25 March 2011 / 19 Adar II, 5771 Volume 15 Number 11 University of Johannesburg Cuts Ties with Ben-Gurion University PAGE 3
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STUPENDOUS CARMEN NOVEL’S FROM OPERA AFRICA / 8 DRIVER CYNICISM; JPO FINAL SEASON CONCERT OUTCOME A BREATH OF FRESH AIR / 8 NIHILISM / 9 Subscribe to our FREE epaper - go to www.sajewishreport.co.za www.sajewishreport.co.za Friday, 25 March 2011 / 19 Adar II, 5771 Volume 15 Number 11 University of Johannesburg cuts ties with Ben-Gurion University PAGE 3 Former Israeli President Moshe Katsav leaving a Tel Aviv courtroom on Tuesday after receiving a seven-year sentence for rape and other FALL FROM GRACE sexual offences. (PHOTOGRAPH: YOSSI ZELIGER/FLASH90) PAGE 6 Bomb blast hits bus Brixton Jewish Hijacking gay groups SAKS: Can Itamar-type in Jerusalem / 3 Cemetery in ruins / 2 against Israel / 6 hatred happen in SA? / 7 YOUTH / 13 SPORTS / 16 LETTERS / 12 CROSSWORD & BRIDGE / 14 COMMUNITY BUZZ / 10 WHAT’S ON / 14 2 SA JEWISH REPORT 25 March - 01 April 2011 SHABBAT TIMES PARSHA OF THE WEEK March 25/19 Adar 2 March 26/20 Adar 2 Shemini/Parah On a full stomach Starts Ends 17:56 18:44 Johannesburg 18:10 19:23 Cape Town 17:44 18:33 Durban Brixton 18:03 18:52 Bloemfontein Jewish 18:00 18:55 Port Elizabeth Cemetery PARSHAT SHEMINI Ohel in ruins. 17:56 18:46 East London Rabbi Yossi Chaikin Oxford Synagogue Published by BEFORE WE sit down to enjoy a meal, we take a cup of S A Jewish Report (Pty) Ltd, water and pour its contents over our hands. Netilat PO Box 84650, Greenside, 2034 Yadayim (or as it is called in this country, in a half- Tel: (011) 023-8160 Afrikaans, half-Lithuanian accented Yiddish, “wassing”) is Fax: (086) 634-7935 Printed by Caxton Ltd a centuries-old rabbinic precept to enable us to eat our Brixton Jewish Cemetery daily bread in purity. EDITOR - Geoff Sifrin [email protected] Less-known is the practice of Mayim Acharonim, which Sub-Editor - Paul Maree is done at the end of the meal, just before bensching tells a sad tale of neglect Ed Co-ordinator - Barry Bilewitz (“Birkat Hamazon”). At this stage water is poured over the [email protected] fingertips. There was a form of salt, known as Sodomite RITA LEWIS were buried in the West Park Cemetery. Senior Reporter - Rita Lewis salt, that sometimes made its way into food. PHOTOGRAPHS: ILAN OSSENDRYVER Brixton Jewish Cemetery has a large [email protected] While it was harmless if ingested, contact with eyes section for children, mostly without head- Sports Editor - Jack Milner caused blindness. It was therefore essential to remove any “WHERE HAVE all the flowers gone, stones, as the children were stillborn, or [email protected] potential traces of this salt from our fingers before rising long time passing” are words of a song had not been named when they died, and Books Editor - Gwen Podbrey from the table, lest we accidentally rub our eyes and dam- that could well be used in connection there is also a section for Reform Jews. Arts Editor - Robyn Sassen [email protected] age our vision. with the decay of the Brixton Cemetery A war monument near the main Youth Editor - Alison Goldberg Sodomite salt is unheard of nowadays. So why do we still where the wreaths of flowers have long entrance, commemorates the SA soldiers [email protected] religiously rinse fingers at the end of meals? Perhaps it still since faded away and nothing but grass who died in the First World War. Along the Cape Town correspondent exists, in a somewhat altered form. and weeds grow between the stones. main drive, there is a second First World Moira Schneider: 021-794-4206 Sodom is the ancient city mentioned in the Book of It is not just the grass that causes the War monument in memory of the South Pretoria correspondent Bereishit. It was a corrupt society and was met with total visitor to feel dismay, it is the sight of the African Scottish regiment. Diane Wolfson: 082-707-9471 Divine annihilation. Her sin? Her fate was not sealed vandalised Ohel, its walls decayed and an Today, the Chevrah Kadisha has an eas- Manager: Distribution Britt Landsman because of the eponymous perverse behaviour usually air of neglect pervading the entire area. ily accessed database of every burial [email protected] associated with this city. At the moment the Ohel is home to which has taken place in West Park - now Sales Executives - (011) 023-8160 Sodom was located in the most fertile area of the Jordan vagrants. All the inside walls are filthy the major Jewish cemetery. Britt Landsman: 082-292-9520 valley at that time. Its inhabitants were very wealthy and and blackened from fires; and rubbish For people wishing to find where their Manuela Bernstein: 082-951-3838 wanted to preserve their prosperity at all costs. It became lies strewn everywhere. Washing hangs loved ones are buried, the records of the Murray Schoeman: 083-627-6670 the anti-welfare state. out to dry over the tops of gravestones. Brixton and Braamfontein cemeteries, are Freelance Sales Executive Marlene Bilewitz: 083-475-0288 Sharing was unheard of, visitors were unwelcome, hospi- Why, when there is a specific Country small and easy to look up. Classified Sales tality was banned and charity became a criminal offence. Communities Department of the SAJBD It is interesting to note that the graves in [email protected] Such a civilisation had no future and was eliminated by with its own rabbi, Rabbi Moshe Sil- the Brixton Cemetery are in date order, so Design and layout Hashem. berhaft to look after all the now defunct it is fairly easy to find specific graves and Frankie Matthysen The formerly lush and fruitful fields became a desolate country cemeteries, has this one been family plots – assuming one has the dates Nicole Cook wasteland, covered in sulphur and salt, where growth allowed to deteriorate so much? handy and wishes to go there. Website Through financial constraints, there Recently however, vagrants have taken www.sajewishreport.co.za would not be possible. Lot’s wife, who disobeyed the Ilan Ossendryver instruction not to look back as she fled the city, was turned, isn’t a security guard to watch over it. over the cemetery, headstones have been IC-Creations of all things, into a pillar of (you’ve guessed it) salt. The once beautiful edifice in the histor- broken and there is graffiti everywhere. [email protected] Her real offence: when her husband had secretly har- ically significant Brixton Cemetery, There are gaping holes in the perimeter Subscription enquiries boured guests she, a Sodomite through and trough, had across the corner of Crouse Street and fence. People use the cemetery as a thor- Avusa Publishing (Pty) Ltd cynically run around the neighbourhood asking to borrow Brixton Drive, is destroyed and wasted in oughfare between Vrededorp and May- Tel: 0860-13-2652 some salt for her husband’s visitors. Her intention was to a cemetery which was laid out in 1912 and fair. Headstones lie face down or broken. BOARD OF DIRECTORS publicise Lot’s flaunting of local custom. In so doing she opened in 1914 - although the first Jewish Since the vandalisation, the Chevrah Howard Feldman (Chairman), Issie Kirsh (Deputy Chairman), Stan Kaplan, Marlene placed host and company in mortal danger. person, Susman Abrahamson aged 49, Kadisha warns it is no longer safe to visit Bethlehem, Russell Gaddin, Before the meal, when our stomachs are grumbling, it is was buried there only in 1921. the Brixton Cemetery and the gates have Norman Lowenthal, Bertie easier for us to be attuned to the requirements of those less Jewish burials continued to take place been locked. Anyone wishing to visit the Lubner, Benjy Porter, Herby fortunate. If a beggar knocks on the door, pleading that he there, especially where there was a site cemetery may do so accompanied by a Rosenberg, Howard member of their staff. Sackstein, Jason Valkin. is hungry, he is likely to be given a generous response. reserved, but from the 1940s, most Jews On a full stomach, it is different story. Having fully enjoyed our own repast, it is more difficult to be sensitive to KASHRUT the needs of others. That is when the “Sodomite salt” can The following symbols will appear on get stuck to our fingers and “blind” our eyes to our fellow’s The Ohel in advertisements and/or advertising fea- tures to indicate whether or not they are hunger. Mayim Acharonim are poured over our hands at ruins, with kosher. Where no Kashrut mark appears the end of the meal to remind us how dangerous this form squatter clothes on an advert, the Jewish Report of loss of sight is indeed. hanging in the assumes no responsibility for the One of the final verses in this week’s Torah portion Kashrut status of that establishment or room. advertiser: enjoins us: “You shall sanctify yourselves and you shall be holy.” The Talmud in Berachot explains the tautology as NK Non-Kosher K Kosher follows: “You shall sanctify yourselves” is a reference to Where no symbols appear, consult the washing before meals. “You shall be holy” is talking about Beth Din Kosher Guide or contact the “Mayim Acharonim”. advertiser. To be pure while we are eating is of primordial impor- Advertisements and editorial copy from tance - to sustain holiness even after we get up from the outside sources do not neccessarily reflect the views of the editors and staff. table is even more imperative. Trevor Stamelman: 082-608-0168 Geoff Lees 082-551-9314 Tel: (011) 885-3742 [email protected] www.stamelmanproperties.co.za “Extraordinary Service Extraordinary Trust” GLENHAZEL - NEW RELEASE SANDRINGHAM: NEW RELEASE ORANGE GROVE: NEW RELEASE ON SHOW: Sunday 2 – 5pm Jacinth Road, Glenhazel.