Place the kneidlach in the pot one at a time, which in her case consists of more than half a century of kneidlach cookery, kneidel has its own symbolic power in slightly different circumstances. closing the lid in between.” 13 grandchildren and more than these items retain pride of place in the celebrating a legacy. “We swapped to the Chabad tradition • “Don’t touch that pot again for 20 minutes; don’t 30 great-grandchildren. households of the generations that follow. As Goodman suggests, “If you had to make of having matzah balls only on the you dare!” Following the tradition of her Indeed, her granddaughter, Jessica a Jewish grandmother’s love tangible; if you last day of Pesach,” she says. This is a • “Don’t put too many kneidlach in the pot; you own mother, who arrived in South Goodman, recites the exact instructions had to associate it with an object, it would be a Chassidic “stringency, rather than a need to give them room to swell.” Africa as a young woman from Shoshki would give about their use: “The kneidel ball. It’s so hamish and traditional.” The Gospel about wandering Jews and wicked stereotypes GILLIAN KLAWANSKY In later years, the fgure of this solitary wandering Wanda. Cursed with immortality, Wanda travels Lynn Joffe he Jews may have wandered through the Jew began to be associated with the fate of the entire through seminal moments of history in pursuit of her desert for 40 years after escaping slavery, but Jewish people as they sought freedom and fought goal of becoming the tenth muse – a reference to the that’s not where the term “wandering Jew” to live in the promised land. Yet while the myth has nine muses of Greek mythology. Toriginates. In fact, it’s an antisemitic trope that’s been undergone various iterations over the centuries, at its “I wanted to take a very serious theme and deal used throughout history to justify the persecution of core it’s a damaging depiction of the Jewish people. It’s with it in a very light way,” says Joffe. “In a sense, the the Jewish people. been used to garner support for some of the greatest wandering Jew is a universal antisemitic symbol. As a Now advertising guru-cum-author Lynn Joffe has atrocities our people have ever faced, even becoming a Jewish person I wanted to satirise this to reveal its utter used her novel, The Gospel According to Wanda B. part of Nazi propaganda. ridiculousness.” Lazarus to collapse the myth of the wandering Jew. “This myth of a smelly, hook-nosed outcast who Sprinkled with laugh-out-loud humour and a large While she has spent most of her life in South Africa, was eternal and wandered around infecting the crops, dose of Yiddish, the book has resonated Joffe grew up in Scotland. poisoning the wells, and killing babies was like a with readers, Jewish and non-Jewish. “There weren’t enough Jews even for a minyan horror story,” says Joffe. “It’s been re-engineered, going “Ironically, my frst chapter is set during where we lived,” she says. “It was a very secular backwards and forwards in time to blame the Jews for Pesach,” says Joffe. “The whole idea of upbringing, and I wasn’t sure what being a Jew was.” every ill in the world, including the crucifxion itself.” the original sin, of having singled out the So, when a classmate asked her, “Are you a Jew?” little The antisemitism underpinning this legend Jews for killing Jesus, came in the story Lynn had to go home and ask her mother. bothered Joffe, who decided to tackle it when she of Pesach because that was when he was Just seven years old at the time, Joffe was began her Masters in Creative Writing at the University crucifed.” Here she writes of Rov Yossi (aka traumatised when the same classmate told her, “You of the Witwatersrand. “I’ve always been sensitive to Jesus) and “his chevras” who were “invited killed our Lord.” A confused Joffe replied, “I wasn’t the antisemitic jibes that happened throughout my over for that last supper”. anywhere near your Lord!” childhood,” she says. “When I did the Masters, I wanted Joffe aims to make people laugh, think, The myth of the wandering Jew, in fact, goes back to tackle a big theme, and I thought that this idea – and feel while reading what’s essentially a to this – the crucifxion of Christ. On his way to the what if the wandering Jew was a woman – would have disintegration of dangerous stereotypes. In She may shock and at times crucifxion, legend has it that Christ was taunted by a changed the whole picture.” presenting a feminist take on the wandering upset sensitive readers, but it’s all in pursuit of a Jew who was then cursed to walk the earth until the And so, the foundation of what would eventually Jew, Joffe also refects on the way that women have greater goal. “Laughter is a form of recognition,” says second coming. And so, this mythical immortal man, become The Gospel According to Wanda B. Lazarus was been blocked from fulflling their destinies and blamed Joffe. “I’m telling a fctional female character’s story of the wandering Jew was conceived. It soon became an conceived. Spanning almost 2 000 years, the book when things go wrong, from thousands of years ago the most dreadful scapegoating in history,” she says. integral part of medieval folklore. tells the story of a foul-mouthed, free-spirited outcast, to today. “I’m using fction to expose a fction.”

Chag 5781 Sameach to all our Jewish customers.

52520_Passover Advert_Jewish Report (390x265).indd 1 2021/03/02 12:33 26 March – 9 April 2021 SA JEWISH REPORT 37 Diamond blazes trail for new leadership at Cape Board TALI FEINBERG aimed to make the City of Cape Town a better always going to be governmental challenges, the world], and I got to see another side of place, and now I was focusing closer to home and those relationships need to remain strong. professional Jewry and Jewish life,” Diamond tuart Diamond has been the executive but aiming to do the same as I had set out We can never take our foot off the pedal. Ten says. director of the Cape South African Jewish to do with the city. Te Cape Board was also there is the challenge of being a shrinking “My wife, Lindy, and I have lived in the Board of Deputies (Cape Board) for only questioning its identity, and I could play a role community with fewer donors and lower birth City Bowl of Cape Town our whole lives, Stwo and a half years, but in that time, he’s taken in that.” rates, as well as emigration. Tis needs to be and its only one viewpoint. We got an the organisation through rapid change. He is most proud of the recent Cape Board monitored and tracked.” opportunity to move, travel, and see the As he heads to the United Kingdom, he calls election, which “led to a more diverse and He points to much work being done behind world, and we don’t want to regret not on the community to continue to encourage inclusive board, allowing more people to have the scenes to ensure that the Cape Town Jewish taking up the opportunity. We’ve always young people to “put their hands up” to take a voice around the table and to debate a wider community remains viable, with leadership loved South Africa, and we’re going on an on professional and lay leadership roles in range of issues”. programmes like the Eliot Osrin Leadership adventure. We’re certainly not disillusioned communal organisations, which will assist He believes that over the past few years, the Institute and succession planning across all or frustrated; we’re just taking the next step continuity, sustainability, and succession. Cape Board has been able to “re-align communal organisations. on our journey.” “Tere are many challenges facing young into its lane and deliver on its Antisemitism and the Boycott, Diamond is joining Moishe House as professionals today, but they need to see the mandate”. Trough more open Divestment, Sanctions movement are international grants manager. Moishe House community as an exciting and dynamic place dialogue and forums, people feel “real challenges that require attention is an international non-profit organisation to build their career,” he says. “We need to heard and problems are resolved and focus”, Diamond says. made up of a collection of homes throughout continue to professionalise the sector, as can be in a community-centric way. Regarding his own decision to the world that serve as hubs for the young seen overseas.” Diamond believes that emigrate, he emphasises that it’s adult Jewish community. He doesn’t like the expression “big shoes “relationships with government, not out of disillusionment or fear. “I’m excited to take up a role that is more to fill”, and thinks it’s important for fresh the media, academia, and “South Africa is like a ship in the sea. ‘behind the scenes’. For 12 years, I’ve been leadership to come to the fore. “I prefer the affiliates are the healthiest Sometimes it tilts to the left or the on the frontlines of work for the city and the idea of ‘leaving footprints in the sand’. Ten, they’ve been in long right, but essentially it balances community, so this is a bit of a sabbatical, the water washes over those footprints, and time, and work with out in the centre. but it’s still community-driven. It will give there is another opportunity for someone to fill country communities, “Trough my work at me time to give back to my family, who the gap and leave their imprint and vision. It’s interfaith, advocacy, the Cape Board, I was have made a lot of sacrifices up until now. important that we keep creating opportunities and combating privileged to become It’s a chance to see the world, and I believe for talented young people to come in, grow and antisemitism have a Schusterman you’re never too old to grow and learn.” He develop.” strengthened”. Fellow [member emphasises that he’s not cutting ties with the Diamond worked for the Democratic Alliance He pays tribute to of a highly South African Jewish community, and will (DA) as a city councillor in Cape Town for a current Cape Board selective always be there for advice and discussion. decade before joining the Cape Board. He says Chairperson Tzvi leadership- “Tere are so many South African that although it seemed like a big change to go Brivik and immediate development Jews overseas, working in international from there to working for the community, in past Chairperson Rael programme organisations, who are highly skilled and reality he was well-suited to the political nature Kaimowitz “who have hosted by internationally respected. For a small of his new role, which required internal and worked incredibly hard Charles and Lynn community of 14 000, the level at which external political engagement. to get the Cape Board to Schusterman Family we continue to contribute is world class. In addition, “the time was right for a life where it is today”. Philanthropies, for It’s been an absolute privilege to serve the change, and I was assessing not only my value However, challenges exceptional Jewish community, and I am thankful to everyone Stuart Diamond system, but who I was. Trough the DA, I had lie ahead. “Tere are leaders from around with whom I interacted.” 38 SA JEWISH REPORT 26 March – 9 April 2021 Building a career the ‘Gen Z’ way TALI FEINBERG TikTok – both accounts reaching an estimated extremely successful. and is only going to get bigger. “People two million people a month. He employs “To be honest, we didn’t know what we always want to sit by the window seat on n a rapidly changing world, careers aren’t people in a number of cities. were doing! But it shows that you have a plane because they’re mesmerised by what they once were. Although there is Goldberg followed a similar path. She did to trust your instincts and try something,” a top-down image. You know as a kid you certainly a place for getting a degree and a business science marketing degree, and says Goldberg. “The worst is when people wondered what it’s like to fy? Well, the Iworking your way up the career ladder with at the same time started interning, doing ‘over-think’ themselves out of something. drone has given me that ability, and to a nine-to-fve job, there are now many other social media for a company that eventually It’s about trusting your gut and if it feels show people art from the sky. Ten years avenues to fnancial success and living a hired her, as it urgently needed someone right, say yes to it.” ago, no-one was doing videography. Now, more fexible life. who knew how this new thing called social Nathan echoes these sentiments. “At every kid wants to do it.” Talya Goldberg, 31, is a successful media worked. the beginning, I had no idea what I was Goldberg says it’s important to network. freelance creative director and social media No-one ever taught Goldberg the ins and doing. At the time, content wasn’t a big “It’s defnitely about making the effort strategist based in Cape Town. “The jobs outs of social media. She just loves it, and thing. But during my gap year, I saw to meet the right people. In South Africa, that exist now didn’t exist ten years ago. has spent so much time online, she has someone using a GoPro, and it sparked my people prefer to work with their friends They’re not things you can go to university become a self-taught expert. “The best way imagination – the idea that you could strap or people they know. In addition, being and be taught,” she says. “There’s no older to teach yourself something is to do it. If you a camera to your head and record your thorough, on time, and easy to work with generation teaching these things, so there’s do it enough, it eventually becomes second life. As a kid I had always loved making Talya Goldberg can get you far.” a big gap. For example, who’s creating home videos, and now I could do She says this kind of work isn’t for content for brands on TikTok? They hire something similar. People would say, 21 years old and her very successful business everyone. If you prefer the structure of a people in their teens or early 20s. There’s ‘This is amazing, can you do it for our is already more than six years old! And regular salary and an offce job, then it’s best so much opportunity, and there are many business?’ I didn’t know how to edit it’s all powered by the internet. It’s about to stick to that. You need to be motivated more people working in a ‘nomadic’ way, or write an invoice or anything, but it marketing yourself and having chutzpah.” and disciplined but also able to go with not tied to an offce,” she says. was very much a case of ‘fake it till you Building a career these days is about the fow, work hard, and be passionate and Chad Nathan, 27, better known as make it’.” following your passion, whether it is knowledgeable. @gingerwithagopro, defnes himself as Goldberg built Nifty250’s Instagram photography, knitting, graphic design, or To the matrics of today, she says, “It’s an “a digital nomad with a wild passion for account into a much-loved online dance. “In fact, it’s good to be as ‘niche’ as exciting time. I recommend interning. Not travel, adventure, and storytelling through community. “It was about playing possible, and to stick to your niche,” says only do you fnd out what you like, but what the lens of a camera”. He refects that “at around and responding to what Goldberg. “The more random and unusual you don’t like. It’s much easier than studying school, I had this mentality that I would worked best. I loved the engagement.” your work is, the better. The best content the wrong degree and then fnding out take a gap year, go to varsity, and do a They sold the business after four years always rises, because people fnd and share that you hate the work at the end. So have BCom like every other Jewish boy in King and she went freelance, but eventually good content.” chutzpah, use this time to network and gain David [schools], and then maybe join my decided to take up an opportunity as Goldberg advises matrics to use their frst experience, and take every opportunity that father in his business”. a creative director. Within 18 months, few years out of school to build a portfolio comes your way.” But while doing the gap year and the she had transformed that company’s and online following. “When you fnish Says Nathan, “You can’t be shy – you need degree, he “fell in love with storytelling branding and social media offering. matric, you probably don’t have a lot of to be okay to put yourself out there on social and capturing memories on camera”, Chad Nathan She now works for herself, assisting expenses, you may still be living with your media. You need to be the person who has which he would post on social media, a number of companies on a retainer parents, and you’re not expected to earn a the drive to succeed no matter what. You and people loved it. The result is that he has nature,” she says. basis, and doing consulting work. “I’m huge income. So you may have a year or two have to have creativity and passion. You’re now built a successful career as a flmmaker, She began working with brands, meeting really enjoying the freelancer lifestyle and to fgure things out.” not necessarily taught your passion – it photographer, and digital marketer. people who would become part of her fexibility. I think work/life balance is almost She emphasises that you don’t need comes to you. You can’t expect everything He taught himself everything he knows extensive network. She then built a tech impossible to achieve if you work a nine-to- expensive equipment, and people engage on a silver platter, but start a hobby, and you while travelling to 34 countries and start-up with business partner Lucas Adams, fve job. There’s not enough time for life,” more with ‘natural’ photos taken on a might just be able to create a career that “hustling” to make it in the social media which allowed users to print Instagram she says. smartphone. suits your personality, and to do what you game. He has more than 26 000 followers photos in various formats, as well as “social Goldberg says that in careers these days, However, Nathan says drone photography love. Follow your passion, and success will on Instagram, and more than 34 000 on printing” for brands at events, which was age is just a number. “I have a friend who is and videography is “huge” at the moment, follow you.” Birthday twinning project brings light to dark times TALI FEINBERG special day, and continue their conversations throughout the year. we have with a “cup half full” [attitude]. We don’t ignore the pain, we feel “There are about 14 million Jews in the world today, only half of whom it, and we miss Gil-ad. But we choose to live and be positive. And yes, I’ve hey experienced unthinkable tragedy, but Bat-Galim Shaer and her live in Israel. In recent years, the bond between Israel and the Jews in the ‘fallen down a lot’. You have to work at it. But a project like this makes me husband Ofr continue to live with optimism and a desire to make the diaspora has been weakening. The coronavirus pandemic has increased the so happy.” world a little brighter by connecting Jews from around the world. importance of the connection between us. Strengthening the bond between Happy Birthday Two You isn’t the only initiative by her organisation to TTheir son, Gil-ad, was one of the three Israeli boys kidnapped and Israel and the Jews of the world is one of the signifcant challenges facing the bring a little brightness into the world. For example, just before Purim murdered in the summer of 2014. Their organisation, Sonshine – Jewish people in the 21st century,” she says. [before the pandemic], volunteers distribute mishloach manot to travellers Brightening the World in Their Memory, was founded to celebrate “The initiative, called Happy Birthday Two You, is one of those projects. leaving Ben Gurion Airport. They literally and symbolically spread joy in the his life and legacy, and as a way to bring people across the It’s our hope that this global, digital initiative can bring about world. world together in spite of so many divisions. welcome change and create surprising connections. The “Students from religious and secular schools enthusiastically work “When my son was kidnapped and murdered idea came about when we launched a competition together preparing thousands of baskets. In the past two years, packages six and a half years ago, we felt a huge embrace with 50 other organisations asking people to come were delivered to more than 80 countries, reaching a total of several from Jews around the world,” says Bat-Galim. up with ideas for projects that can strengthen the thousand people. Jews living abroad were excited to receive the gifts, and “The inner strength that we found during bond between Jews in Israel and the diaspora. felt connected to Jews living in Israel,” says Bat-Galim. the 18 days of searching for the boys, There were about 700 entries, and this idea was Meanwhile, through the Sweet Heart project, hundreds of thousands of as a nation and as individuals, and the thought of by someone in Canada, someone people all over the world mark Gil-ad’s Hebrew birthday, the 19th of Tevet optimistic attitude that we chose [to in America, and someone in Israel.” (which usually falls in January), with one of his favourite hobbies: cooking have] after learning the boys’ fate, They decided to go with it, and the results and baking. People share recipes, prepare food, and bring treats to people forced us to return to daily life and have been exciting. “It was launched on 3 they don’t know. offer support to all Jews wherever it’s January 2021, and we already have 1 600 The Shaer family created the Facebook group Sweet Gilad and the needed.” Bat-Galim people registered. With everyone sitting Instagram account @sweetgilad, where anyone can upload and view Before the pandemic, Bat-Galim Shaer and her at home, people are really looking for video clips from this project. It has led to religious and secular youngsters travelled around the world, realising the late son Gil-ad connection.” working together to deliver delicacies to nursing homes; families bringing unity and connection she felt at the time Taking part is easy. The website, mazeltov. food to soldiers; and students baking and bringing confectionaries to of her family’s tragedy was something world, is available in a variety of languages. hospitals to cheer up patients. she found wherever she went. “It was You just enter your email address, followed by “This project has a tremendous number of participants in Israel and meaningful. We realised that when we speak prompts to enter your name, surname, and date abroad. Especially on Gil-ad’s birthday we choose to increase optimism and of am Yisrael, we are speaking of people that of birth. The system then scans its database for your joy for what we have and to help others.” aren’t only in Israel, but Jews around the globe, “birthday buddy”, and you get an email introducing you to Prior to the pandemic, a musical event called Shiru Achim featured whose hearts are here. We wanted to maintain that each other. Then it’s up to you to build your connection to this performances by professional musicians from across the religious connection.” stranger who shares your Hebrew birth date. The email addresses spectrum. “It emphasises what unites us rather than what divides us and Bat-Galim has a surprising South African link. She was born in are stored by the project and aren’t exposed to outsiders. If you wish to share encourages hope through a genuine connection with music,” says Bat- Middleburg, Mpumalanga, where her father was the rabbi of the community your personal details, you can do so as part of a secure correspondence. Galim. The frst event had more than 5 000 participants. for six years. The family returned to Israel when she was four, so her memories The more people who join, the more “birthday buddies” there will be, so There are a number of other initiatives that spread joy, love, and light in of South Africa are hazy. “But my parents loved that period of their lives, it’s worth taking a minute to sign up and then see who you connect with and simple but meaningful ways. Bat-Galim has also written a book which has and they always told us lots of stories about the community, which was very what you have in common. just been released in English on Amazon, called Expecting My Child. “It’s meaningful for them,” she says. Bat-Galim says that the time since the loss of her son has been “hard and a hard story, but also optimistic. It’s about the good deeds of am Yisrael Now, her organisation has launched a project that aims to increase this complicated”. during those tough days. It makes me feel proud to be a Jew,” she says. connection in a simple, light-hearted, and meaningful way by matching Jews “We try to get strength from our fve amazing daughters, and we have who share a birthday, encouraging them to wish each other well on their one beautiful granddaughter who is three years old. We try to look at what • Visit https://mazeltov.world/En to fnd your birthday buddy.

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J28193_Kemtek_JR_Advert_390x265mm_FA.indd 1 2021/03/24 17:02 26 March – 9 April 2021 SA JEWISH REPORT 41 From Fresnaye to Langa, expat tells ‘tale of two cities’ TALI FEINBERG also organised large-scale events and a yearly dance competition. After well-suited to walking tours, is closer to town, “and I‘ve met some amazing giving it his all, he eventually had to close the foundation, but it inspired his movers and shakers that I felt I could really partner with”. t frst glance, Jason Woolf seems like any other 27-year-old next venture: Side by Side Experiences, which provides meaningful tours, Woolf is also focusing on content creation, using his social media channels American expat enjoying everything Cape Town has to offer. That experiences, and interactions for tourists in the townships. With this in mind, to “bridge gaps and start interesting conversations”. He hopes to open is, until he starts speaking in fuent Xhosa, or when he describes he decided to move to Langa township for a year as a way to further immerse up dialogue between sectors of society and highlight organisations and livingA in the shack he built for part of the year that he spent in the sprawling himself in the environment. entrepreneurs involved in fascinating and meaningful projects. township of Khayelitsha. He says he feels safe in the community – people are warm, “I lived in Khayelitsha for a year, in 2014 and 2015. For part of welcoming, and look out for each other. He felt the same when he that time, I lived in a house in Ilitha Park. Then I had to move, so I lived in Khayelitsha. “People cooked meals for me, welcomed was hosted by the family of a friend’s girlfriend in Makhaza. But after me into their homes, and gave me an intimate window into their a time, it got a little crowded, so I built a shack onto the side of their life. They helped me with anything I needed, talked through their house to live in,” he explains. problems with me, and were eager to teach me the language. “Living in a shack was fne – you can actually make it quite nice. Kids were so eager to interact, and I enjoyed little moments, like I put rhino board inside, and painted it lime green. You don’t really jokes when buying street food. Those moments really lift the feel like you’re in a shack, it’s just a small room really. If you have the spirit.” heater on at night it stays warm enough. And I wasn’t hanging out What he loves most about South Africa is “the spirit of the people. there all day, so it was nothing major.” It’s a complicated country, but people generally seem accepting of Woolf holds dual American South African citizenship: “My sister one another. The ‘default’ relationship one of kindness and cordial was born in 1990, my parents migrated to Boston, Massachusetts behaviour, unlike other places where the default is ‘stranger culture’ in 1991, and I was born in 1993. I grew up in a suburb called and ‘Why you talking to me?’, that attitude of ‘stay in your lane, Dartmouth south of Boston.” He studied at New York University at mind your own business’. Here, people like chatting and there’s the Gallatin School of Individualized Study, with a focus on social a feeling that you can make friends with a stranger, which isn’t a entrepreneurship and cultural revitalisation. He would also spend feeling you get in places like the United States (US), by and large. summers with his grandparents in Cape Town, and got to know that in Jason Woolf with Yoli Nocanda and Siyabulela ‘Sabu’ Nocanda, co-owners of “Then there is the extremely precious exquisite natural many ways, it’s a tale of two cities, with the extremely affuent and the Zone 17 in Langa environment. And it feels like there’s a meaningful national project impoverished living side by side. of trying to become ‘a people’. Everyone has their own unique After graduating, Woolf moved to South Africa to work full-time on his non- Before he made the move, he was staying in the upmarket suburb of relationship to that nation-building project. It’s intriguing to see how proft foundation, Umbiyozo (‘celebration’ in Xhosa). He started it in 2011 as a Fresnaye on the Atlantic Seaboard. On social media and with clever use of diverse people approach that project and respond to it. high school student after seeing how local township youth would form dance technology such as Google Earth, he has shown the short distance but vast “The only reason I would possibly go back to US is if I have children troupes and perform in public spaces across the city. difference between the two locations. and it feels like they may get better opportunities there. But if I had a His decision to live in Khayelitsha was motivated by a desire to get closer He considered staying in a shipping container, but eventually moved child today, I would prefer to raise it in South Africa than the US. Their to the people he wanted to work with and understand their reality. He aimed into a newly-built hostel called Zone 17, a space created by two Langa development would be more holistic here than in the US.” to incentivise youth to participate in these community-based troupes, hoping entrepreneurs with the aim of desegregating Cape Town. It has ten rooms, Finally, he says, “We need to recognise that as a Jewish people, we don’t to help prevent gangsterism, drug usage, teenage pregnancy, social isolation, and he is currently the only resident. He recently hosted a COVID-19-safe exist in isolation. We’re inextricably linked to the fates of others in our and disempowerment. With a background in music, endless energy and braai and housewarming event, hoping to put the place on the map and country and the world. We need to build bridges to have a collective future enthusiasm, and the ability to interact with people from all walks of life, Woolf bring together people from South Africa’s different communities. where we all thrive. We can start at home, in our own backyard. Spend was perfectly placed to do this work. While COVID-19 has thrown him a few curveballs, Woolf is continuing some time in a township, and see with your own eyes the way things are, On a tiny budget, he made a DVD capturing the performances of 14 with his walking tours in Langa. “Walking tours are important ways to reduce rather than what the media might be telling you. Be brave enough to step

independentFIVE dance ROSES troupes, Passover allowing advert_CTP.pdf participants to sell 1 the 2020/03/27 DVDs to tourists 11:25 AM‘poverty tourism’. They allow for interaction, and they slow tourists down to in, fnd someone who can make you feel welcome, and do yourself that for a greater proft than they would get by performing on the streets. He really experience the environment,”265 x he 200mm explains. He chose Langa because it’s service of learning and unlearning. It’s hugely important for this country.”

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K 42 SA JEWISH REPORT 26 March – 9 April 2021 DriveThru Egypt to the Holy Land in Glenhazel t isn’t easy to imagine what the Jews went through in getting out of Egypt and wandering the desert for 40 years, but the IChevrah Kadisha made it easier for us with its Greatest Pesach DriveThru on Sunday, 21 March. Although the event was 100% COVID-19- proof, it was an immersive experience with camels, plagues, and all that you imagine from the Pesach story, as well as Passover- related entertainment. More than 1 000 cars drove through the Chev’s facility. “It shows an institution reimagining the world, and doing it with inspiration, drive, and fun,” said a communal leader. “It was an amazing experience. It’s inspiring in that as Photos: Tandee Weinberg Tandee Photos: leaders, our responsibility is to re-imagine a new world, not complain about our lot.” KDVPP packs bags for newborns KDL pupil wins Yeshiva fundraiser has parents flocking rade 7 pupils at King David Victory Park Primary School recently Chapman competition eshiva College’s parent-teacher association has packed 80 bags for mothers and their newborns to be delivered started a fundraising campaign which has the entire to the Edenvale Hospital. The outreach project was conducted in ing David Linksfield pupil community laughing out loud. Shiri Kaplan Gcollaboration with the Baby Ethan Foundation, a non-proft organisation Shiri Kaplan has won the YSchool moms leave home early each morning and pick a founded in 2010 which supplies hospitals including Edenvale and Rahima Chapman University of house of a child enrolled in the school. Tey then place a flock Moosa Mother and Child with baby bags and essentials. All items were KCalifornia’s annual Holocaust of pink wire flamingos on their front lawn, and remove it only provided by the Baby Ethan Foundation. Creative Writing Competition in once the family has 2021 for a poem submitted while made a donation to A Yeshiva College mom the school was learning online. the cause. getting “flocked” Te competition requires Te fundraiser participants to respond creatively has been running to Holocaust-survivor testimony for the past two on the “1939” website, using art, weeks, and there dance, poetry, song, or an essay. is one week to Chapman University receives go. Anyone who entries from more than 50 has not yet been King David Victory Park Primary School pupils Ricky Koton, countries worldwide, and the first flocked, be warned, Joshua Woolf, Lior Hyman, Maxem Radford, and Daniel Segal prize is a week-long trip to Chapman University for the pupil to birds are probably pack bags for new mothers attend an internationally-acclaimed Holocaust course. coming your way.

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READER’S DISCOUNT: Take your Pesach break between 27th March and 4th April, and receive a 10% discount on accommodation in any of The Houghton Hotel’s breathtaking suites. Quote PESACH@HOUGHTON when inquiring at (011) 032 5500 or [email protected] to redeem this offer. 44 SA JEWISH REPORT 26 March – 9 April 2021 A column of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies Beware Pesach Madness Israel Apartheid Week turned Syndrome into Israel awareness week blame my mother-in-law. She is the one t the beginning of each year, Jewish ABOVE BOARD that started all this, and it’s thanks to INNER VOICE university students are confronted with Howard Feldman Shaun Zagnoev her I was placed in mortal danger when the challenge of responding to Israel Imaking a cup of coffee on Tuesday morning. ApartheidA Week (IAW), a malicious and mendacious more responsive to an approach based on nuanced, My crime? I nearly (according to my wife), triggers it and causes a sudden onset. anti-Israel propaganda campaign run by the Boycott, informed discussion as against one portraying one put my “chametz cup” down on a recently It’s then that seemingly perfectly sane and Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement and its fellow side as being so irredeemably evil as to make any koshered-for-Pesach kitchen surface. rational people uncontrollably make pages travellers. debate unnecessary. This receptiveness was also To be clear, I had no intention of and pages of lists, get involved in excessive We have just come to the end of the latest round evident in the positive response to the SAJBD’s recent committing this horror. I was aware of the buying, cleaning, and even paranoia. In of IAW activities, along with the counter-campaign webinar on the United Arab Emirates-Israel Abraham regulations (they had been pasted on the the worst cases, victims confuse their run by the South African Union of Jewish Students Accords. Because of all these efforts, IAW this year fridge) as I balanced my cell phone on my husbands and children and, in their place, (SAUJS) with the support of the South African was again largely a non-event, for which SAUJS and shoulder, my cup in one hand, the Starbucks simply see walking “chametz” carriers. Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) and South African everyone else involved can be warmly commended. sachet in the other, and tried to not burn Tere is no cure. It rarely results in Zionist Federation, Israeli student activists from the myself in the process. death, aside from a few husbands and organisation Stand With Us, and our Christian allies. Timeless lessons from the Haggadah I didn’t know that my wife could move children who might have crossed the This year’s SAUJS campaign was again thoughtful, While the biblical story of Exodus focuses on the so fast. But she flew into the kitchen at sufferer at the height of an attack, and innovative, and exceptionally well run. It revolved liberation of the Jewish people from slavery and seriously impressive speed in testimony to symptoms ease or “pass-over” after a around the theme of people claiming back their birth as an independent nation, its underlying what yoga can achieve. In a flash, she was period (sorry). their narrative, as encapsulated by the hashtag themes are universal and have specific resonance for next to me in the kitchen, fully expecting to Travel restrictions aren’t helping either. #OwnYourTruth/#OwnOurTruth, showing the diversity South Africa. In 2014, the SAJBD Gauteng Council find that I had singlehandedly returned the Which would have been an option for of what Zionism means to different people. SAUJS held a special Freedom Seder, bringing political and kitchen to its pre-Pesach state of me following my brush with mortality also turned the standard BDS “Zionism = racism” religious leaders, members of the media, and civil 21 March 2021. this morning. It also might explain why I canard on its head by running a #unitedagainstracism society together to celebrate 20 years of South African “But you could have!” was her (weak) haven’t seen my children for the good part initiative. This generated a large number of tweets democracy in the context of the Pesach narrative. defence. And then, even weaker, “I wasn’t of a week. Tey could well have moved showing the reality of Israel’s diverse, multifaith, Since then, a number of such events have been held checking up on you. I just thought I would out. And the only thing I blame them for racial, and ethnic society. countrywide, providing a distinctively Jewish vehicle come and help you.” Yeah, right. Like I don’t is not taking me with them. IAW isn’t about fostering education and debate, but through which we join fellow South Africans in know where she comes from. With all of this, after having spent rather demonising and defaming the Jewish state. It celebrating the attainment of freedom in our country. And I blame my mother-in-law. many a Pesach festival away, there is also seeks to silence, sideline, and discredit anyone At the time of writing, preparations were being Which makes me think that “Pesach something special about the preparation attempting to put forward a different perspective. finalised for a national, virtual Freedom Seder to take Madness Syndrome” might well be genetic. in the run-up to the holiday. The process SAUJS hasn’t engaged in such smear tactics in place on Wednesday evening, 24 March. And that it’s passed down from mother to of “change”, the sense of rebirth, response. Instead, it has developed a campaign which I take this opportunity to wish you all a chag Pesach daughter without skipping a generation. and even the pages and pages of lists emphasises dialogue and education over boycotts and kasher v’sameach. May we all enjoy being with family If I have to consider this in newly-acquired undoubtedly all contribute to the intimidation, the aim of which isn’t to delegitimise and friends at a time when we rejoice in our heritage virology terms, it could be accurate to say texture, warmth, and appreciation of the other points of view but to understand the realities and pass those traditions on to the next generation. that sufferers of Pesach Madness Syndrome time. of the situation and discuss possible ways forward. are likely to be asymptomatic for most of the Assuming, of course, that one survives This has proven to be strikingly effective, and such • Listen to Charisse Zeifert on Jewish Board Talk, 101.9 year. It might be that it lies dormant, but the week before. was the case this year. Clearly the average student is ChaiFM, every Friday from 12:00 to 13:00. following the festival of Purim, something Pesach Kasher Ve sameach! 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