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south african n Volume 23 – Number 4 n 8 February 2019 n 3 Adar 1 5779

The source of quality content, news and insights t www.sajr.co.za BDS and Hamas firmly tied, Israel says NICOLA MILTZ renowned hijacker of a passenger The report, however, goes on to terrorist designated organisations and banking systems. airline and member of the PFLP document in detail a complex web raise finances together, share the A response by Iqbal Jassat, one he Israeli government terrorist group, acted as an official of connections between known same personnel, and showcases that of the heads of the pro-BDS Media claimed in a report released fundraiser for BDS South Africa.” terrorists and civil society BDS contrary to popular belief, these Review Network (MRN), has created Tlast weekend that the The Johannesburg City Council is organisations. It reveals that Hamas officials have not abandoned their quite a stir. It said, “@MRN1SA Boycott Divestment Sanctions at present considering proposals and the PFLP are utilising a network support for terrorism, but instead, #BDS bites! Zionist apartheid (BDS) movement is tied to terrorist made by political parties and friends of NGOs promoting boycotts continue to maintain organisational, regime shows signs of reeling organisations like Hamas. aligned with BDS to have Sandton against Israel as an additional financial, and active ties with from global boycott, divestment n This report, titled “Terrorists in Drive named after her. tactic in their “ultimate goal of terrorist groups. sanctions. We are Hamas. We are Suits – The Ties Between NGOs The report further goes on to dismantling the state of Israel”. It details how, through these PFLP. We love Leila Khalid. Long live Promoting BDS and Terrorist explain how BDS-SA “has invested According to the report, the ties NGOs, these terrorists “exploit #BDS!” Organisations” flies in the face of great efforts” in convincing the are not only ideological, but include Western governmental funding, The MRN is an organisation the BDS movement’s insistence African National Congress to the placement of known terrorists philanthropic foundations, financial which claims that its aim is to that it is a peaceful, human-rights support the downgrade of the South in positions of influence within platforms, and civil society to “dispel myths and stereotypes about organisation, which denies links to African Embassy in Israel. It says major BDS organisations. advance their goal of dismantling Islam and Muslims”. In response, violence and terror. that for more than a decade, BDS The report reveals how Hamas the state of Israel”. a Twitter user said: “So, you clearly The Israeli Ministry of Strategic has promoted Israel Apartheid and the PFLP have successfully The Israel-boycott organisations confirm BDS supports terrorism.” Affairs and Public Diplomacy Week in cities and universities placed more than 30 of their in question are shown to have Adam Marcus said, “So, do you released its report on Sunday, across the country and the world. members, 20 of which have served received millions of euros in funding share Hamas’s view on gay people revealing more than 100 links “This campaign has led to dozens time – including for murder – in from European countries and and women? Very progressive!” shared between the internationally- of violent incidents against Jewish senior positions within BDS- philanthropic foundations, while Gimpel the Fool said, “Nice to see designated terrorist organisations students on campus.” promoting NGOs. It documents gaining access to additional funds you admit you are Hamas.” Hamas and the Popular Front for Responding to the report, BDS SA how boycott organisations and through financial, crowdfunding, Continued on page 6>> the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) Board Chairperson Professor Farid with at least 13 anti-Israel BDS Esack told the SA Jewish Report that promoting nongovernmental he found the report to be “rather Starting a new chapter organisations (NGOs). juvenile and deceitful”. He insists South Africa is mentioned several that Khaled is no more a terrorist times in the detailed 80-page report, than the late President Nelson Guy Lerner Photo: including the fact that BDS South Mandela was. Africa (BDS-SA) plays “a central The report “ignores the role” in the global BDS campaign contribution of many other against Israel. Palestinian solidarity formations in “The terror groups have realised South Africa, and gives much more that armed conflict is not perceived as credit to BDS South Africa than it legitimate by the majority of Western deserves”, he said. society,” the report says. As a result, “BDS-SA, like its international Hamas and PFLP operatives have partners, has always advocated “infiltrated and adopted seemingly a peaceful and non-violent benign NGOs” in South Africa as approach in seeking justice for well as in the Palestinian Authority, the Palestinians, an end to Israeli Europe, and North America. occupation, and peaceful co- One of the most notorious names existence for all the people in in the report is Leila Khaled, who that region. We have consistently became the poster girl of the PFLP opposed all forms of racism, in the 1970s for her involvement in including anti-Semitism. If others the hijacking of two airliners. insist on equating a narrow The report says that BDS-SA contemporary nationalist and “disingenuously draws on South religio-ethnic ideology with Africa’s past under the apartheid a 3000-year-old religious and regime as a model for the boycott cultural tradition which has made campaign against Israel, a theme an enormous contribution to Rabbi Sam Thurgood of Beit Midrash Morasha writes the finallamed of the which reverberates with NGOs civilisation throughout the ages, Torah under the guidance of Rabbi Ruben Suiza. See story on page 14 around the world. Leila Khaled, a then… well, tough.”

The Jewish Community HAVE YOUR SAY Survey of South Africa For more go to www.jcssa2019.co.za 2 SA JEWISH REPORT 8 – 15 February 2019

MAURITIUS SAVER PACKAGES Israeli academics reject university’s reconciliatory statement 3* PEARLE BEACH Book and pay between Stay for 7 nights 11 & 15 Feb for 7 night TALI FEINBERG subsequent loss of the important Israeli voices university last year, Madonsela asked SAJBD (halfboard) pay for stay at LONG BEACH/ at the conference.” President Mary Kluk if she [Madonsela] SUGAR BEACH/ Israeli academics are angry at a reconciliatory At the meeting, Professor Thuli Madonsela, could facilitate the engagement between the 4 from R16 570 LA PIROGUE or AMBRE statement put out by the South African Jewish the Law Faculty Trust Chair for Social Justice, university and the SAJBD. per person valid ...and get until 30 April 5% discount Board of Deputies (SAJBD) and Stellenbosch stressed that the university’s actions were Kahn said this meeting was important on a package price for University regarding the academics’ non- aimed at ensuring peace and security for the because, “It was important to sit around the Contact Anne anytime during the year attendance at a conference at Stellenbosch conference following calls to exclude Israeli table and discuss the issues face to face, to 011 485 4109 University in December last year. participants. It had never been its intention get clarity on what had transpired, and find a 082 459 2221 The Israeli delegates pulled out of the to undermine academic freedom, nor to make constructive way forward.” 082 454 9768 Ts & Cs apply • Subject to availability conference after their names were removed Israeli participants feel unwelcome. She said the SAJBD wanted an assurance from the academic programme. This followed from the university that there was no policy of a call for an academic boycott of the event by boycotting Israeli universities. “It became clear anti-Israel activists. The academics say that the in the meeting that the intention was never a SAJBD and university are missing the point, BDS agenda,” said Kahn. and believe that they should rather not have “Protests are a way of life in South Africa, put out their statement. “The statement does not and certainly on our campuses. Just as it is Professor Arie Nadler – who was supposed include an assumption of the protester’s constitutional right to object to present his research at the conference – responsibility...” to issues, it is every South African’s right to expressed deep disappointment. “A key element freedom of expression,” she continued. in ameliorating past wrongdoings is the truth. “Universities and all South Africans need to Their statement is a ‘political’ effort to smooth guard freedom of expression fiercely, and not the edges, and ignores truth,” he wrote to the be bullied into abandoning these values. The SA Jewish Report Both the SAJBD and the university only way to respond to bullies is to stand your from Israel. emphasised that academic freedom should be ground and guard your principles. We believe “I did not ‘end up not attending’ because I embraced, defended, and never be taken for that following this incident, Stellenbosch will Appliance Repairs on Site felt ‘unwelcome’. Also, this was neither a matter granted. “We continue to welcome academics defend academic freedom in spite of threats of ‘perception’ nor an issue of ‘guaranteeing from all over the world at Stellenbosch and intimidation. rs, ashe peace and security’. The truth is: Israeli scholars University, including scholars from Israel,” “We commend many of our academic shw had been actively excluded from the academic said De Villiers. The conference was titled institutions for standing up to BDS bullying, Di Stoves s, nes, programme.” “Recognition, Reparation, Reconciliation: The including the University of Cape Town, ge achi d M Following the meeting with the SAJBD, Light and Shadow of Historical Trauma”, and which refused to cower to BDS pressure last ri ing F sh ore Professor Wim de Villiers, the Rector and Vice- was organised by Professor Pumla Gobodo- year to cancel the International Debating a ryers & m W le D Chancellor of Stellenbosch University, wrote Madikizela, the Research Chair for Historical Championships. [The University of the mb Tu Call Jason that the university’s leadership “expressed Trauma and Transformation at the university. Witwatersrand] too stood firm when it hosted

082 401 8239 / 076 210 6532 regret that the Israeli academics ended up not While the SAJBD and the university were the Zamir Jazz Quartet.” FREE QUOTATIONS attending the conference”, and that “scholars happy, the Israelis explained why they were not. Kahn said that Madonsela had apologised from Israel ended According to Nadler, “The statement does on behalf of the university, and that the board up not participating not include an assumption of responsibility, or was encouraged to learn that Stellenbosch was Show your love, gratitude & because they felt an apology. I would have expected differently currently collaborating with Israeli academics. appreciation with our beautiful unwelcome by the from a society built on the noble foundations manner in which of truth and reconciliation. It would have been Shabbat times this week presentations, filled with the university better if this statement had not been made.” Starts Ends fruit, nuts and chocolates engaged with anti- Professor Raya Morag, who was also 18:15 19:28 Johannesburg Israel activists. supposed to be at the conference, agreed. “This 19:15 20:21 Cape Town This perception of statement is but another denial by Stellenbosch Kingswood Centre, 18:15 19:23 Durban 9 Northfield Ave, Glenhazel exclusion was not University of its outrageous behaviour towards intended by the the Israelis. It is a shame.” 18:15 19:41 Bloemfontein ☎ (011) 440-4924 university, and we SAJBD National Director Wendy Kahn 18:15 19:52 Port Elizabeth regret this and the said that at the time of the impasse with the 18:15 19:41 East London

Torah Thought Scoop 5x3.indd 1 011 8851200/12018/03/19 12:01 PM savoymedicarehealth.co.a 011 6404321/31 Make 2019 a year of reconciliation and celebration perceliamedicarehealth.co.a his year is a year of celebration, and a different biographies of people whose lives a very diverse ur team of eperts will provide that needed service in one day at chance to bring South Africa together I share. It is my hope that I will understand community, with Last year, 2018, was an important better how South Africa’s multi-faceted members coming SAVO PHARMAC PERCELIA PHARMAC T Rabbi Adrian year, because of the many historic society has tackled the many obstacles on from all kind of 17th February 24th February Michael Schell, milestones that were commemorated. The the path to reconciliation. However, I think backgrounds, 09:00 – 13:00 08:00 – 14:00 Bet David end of World War I, the 80th anniversary of this year is also a great opportunity for all progressive and Progressive EARN POINTS AT OUR DISCOVERY VITALITY WELLNESS DAY the “so called” Kristallnacht – the night of of us, the Jewish community included, to orthodox, Chassidim, Jewish the broken glass – in 1938, which marked examine our own identity within this larger secular, Jews by Community NURSE – Blood pressure; Glucose; Cholesterol; BMI (Height/Weight); Morningside HIV (optional) (This assessment will be claimed directly by the nurse) the beginning of the Final Solution of Nazi context. birth, by choice, and BIOKENTICISTS: Measurements; Fitness Test (treadmill); Strength Tests; Germany. And, on a more positive note, Where do we see ourselves five, 10, and so much more. I see a people united and Flexibility Tests DIETICIAN: Body composition; Reports; Cholesterol; there was, of course, Nelson Mandela’s 25 years from now? More importantly, what willing to shape the future for the best. But, Guidelines (Payable on the day, thereafter claimable) 100th birthday. impact will we make as Jews in the future? do I see everything? Am I seeing the broken This year will be a year filled with How can we keep our values and ideas identities of some of our fellow Jews, the EARN VITALIT POINTS those kind of remembrance days too. In significant for our own community, and for scars of the past, the open wounds that are up to 5000 (nurse) up to 7500 (biokineticist) up to 1000 points (dietician) September, we will mark the beginning of the society we live in? not able to heal yet? World War II in 1939, and in June, we will These questions can be answered only Do we see them? commemorate the 75th anniversary of if we start thinking about our own identity I am not an expert on reconciliation in D-Day. But most importantly, South Africa right now. How does Judaism fit into post- South Africa. My biography as a German is going to celebrate the end of apartheid, apartheid South Africa? What is our role in Jew is very different to yours. But I share VEHICLES WANTED and the first democratic elections in 1994 – the reconciliation process, one that perhaps the dream and longing to heal our society. already 25 years ago. only begins now? What is our history? I see the Jewish community spearheading This is a milestone in the younger history Where did we fail, and where did we match a process out of which healing for South of South Africa, and I am looking forward to the principles of Judaism? Africa will grow. Let us make 2019 a year it. For me, it is an opportunity to learn more When I look at the set-up of the broader of celebration, and a milestone year in about the history of South Africa, and the Jewish community in South Africa, I see bringing South Africa closer together.

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% The SA Jewish Report subscribes to the Code of Ethics and Conduct for South African Print and Online Media that prescribes news that is truthful, accurate, Arnold Orkin 082 823 7826 fair and balanced. If we don’t live up to the Code, within 20 days of the date of publication of the material, please contact the Public Advocate at 011 484 3612, AUTO AFRICA fax: 011 484 3619. You can also contact our Case Officer on [email protected] or lodge a complaint on their website: www.presscouncil.org.za 8 – 15 February 2019 SA JEWISH REPORT 3 Anti-Semitic graffiti found in Gauteng

NICOLA MILTZ same night.” Semitic graffiti were “no cause for real “My guess it was some youngsters concern”. wo seemingly unrelated from the neighbourhood or a single “Incidents like this are inevitable incidents of anti-Semitic person walking around in the middle from time to time. Anti-Semitism Tgraffiti have been discovered of the night,” he said. remains quite low in South Africa.” within close proximity of two Both Johannesburg and Pretoria According to Saks, there has been a Gauteng synagogues in the past week. incidents of anti-Semitic graffiti were 50% rise in anti-Semitic incidents in Last Friday night, as congregants reported to the CSO. South Africa, at 62 incidents reported were walking to the Sydenham- Said Director of CSO in 2018 compared with 44 incidents Highlands North Hebrew Johannesburg, in 2017. Congregation, they came across Jevon Greenblatt, While it remains relatively low Graffiti on the corner of Steger and offensive graffiti. The word, Shroder Streets in Groenkloof, Pretoria “What we are compared to Europe and other “Revolution”, and below it, “Hitler seeing is in line parts of the world, right-wing was here” were crudely displayed on broad issue, or anything seething with global trends, anti- Semitism is on the rise in this an electrical box close to the shul on under the surface, just individual even though what country, experts say. the corner of Main and Viljoen Street, bigotry and hatred. I’m reticent about we are experiencing Commenting on the Pretoria Rouxville. making this into something bigger in South Africa is incident, Saks said, “These people Meanwhile, in Pretoria, at the than it is,” said Fox. not yet at the levels are trying to get at the Jewish intersection of Steger and Schroder Louis Perlman, the Chairman being experienced community, trying to make people Streets in Groenkloof, a short walk of the Pretoria Council of the SA in Europe and other upset. It rewards them.” He said it from the synagogue, someone spray Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD), countries. Any form was best to remove the offending painted a black swastika and the confirmed that the graffiti was found of anti-Semitism graffiti, and not turn it into a big word, “Hitler” written inside a heart about half a city block from the is a concern, and issue as this “might encourage and on the asphalt in the middle of the Pretoria shul complex. Graffiti on an electrical box near Sydenham-Highlands should not be reward the perpetrators, leading to road. This apparently was not yet The matter, he said, was reported North Hebrew Congregation treated lightly copy-cat actions”. there when congregants walked to to the local Community Security assuming this was the motive”. because history The most recently recorded and from shul on Shabbat. Organisation and National Council of Wilkinson said he did not believe shows that words turn to actions.” incidents of anti-Semitic graffiti On Sunday morning, a resident the SAJBD. this had happened before, certainly These incidents didn’t warrant a directly targeting synagogues in of an old-aged home in Groenkloof “As there appears to be a link not during his tenure as ward 59 specific increase in security, however. South Africa occurred in 2015, when noticed a large and vulgar spray between the two graffiti incidents, councillor. “What it comes down to is constantly swastikas were daubed on the wall painted body part (that of a penis) both having appeared at about the “I have not come across this working with the community, of the reform shul in Port Elizabeth painted on two sides of the road on same time, attention seeking rather during my time as councillor. In one remaining vigilant and aware, and in January. In the second incident Leydes Street. She quickly alerted than hate speech directed against the weekend, I have a penis with the putting measures in place to make in July of the same year, a slogan the city councillor in her area, Shaun Jewish community is perceived to be word ‘why?’ written next to it on sure that Jewish installations are reading, “Your land will escape” and Wilkinson. On inspection of the area, the motivation of the perpetrators.” Leydes Street, just outside one of the protected.” below that, a swastika, followed by Wilkinson came across more graffiti He said the incident was kept female residences of the University of Anti-Semitism expert David Saks, “Heil Hitler F**k the Jews Amen” near the Pretoria synagogue. low key, and there was no release Pretoria; a swastika at the synagogue the Associate Director of the South was written on a sign attached to the It is believed the same person to the local press “as this may only in Groenkloof; and an old South African Jewish Board of Deputies, fence of the Essenwood Road shul in or small group of people were encourage the attention seekers, African flag in Muckleneuk, all on the said that the two incidents of anti- Durban. responsible, as it appeared as if it was the same “handiwork”, Wilkinson Clover’s African footprint an elixir for Israel’s Central Bottling said. Further away in Muckleneuk, an JONATHAN KATZENELLENBOGEN Israeli law to break up highly concentrated old South African flag, this time in industries, Wertheim had to sell off some of colour, was painted on a public wall. srael’s biggest drinks company could his holdings. It is believed that all three Pretoria soon control Clover, one of South Africa’s In response to the announcement of incidents took place on Saturday Ilargest dairy and juice businesses. the buyout offer earlier this week, the night, 2 February. There are no Privately-held Central Bottling Company local Boycott Divestment Sanctions (BDS) witnesses so far, but according to (CBC), the owner of the Coca-Cola franchise movement released a statement objecting Wilkinson, several reports of rowdy in Israel and the dominant player in the to the deal, claiming that CBC was complicit youngsters were heard in the vicinity country’s drinks market, is the leading in human rights abuses and violations of of at least two of the three incidents. partner in a group, called Milco, to buy Clover. international law. Rabbi Gidon Fox of the Pretoria If the deal goes through, CBC will have a 60% “BDS South Africa is currently investigating Hebrew Congregation said that share in Clover. the matter, and will be meeting with our while incidents of this nature were CBC is owned by the heirs of its founder, partners as well. If the deal proceeds, we will unfortunate and offensive, he Moshe Wertheim, who was one of Israel’s actively support and join the call for direct Clover, would you consume any products believed it to be an isolated incident, wealthiest men. Wertheim, who died three action and a militant but peaceful campaign, from the dairy and drinks producer? The and did not see the need to make a years ago at the age of 86, originally fought in including protests and disruptions against poll results showed that 253 took part, and big deal out of it. the Palmach, the Jewish underground army. Clover, and a boycott of all its products. that about 50% voted “no” they would not “I have been here for more than 13 He founded CBC in 1967, and also held Later, the followers of the Radio Islam consume Clover products. About 45% voted years, and this is the first time I have large stakes in Bank Mizrahi-Tefahot, and Twitter feed were asked, “If Israel’s Central “yes”, indicating that they would consume come across anything anti-Semitic. a broadcasting company, Keshet. Under an Bottling Company acquires a 60% stake in Clover products, and Continued on page 4>> I don’t believe it is emblematic of a

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TALI FEINBERG me back” or “I have reached home grew up in a kosher home, and safely”. kept Shabbos.” “He is exceptionally smart. He has But who is Ari Kahn? “He moved Doucha said he was surprised always been a forward thinker. He from Cape Town to San Francisco that Radio 702 had managed to always showed me the other side of in 2002 because he saw it as a reach his uncle, and that Kahn even the coin, and taught me how to look spiritual centre of the world,” chose to go on air, as he had always at things more than what they are,” said his brother-in-law, Laurence shied away from the limelight. says Dean Doucha, about his uncle, Lasersohn. “He is extremely anti- “Maybe he just wanted to clear Ari Kahn. establishment and very spiritual… the air and attach a person to the Last week, Kahn revealed basically a ‘rocket scientist’. other side of this equation, but I on Radio 702 that he was the “He studied medicine before can promise he’s had no sleepless original inventor of the Please nights about this. There’s M&R Services Call Me feature that has been at no ego involved – he’s just the centre of a decades-long legal not that kind of person. battle. “Whatever he said is Electrical • Gates/Doors For the past 10 years, Nkosana true, as he has no reason Kenneth Makate has been to tell anything but the demanding compensation from truth. He continues to Fences Lighting • All Vodacom for inventing the Please work on game-changing Call Me feature that it adopted. projects, but he never Household Repairs & Speaking to Bongani Bingwa attaches his name to on 702, Kahn pointed out that them. He lives a humble Installations Vodacom had admitted that he was existence, and is always the rightful owner of the patent. looking to better the Marc-Paul Fleischmann “It’s not something new... they doing a computer science degree, world and humanity. His foresight have been telling me this for the for which he was awarded the is unparalleled.” 072 462 4067/065 975 7628 past ten years privately. The simple highest marks ever at Wits Meanwhile, Makate has denied fact is what Makate suggested to University. He’s a very bright that he and Vodacom have reached Vodacom, they never developed or guy, and he’s not confrontational. a settlement agreement. Vodacom deployed. His buzz memo was not I’m sure he’s working on his next lead Independent Director Saki deployed back in 2001, and has not patent.” Macozoma said the company been deployed in the 18 years that Doucha said Kahn was “an could have handled the matter have followed. And what Vodacom enigma and a genius, not governed with Makate better from the start actually developed belonged to by the boundaries of society”. For when he was still an employee. MTN,” he said. example, he had been vegetarian or “We cannot undo the past. Where Chris Schoeman, Makate’s former vegan his whole life. He remembers we’ve erred, as the company, we litigation funder, said that what that his uncle was registering apologise,” he told Eyewitness News. Kahn said was absolutely correct. domains online before the internet Though Vodacom said it couldn’t “Makate invent[ing] the Please Call even came about. “I battle to disclose how much its chief Me concept – that is simply not fathom that kind of foresight,” he executive had offered Makate, only true,” said Schoeman. said. revealing that it was substantially A patent filed by MTN on 22 Yet, he emphasises that Kahn is higher than the previous R10 January 2001 shows that Kahn a very private individual who, million offer, Schoeman said the is the inventor of “a method and ironically, lives mostly “off the company offered Makate system for sending a message grid”. “He is a salt of the earth R49 million in compensation. to a recipient and a system for kind of guy, but also a major Kahn told 702 that he did not implementing the method”. It gives philanthropist. And he is a yid expect to be paid for his invention, examples of messages that could at heart! He is one of six siblings as he was a consultant to MTN at be sent automatically, like “call who have all done very well. They the time. Clover’s African footprint an elixir for Israel’s Central Bottling >>Continued from page 3 fruit juice sales is nearly 47%. It has a 26% share of the remaining 5% indicated that they did not care South Africa’s butter market, 23% of the fresh cream either way. market, and 28% of the Feta cheese market. Given the small sample size, and that people might The offer of R25 a share made on Monday this week have been confused by the question in having to compared to Friday’s close of R20, means the company vote “no” in support of a boycott, the poll is hardly a is valued at R4.8 billion. Clover issued a cautionary definitive indicator of views. announcement in October last year, which indicates that The Milco consortium did not respond to the BDS negotiations regarding the sale have taken some time. threat, but is most likely to have An independent board, MASSIVE considered a boycott along with other an independent expert – risks in the due diligence process PricewaterhouseCoopers – as well as ahead of the offer. The offer of R25 a share management have backed the deal, SUMMER SALE Apart from CBC, the other partners which will be put to a shareholder vote made on Monday this in the Milco acquisition group are next month. The proposed deal will Brimstone, a South African-based week compared to Friday’s then face a series of regulatory hurdles Up to less 50% black-owned holding company, which close of R20, means the before final approval. will hold 15%; Ploughshare, another company is valued Given its heavy dominance of black-owned local investment group, the relatively small Israeli drinks on European which will hold 11%; Incubev, a group at R4.8 billion. segment, and its past problems with of executives with experience in the competition authorities, CBC may well sector, at 8%; and Clover management, with a 6% be keen to acquire assets outside of the country. designer pants, holding. The company produces and distributes a wide range Milco views the buyout as a way to take advantage of products that include a full range of Coca-Cola blouses and of the African opportunities generated by the growth drinks, Carlsburg beer, fruit juices, iced tea, and Tara of the continent’s middle class. The investors also dairy products. According to a report in the Israeli see value in Clover’s large footprint in the region, newspaper Haaretz, CBC has a two-thirds share of the skirts and its extensive cold chain distribution system. country’s soft-drink market. Clover has 13 production facilities in South Africa, It has a 90% share of the country’s cola market, and and distribution coverage in Botswana, Lesotho, a 75% share of the iced-tea category. Outside of Israel, OPEN MONDAY TO FRIDAY Mozambique, Namibia, and Swaziland. The company the company has operations in Turkey, Uzbekistan, sees export and potential growth opportunities in and Romania. much of sub-Saharan Africa. Two years ago, CBC was ordered to pay a $17 million 9 Grafton Ave, corner Roxborough Ave Clover employs 8 500 people, and has sizeable (R228 million) fine by Israel’s Antitrust Authority, Craighall Park. (011) 447-0337 shares in the markets in which it competes. The which performs a role similar to that of South Africa’s company says its share of the South African pure Competition Commission. 8 – 15 February 2019 SA JEWISH REPORT 5 SA-born Litvak accuses Lithuania of insincerity on Holocaust STEVEN GRUZD Gochin said, “They were so dishonest and realised that it was the very same agenda as Gochin says yes. “It is… a statement to so racist against Jews, that I took it on as denying Jewish citizenship, and had no other Lithuania that they did not murder all of us, we ort Elizabeth-born Grant Gochin is a personal mission to expose them.” His recourse but the legal system, I sued… Lithuania are still here, and we will not go away. We are suing the Lithuanian government to doggedness means that today, thousands of has many murderers they have converted into the guardians of the memory of our families. Ptake down a plaque outside a library South African Litvaks hold a Lithuanian (and their national heroes.” We will not forget, and we cannot move forward in the capital city, Vilnius. The memorial therefore European Union) passport. Hundreds He knows he won’t win. “For them to rule until they tell the truth.” honours Lithuanian nationalist hero Jonas more are applying. for me – that Noreika was a genocidal monster A statement by the Lithuanian Embassy in Noreika, who was also responsible for the He asserts that Lithuanians have not – is to admit that… the government has Pretoria reads: “The position of the ministry murder of 14 500 Lithuanian Jews in 1941, confronted their dark engaged in Holocaust of foreign affairs is clear – there should be no including one hundred of Gochin’s relatives. past like the Germans Grant Gochin denial and distortion, monuments in Lithuania to the people who The court case resumes in March. or like South Africans and that it has taught participated in wartime atrocities. We condemn A financial planner now living in Los Angeles, who engaged in a Truth the population a false all forms of collaboration with the Nazi regime California, Gochin left South Africa in 1986 and Reconciliation national narrative … To during Lithuania’s occupation. after being arrested by the security police for Commission. The rule against me, they “Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas anti-apartheid activities. standard response to the have to commit massive Linkevičius personally has called upon Like most of South Africa’s approximately public slaughter of additional fraud and Lithuanian institutions to remove a plaque 70 000 Jews, Gochin is a “Litvak”, tracing his 220 000 Lithuanian Jews negate huge amounts honouring Jonas Noreika recently. He said ancestry to Lithuania. More than three times in 1941 was that “nobody of evidence that is not an honest assessment of history will aid in as many were murdered in Lithuania. Hearing knew who committed deniable. They will countering propaganda against the small Baltic stories of the “old country” from his grandfather the murders, nobody therefore throw the case country, and attempts to blacken the reputation piqued his obsession with this history. apparently saw anything, out on a technicality, and of Lithuanian freedom fighters. ‘We shouldn’t In 1989 – with Lithuania still part of the nobody knew anything, avoid ruling.” He plans be helping the propagandists. We should Soviet Union – Gochin started enquiring but everyone had tried to to appeal all the way to respond in principle when undisputed facts about reclaiming his family’s citizenship. Soon save a dozen Jews”. the European Court of are raised about immoral behaviour and Nazi thereafter, he was among the first tourists when Gochin contends that Human Rights, where collaboration by separate individuals… Specific the country regained independence. “the responses were he believes he will win individuals who have committed criminal acts But, he says, he soon realised that the clearly dishonest, and the eventually. need to be judged accordingly. If we don’t do Lithuanians had huge blind spots about their dishonesty was taught Gochin sees this, we are contributing to the propaganda role in the Shoah. This included glorifying as a national narrative”. He is determined to Lithuania’s outreach to South Africa’s Litvaks as machine which seeks to ruin the reputation of anyone anti-Soviet, ignoring that many had expose the truth. insincere and self-serving. all,’ Linkevičius said. killed thousands of Jews, or aided in their He says, “Their government efforts were “They admit Jews were murdered, but they “We would like to draw your attention [to the deaths, or simply stood by. insincere, and designed only to increase will not acknowledge those that committed fact] that the memory of the Holocaust is one “I applied for Lithuanian citizenship, and met investment and tourism. Live Jews were the crimes, nor will they remove the honours of the key topics of Lithuania’s state policy in with a wall of Jew hate,” Gochin told the SA inconvenient before the Holocaust, and the they awarded to the murderers of our families. education and heritage protection. Jewish Report. “There was one standard applied murdered Jews are inconvenient to them now. They cannot have it both ways – they cannot “Due to declared neutrality in 1939 and three to ethnic Lithuanian applicants, and a different So, they obfuscate.” spit on the memory of our families, and ask us occupations (1940 – Soviet, 1941 – Nazi, 1944 – standard applied to Jewish applicants.” After When his research unearthed the fact that to support them.” He calls it an insult to our Soviet) the Lithuanian state didn‘t participate in five lawsuits, he was finally granted citizenship, Noreika was behind the deaths of his family, intellect, our families, and history. World War II, and was just a victim. During the proving that his grandfather could be both he says, “I requested that history be recorded So, should South African Jews apply for Holocaust, approximately 95% of Lithuanian Jewish and Lithuanian. truthfully… but I met a wall of fraud. When I sought-after EU passports through Lithuania? Jews perished. Continued on page 15>>

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MIDDLE EAST He answers, “Fine”, to which an impersonator o be brave and stand up against of Miri Regev, Likud’s minister of culture and a Paula Slier something you believe is wrong is tough. Netanyahu stalwart, starts screaming, “You see, you TGoing against the grain is never easy. see he’s left-wing!” liberal. Trying to get people who are set in their ways This has fast proven to be the best way to taint the Wary of his critics, the former IDF chief was vague and beliefs to change them requires huge first serious contender in more than a decade to Israeli about specifics in his much-anticipated launch speech. emotional and spiritual strength. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hold on power. He did not explicitly say that he favoured the creation It takes a strong, often maverick, individual If Gantz’s detractors can show the former army chief of a Palestinian state and, in spite of Netanyahu’s to do this because support is generally given to to be a leftist, there’s less chance he’ll take votes away claims that Gantz would form a coalition government those taking the popular path, not going against from Netanyahu and his right-wing support base. with Arab-Israeli political parties, he himself was mum it. For weeks, after officially launching his political on the issue. South African-born Grant Gochin – who now campaign, Gantz fuelled speculation. He kept A poll taken immediately afterwards found lives in California – is that kind of man. He is an quiet about his stance on issues, and in return his that Gantz’s Israel Resilience party would win out-and-out activist, and believes in doing what is popularity soared. 21 parliamentary seats compared to 30 seats for right for his people, no matter what it takes. In this case, his people are Litvak Jews. Not saying anything seemed to satisfy Israelis. But Netanyahu. But if Gantz was to merge with Yair He is taking on the Lithuanian government, and not for the first time. Every time he had to open his mouth eventually, and when, he Lapid’s centrist Yesh Atid party, together they could he does so, it is to ensure that it recognises what the people of Lithuania did to their revealed his political platform for the first time last win 35 seats and defeat Netanyahu. It is the first time fellow citizens who just happen to have been Jewish. He has been on this mission week, instead of his ratings plummeting as pundits since the start of the election that polling has found for about 20 years. (See Grant’s story on page 5.) predicted, they’ve continued to climb steadily. the incumbent prime minister to be so vulnerable. What is so astonishing is that, while most South African Jews hail from Lithuania In anticipation of his speech, crowds gathered in Gantz is positioning himself in the centre of the (myself included), few of us know the horrific atrocities that were perpetrated by Tel Aviv’s Fairgrounds, where they showered him with political spectrum. The problem is that centrist parties Lithuanian civilians against their fellow citizens who just happen to have been praise, shouting “Gantz!” every few seconds – even traditionally don’t do particularly well in Israel. What’s Jewish. before he began talking. Keen to present himself as more, although Gantz’s party and Yesh Atid are in Around the world, people recognise the role the Germans, Austrians, and Poles a unifying leader with vast military experience, he talks to run together, it’s not clear if either party’s played in the war, but relatively few know about Lithuania. And, as South African leader is prepared to relinquish the top seat Jews, we certainly should. If Gochin has anything to do with it, we will. Also, to make such a merger work. At the moment, because of him, the Lithuanian government and people will never forget what they it’s Lapid who appears to be pushing the did to us. brakes. The reason I make this point about Gochin is that he holds his head up high, way Gantz appeals also to left-wing voters, above the proverbial parapet, and goes all out to do what he believes needs to be whose overarching goal is simply to oust done according to his conscience. He gets harassed and harangued on social media, Netanyahu. They’re wondering when, if and has made many enemies, but he keeps on fighting the good fight. ever, he’ll be forced from office because of “If we don’t stand for our families, they will be forgotten,” he says. It is as simple corruption charges. In the meantime, their as that for him. next best hope is a Gantz win. Not everyone has the courage of their convictions. Some people believe certain Polls show that about 70% of Israelis prefer things, but don’t stand proudly behind them. No, they’d rather duck and dive to a right-wing or centre-right government over avoid being found out because – I would hazard a guess – they have a good idea that a left-wing or centre-left one. In this respect, they are wrong. Gantz is careful not to position himself too Just this week, swastikas and Nazi slogans were found in the streets outside two much on the left of the political spectrum. shuls in Gauteng, in Pretoria and in Sydenham. Who was responsible? Your guess is He knows his best chance at success is as good as mine. to head a centre-right coalition. If he can Nobody has owned up to it. It was done when nobody was around. We clearly mobilise the anti-Likud elements around weren’t meant to find out who did it, simply to be shocked and upset. himself, it will be his best chance of defeating Defacing public property using Nazi slogans is ugly, anti-Semitic, and racist. But if Netanyahu. you are going to be a racist, stand by your beliefs, don’t be a coward and hide behind For now, Gantz’s star is shining bright. He the darkness and quiet. (See page 3.) appeals also to the politically apathetic, like Give us the opportunity to respond. a friend of mine who told me, “I’m voting for Come out and face us, and tell us why you hanker after such atrocious people like that army general even though I don’t know Benny Gantz the Nazis after what they did to the world. his name or what he stands for.” Being an anti-Semite, to me, is totally baffling. To simply hate a nation of people In response, Netanyahu is reportedly because they were born to a certain religion seems crazy. But then, racism generally pushed his IDF background. considering an alliance between his Likud party and has that impact on me. The overriding issue Israelis vote for is security, and smaller right-wing parties to make sure they win more But why hide behind the shadow of darkness? for the past 10 years, Netanyahu’s tough “Mr Security” seats than the centrists. My sense is that these defacements are nothing more than a game to those who image has kept him in the driver’s seat. But when But it’s not clear whether or not some of the parties painted them. I am not sure I am convinced of the conviction with which they were compared with that of Gantz’s legacy, it’s nothing that made up the outgoing Netanyahu coalition will written. It seems to me those involved were playing a nasty game, and somehow special. win the minimum 3.25% of the vote (equivalent to neo-Nazi slogans are de rigeur in their circle of friends. Keenly aware of this, the former army chief has four seats) to make it into the Knesset (Parliament). I bet it gave them a huge kick to go home and tell their friends. Personally, I think focused his political campaigning on his strong man In this scenario, Netanyahu won’t have enough they are cowardly troublemakers with too much time on their hands. image. He’s released short video clips highlighting the natural allies to form the next government. And that The time would be so much better spent researching what actually happened death and destruction caused in Gaza on his watch, could be his end. during World War II, and just how despicable the Nazis were. They certainly weren’t including the 6 231 Hamas targets hit and the 1 364 While a lot can still change in the weeks before people worth emulating. Palestinians killed during Operation Protective Edge the 9 April elections, for the first time in a long time Speaking about people to emulate, I found it quite astonishing how just last week, four years ago. For some, the videos were in bad Netanyahu is being forced to mull the option that he hordes of people were boycotting Vodacom and making all sorts of threats because taste, but their objective was clear – to make sure that might not win another term in office. of its battle with its former employee, Nkosana Makate, who claimed to be behind no-one would mistake Gantz for being a soft-hearted “Please Call Me”. People were picketing outside Vodacom and threatening “a backlash”. Even the government put pressure on Vodacom to pay this man, who was said to be the BDS and Hamas firmly tied, Israelsays inventor. >>Continued from page 1 Then, 702 speaks to Ari Kahn, only to discover that he was in fact behind this connection to terrorism and anti-Semitism”. invention, not Makate. So very confusing, not least of all because Makate won a long Ben Swartz, the National Chairperson of the “When people talk about the goals of the BDS and drawn-out case against Vodacom. South African Zionist Federation, told the SA movement, they don’t bother to read official We discovered that Kahn is indeed a man to emulate. (See page 4.) Isn’t it always Jewish Report, “The Israeli government report statements from its leaders. If you do, it becomes so inspiring to find out what people in our community are capable of and do? Kahn, explores links between BDS and various terrorist clear that the goals of its leaders are the same too, was watching the situation in regard to “Please Call Me” and Vodacom. He could organisations. Given the Media Review Network’s as those of the leaders of Palestinian terror have kept his mouth shut and the problem might have escalated, but he didn’t. overt and well publicised links with BDS, Hamas organisations. BDS rejects Israel’s right to exist as With integrity intact, he let South Africa know what really happened. Kol hakavod leadership, and PFLP operatives like Leila Khaled, it a Jewish state within any borders. It wants to see to these brave people! is not surprising that they are feeling pressured by a Israel wiped off the map. Promoting boycotts is report of this nature.” [just] a different means to achieve this goal.” Shabbat Shalom! Israel’s Strategic Affairs and Public Security Erdan called on European leaders to cut all ties Peta Krost Maunder Minister, Gilad Erdan, said the report “reveals the with the BDS movement and groups supporting Editor true nature and goals of the BDS movement and its anti-Israel boycotts. 8 – 15 February 2019 SA JEWISH REPORT 7 The State of the Nation that never was Howard Sackstein writes investment into South Africa. I irrigation and Israeli agri-tech has involved in the struggle a State of the Nation address pay tribute to Colin Coleman from once again turned South Africa from against apartheid since that he believes President Cyril Goldman Sachs, who partners with a nation of starvation into a food it began. me on these missions, and Adrian exporter. People like Helen Ramaphosa should have given Gore and Stephen Koseff, who Israeli water technology can also Suzman led the struggle this week. joined me in Davos. We welcome the save this country from the crippling against apartheid in y fellow South Africans enormous investment that Israeli droughts that climate change has Parliament, while Jews The state of the nation is companies are making in South wrought on our nation. such as Joe Slovo, Ruth Mdire, we have been crippled Africa, and we are delighted that the First, Rusty Bernstein, by rampant theft and corruption, Central Bottling Company has made a Land reform and Ronnie Kasrils led Cyril Ramaphosa we have bankrupted the fiscus, and R4.8 billion offer for Clover. We understand the need for land the armed struggle failed the people of South Africa. reform in South Africa, and the While we support the rights of from beyond its borders. We call on Twenty-five years since the advent Job creation need of people to own their own Palestinians to a national home, we Jews to continue this magnificent of democracy in South Africa, it is These three, and Brian Joffe are properties, especially given the long also support Zionism, the liberation tradition. unconscionable that we have created the driving force behind my job- history of land deprivation by the movement of the Jewish people. a kleptocracy that has stolen from the creation initiatives. A recent study apartheid regime. The government We can no longer single out Israel Education poor, and brought our nation to the by an international consulting group has resolved to begin land for criticism if we remain silent about Education must be a priority – brink of economic collapse and moral found that of the 9.75 million South distribution, starting with the 67% many of our friends who are some of another lesson taught to us by decay. Africans in formal employment, of land already owned by the state, the worst human-rights abusers in the Jewish community. In spite of I thank you for having entrusted about 2.5 million (or a quarter of municipalities, and tribal authorities. the world. Countries like Venezuela, centuries of oppression, pogroms, me with the task of righting our the country’s entire workforce) owe Cuba, Libya, Qatar, Russia, Turkey, and victimhood, the Jewish wrongs. Quite simply, the people of their employment to either Jewish Foreign policy Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Zimbabwe are community has always understood South Africa deserve better. founded, Jewish owned, or Jewish- There are those unpatriotic few just a few of our friends with abysmal that education is the key to bringing run businesses. I call on the Jewish among us who attempt to stop us human-rights records. a people from poverty to prosperity. Integrity and justice community to continue with this holy dealing with Israel. They do so for We have failed the children of South It is inconceivable that people walk mission. their own narrow selfish interests. Nation building Africa. Having now introduced free free after having been implicated I want to acknowledge that They do not care how many jobs are A key element of our year going university education, we must ensure by various commissions of enquiry Israeli coal and diamond purchases, lost in South Africa as a result, or the forward will be to re-focus on nation that universities focus on hard-skill into state capture. It is untenable investment, and tourism account crippling impact this will have on the building. It is time the politicians education not politics, that students that people implicated remain in my for hundreds of thousands of South African economy. They have within my own party stopped using learn in class, and that university is Cabinet. They must face the full force jobs in South Africa. We have successfully captured South African race for race-baiting popularism. That, a wide parliament of ideas where no of the law. And, if former President purchased a significant amount of foreign policy, and have led us to the racist, bigoted rhetoric of the EFF, one is oppressed or feels silenced. Zuma does not see his day in court, Israeli technology in cyber security, conclude co-operation agreements and the neo fascist statements of the this will destroy the entire moral medical technology, and mobile with racist, fascist, and neo-Nazi BLF movement, have no place in a Conclusion fabric of our society. communications, without which we terrorist groups like Hamas. They civilised democracy. In 2019, I commit myself and my would be falling further and further have also led us to re-name the The Jewish community was always government to less talk and more Foreign investment behind the rest of the world. street of the American consulate in at the struggle for justice and equality action. Let the people of South Africa I want to thank all of those business Our food security in South Africa Johannesburg after a terrorist who in South Africa. Jews created the judge us on our deeds, not on our people who have been so active in is also very much dependent on attacked civilian aircraft and took an trade-union movement in South election promises. May 2020 bring a assisting me in enticing foreign Israeli technology and expertise. Drip American diplomat hostage. Africa, and many have been actively much stronger state to our nation.

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facebook.com/jcssa2019 Institute for Jewish Policy Research 8 SA JEWISH REPORT 8 – 15 February 2019 The gaping pitfalls of SA’s land expropriation policy

JORDAN MOSHE allocated to this process has ended and moves have been made to extend it, only a few cases “If we implement the expropriation without remain unaddressed, he said. compensation [draft] law, it will destroy the economy, imperil jobs, and lead us to rack Myth two: people are hungry for land and ruin,” says Johannesburg advocate Mark It is often repeated in the media that most Oppenheimer. of the population is desperate for land. The Oppenheimer clarified the mysteries truth is, however, that possession of land itself surrounding expropriation without matters little to most people, Oppenheimer compensation and outlined the dire said. consequences for our country, at the Free “During the compensation process, most Market Foundation in Bryanston last people didn’t ask for their land back,” he said. Wednesday. “In some cases, the land was sacred or had “The people of South Africa need to know symbolic significance, but this accounted for about the impact this would have on their only 8% of cases. Ninety two percent of people lives,” he said, insisting that this issue is the preferred to receive money.” Money represents greatest threat we face as a nation. freedom. With it, one can buy land that one Given the misconceptions which surround really wants. If you’re a modern person, a the issue of land reform, Oppenheimer listed stretch of land in the Northern Cape is of little Mark Oppenheimer and dispelled various myths being peddled for use to you. some time. According to the 2016 Survey of the South skills, the expertise, and experience gained payers and foreign investment, where will the African Institute of Race Relations, the through years of work. It’s highly technical, funding come from?” Myth one: the land has not been given most pressing issue among South Africans is and people can’t simply step into it. Among “Forced to abandon their property once it back to its rightful owners unemployment, followed by service delivery, farmers, hundreds of years of knowledge are is seized by the state, taxpayers will leave in Oppenheimer stressed that if your land was and lack of housing. At the very bottom of the passed down, and they make use of incredibly droves. Only 1% of our population earns more taken from you unjustly, you are deserving list, coming after poverty and corruption, is technical equipment which requires skills and than R48 000 per month. If that 1% opts to of compensation. “If it was taken by the the matter of land redistribution at only 0.6%. training.” leave the country because of land reform, the apartheid state, or you were in some way Said Oppenheimer: “Almost no one sees this Citing a case study, Oppenheimer explained tax base will disappear. These people pay for unjustly deprived of it, you have every right as an issue. We have a small minority that is that in recent years, the government had spent roads, education, hospitals. You don’t want to to be compensated,” he said. Compensation incredibly vocal, and politicians have turned R1.4 billion buying 264 farms in the Eastern see them leave.” can be effected in one of two ways: either the a non-issue into something which energises Cape with the aim of redistributing them. original land is returned to you, or you received people. The average South African, however, is What followed, he said, was a 90% failure rate. Myth six: the Constitution impedes land financial compensation. not interested.” “Only 26 of them still function. The rest of reform He emphasised that this process has been failed completely. A farm is a very technical Contrary to popular belief, our Constitution taking place. “Between 1995 and 2014, Myth three: anyone can be a farmer endeavour that needs the expertise of someone does not need to be reformed for justice to be 1.8 million people who applied for The common belief is that managing a farm is who knows what it involves.” dispensed, said Oppenheimer. compensation received money. People not unlike managing a vegetable garden. Not “People have called it a traitorous document, presented their cases, and 77 000 of some so, says Oppenheimer. “It’s more than taking Myth four: this law won’t affect the one which sold out the South African people 80 000 cases were resolved.” Although the time ownership of the farm,” he said. “It’s about the economy to the National Party, and that true justice is As much as President Cyril Ramaphosa may say possible only if we alter the Constitution to otherwise, the fact remains that land reform allow for land reform without compensation. would have a direct impact on our economy, “Land reform is important. You are according to Oppenheimer. deserving of compensation if you are entitled “If you remove property rights, you are to it. The Constitution is a roadmap for dealing sentencing the nation to failure. As exceptional with such issues, and contains relevant clauses as our story as a nation may be, we believe to help resolve these issues.” Oppenheimer we can do things that other countries did and explained that the Constitution’s property succeed where they failed. clause section dealt with compensation, “Dispossession without compensation providing for expropriation. has been tried in Zimbabwe and Venezuela. “All states expropriate,” he said. “They have In Zimbabwe, not only farmers were to. The Constitution is equipped to handle affected. [The country] suffers from a 90% redistribution of land that has been illegally unemployment rate. Zimbabweans have found taken, bought on loan, or acquired in almost themselves driven to South Africa because of any other way. Although in most circumstances how that decision destroyed their economy. In it is just and equitable to pay compensation, Venezuela, the inflation rate is at 1.3 million there will be cases in which no compensation percent. The country suffers from mass is paid, and this is provided for by the starvation. This was the richest country in Constitution.” South America, with the biggest supply of oil Oppenheimer said that it was imperative in the world. A terrible economic policy ruined for us to make use of the avenues available to this. Within 20 years, they’ve managed to prevent the worst from happening. destroy a nation. “We have an ill-informed press that “We believe that we’re different here. When has supported expropriation without we do it, we won’t [have an] impact [on] the compensation in the name of justice,” he economy. If we implement this policy, we said. “Few voices have pointed out how this can look forward to seeing the banknotes policy will affect not only the wealthy but Zimbabwe rolled out here.” more importantly, the poorest members of our population. People need to express [their] Myth five: paying compensation is views and share the real impact this policy unaffordable would have. If you don’t have a platform to The argument that the state cannot afford share, support those who do, and share what to pay compensation is an outright lie, they publish.” Oppenheimer said. “[A total of] 0.3% of Additionally, he encouraged people to take government expenditure is currently being the fight to the polls. “The Democratic Alliance, spent on land reform,” he said. “For an issue African Christian Democratic Party, Inkatha that has been consuming our press for more Freedom Party, Congress of the People, and than a year, the government has allocated less Vryheidsfront Plus oppose the policy,” he said. than a percent of its budget. If it really was “They could be louder, but when Parliament an issue, more money could be allocated from took the vote to amend the Constitution, they government funds.” opposed it. They’re playing an important role. He said this funding would have to come Though we may have to hold our noses to vote from taxes, which would mean less money for them, they’re the ones fighting for us.” would be available for all the other government initiatives and schemes. “This is one among • A video recording of this talk can be many government initiatives, none of which found on the Free Market Foundation will be able to be funded if we dedicate funds YouTube channel at to this policy. And if this policy drives away tax https://www.youtube.com/user/ChannelFMF 8 – 15 February 2019 SA JEWISH REPORT 9 Scientists pour cold water on Israeli company’s cancer-cure claims NICOLA MILTZ “Where will their funding Victoria Forster, a cancer system to identify, fight, and Dr Mark Israel, the National come from? They said that they researcher and child cancer destroy cancer cells. Executive Director of the Israel team of scientists at a biotech could not publish any papers survivor who writes for While immunotherapy has Cancer Research Fund, told company in Israel have claimed covering their research because Forbes, called AEBi less than been around for many years, JTA, “Recent developments in Athat they will have the elusive cure they didn’t have the necessary forthcoming with information new advances in the field immunotherapy have ushered for cancer within a year, but scientists funding. Where will their about its alleged cure. coupled with recent drug in a medical revolution, both locally and abroad remain critical and funding come from for such a She also said that the claim approvals have intensified representing a real paradigm sceptical. major project? that one cure will work for all interest in it and its application shift in cancer treatment. The company, Accelerated Evolution “The sad side is that of the more than 200 different for cancer treatment, especially “Cancer immunotherapy is Biotechnologies Ltd, or AEBi, which was individuals diagnosed with types of cancer out there was a late-stage cancers that resist exciting because, as opposed to founded in 2000 from the ITEK Weizmann cancer are, again, exposed “huge red flag”. Such a claim was conventional treatments. other forms of therapy, it engages technology incubator, announced recently to news which creates “highly unlikely”. Immunotherapy drugs are the body’s own highly sensitive that a new treatment being developed by expectations. Imagine the Meanwhile, Israeli scientists already helping patients with system for detecting cancer the company would offer a complete cure for disappointment when this does are experimenting with melanoma, lung, stomach, liver, cells and destroying them. This cancer. What’s more, it would have “none or not materialise. We have seen immunotherapy, which and bladder cancers, as well as area will have a major impact on minimal side-effects at a much lower cost this happen before,” said Herbst. manipulates one’s immune some blood cancers. cancer outcomes going forward.” than most other treatments on the market”. It sounds too good to be true, say some scientists, many of whom were quick to criticise the claims. The treatment is said to work like a cancer antibiotic, according to scientists Dan Aridor, the Chairman of the board of AEBi, and Chief Executive Dr Ilan Morad. They call the treatment MuTaTo, or multi-target toxin, and they have been quoted in recent articles in Israel and the United States as saying that the results of pre-clinical trials have been very good. Fellow scientists, however, quickly rejected these claims, calling them “spurious”, “highly irresponsible”, “unsubstantiated”, and even “cruel”, according to JTA. So far, tests have been conducted only on mice, not on humans, although the scientists told the Jerusalem Post that their results were “consistent and repeatable”. The company told the Times of Israel that it planned to advance its research, and get to clinical trials as fast as possible. Locally, scientists have reacted with caution, some refusing to comment until such time as thorough clinical trials had been conducted, and more research material is available. The University of Cape Town’s Professor Musa Mhlanga, who works at the university’s Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and who is an expert in biomedical science, told the SA Jewish Report, “As a scientist, I am always initially sceptical. It is difficult to credibly understand the claims of AEBi without them providing peer-reviewed data published in a reputable journal. Barring that, these claims are simply that, claims that still need to pass the litmus test of the scientific and medical community. Once that has happened, much more can be said.” Abroad, sceptical scientists have also noted that the research group has not published any findings to back up its claims. Morad told the Times of Israel the company had not published its research in medical journals because it “couldn’t afford” to do so. The company later explained that it was also due to the fact that it was privately-owned, and was still in the process of generating a final patent. Health specialist Professor Michael Herbst of the Cancer Association of South Africa is also doubtful. Logistically, he said, it appeared to be totally unrealistic. “The company says that a biopsy specimen of each patient will have to be forwarded to the laboratory so that individualised treatment can be prepared for each patient. According to the World Health Organization, just more than 18 million individuals worldwide were diagnosed with cancer during 2018. Imagine the size of a laboratory that will have to handle 18 million biopsy specimens and prepare individualised medicine for each patient. Unbelievable!” He questioned where the infrastructure would come from, and who would man the laboratories, manufacturing processes, and distribution. 10 SA JEWISH REPORT 8 – 15 February 2019 London Stock Exchange celebrates Jewish businesswomen JORDAN MOSHE leaders in the fields of hi-tech, law, medicine, “There is still a high level of anti-Semitism we should be able to contact and find ways to finance, and philanthropy. in the world, and only through co-operation help each other achieve our goals in business he London Stock Exchange (LSE) Among several others, these included and transparency [regarding] the issues and philanthropy. Across all ages, we will all celebrated the contribution of Jewish Côté; recognised property lawyer Lady Ruth facing Jewish businesswomen around benefit from each other’s experiences and Twomen in business by launching the Morris of Kenwood; and Fleur Hassan- the world will we be able to rise above interactions. Jewish Women’s Business Network (JWBN) at Nahoum, the Deputy Major of Jerusalem. the misconceptions that are prevalent in Karpes agrees. “The world is already the LSE’s headquarters in London on 21 and 22 Having worked closely with the LSE society,” Singer says. moving towards flexible work hours and January, providing a platform for the promotion before, Singer is excited at the prospect Given the current global political and working from home,” she says. “This will of Jewish businesswomen across the globe. of being part of a network of Jewish The event and ceremony celebrated “the businesswomen from around the world ambitious and innovative spirit Jewish connected to financial markets. businesswomen bring to the global economy “I was very happy to see the LSE, one of as female entrepreneurs and business leaders the biggest stock markets in the world, take across the world”, according to Diane Côté, such initiative,” she says. Chief Risk Officer of the LSE and Chair of its “The LSE is taking a stand in support of Women Inspired Network (WIN), a group- Jewish businesswomen, and encouraging wide network aimed at nurturing female more of us to do business in the UK and talent and developing their careers. among ourselves, no matter where we are. Invited on the merit of their professional This is a formidable initiative that sends a achievements, Jodi Lynn Karpes, Monica message to politicians that business should Singer, and Kate Kuper were some of not be hindered by political views.” the South African women that attended. Says Karpes, “As a ‘solopreneur’, it is Singer was the founder of Strate, South imperative for me to be part of networks Africa’s Central Securities Depository, 21 of like-minded individuals. When asked to years ago, and successfully transformed a be part of the committee organising the completely paper-based financial market JWBN, it was an opportunity to be part into a fully digital one. Karpes established of something meaningful and global. The public relations business GreenQueen network represents many pillars that are Communications, while Kuper operates at important to me: women, Judaism, global the intersection of philanthropy, innovation, networks – with the credibility of the LSE.” and business as the president of the Moshal Although great strides have been made in The launch of the Jewish Women’s Business Network Scholarship Program. empowering the previously disempowered economic environment, along with an automatically attract more women into Held in collaboration with WIN, the in the workplace, Singer believes events like increase in blatant anti-Semitism, Karpes entrepreneurship as it is adaptable to forum included an evening conference and this can address the fact that the business believes in shining a positive light on our current lifestyles. I want more good market open ceremony. Bringing together world still has unconscious biases against Jewish women from across the world. people in business, people who bring heart, leading businesswomen, entrepreneurs, women, including Jewish women. “This “There is no risk in pinpointing these Jewish compassion, and balance into the work philanthropists, entertainers, and politicians opportunity offers so much healing to many personalities,” she says. “Quite the opposite. environment. The network will encourage of all ages from South Africa, the United past experiences that had been dismissive The LSE is a trailblazer in its industry, and a and facilitate mentorship. Together, we will States, Israel, and Gibraltar, the hallmark towards many of us – as women and as progressive thinker. It shows great strength inspire, nurture, network, and mentor.” event featured public and private industry Jews,” she says. and leadership, and that an enlightened Kuper says conferences and networks like world is emerging. I hope this marks a new those created by the LSE enable women, era in business by bringing heart into the including Jewish women, to explore in a safe work place, across all industries.” and supportive environment how to leverage All three believe that the experience their tremendous skills, tacit knowledge, will enable them to reach out to more wisdom, and networks to have a greater professional Jewish women, and empower impact in business and social spaces. them to harness the potential the network She says, “This is good for us all as women has to offer. “Forming a network that other who are each-other’s best cheerleaders, and businesswomen can join will make it easier also important in a world confronted by for Jewish women to venture into this world ongoing misogyny and anti-Semitism. I am a of entrepreneurship,” says Singer. “We all strong believer in the power of collaborative share similar stories and value systems, and impact and demonstration effects.” African countries vote to keep African Jewish Congress alive

SUZANNE BELLING to build bridges and assist each other in the maintenance of Jewish life in their The future of the African Jewish Congress countries. (AJC) and its Chief Executive, Rabbi Moshe Though presidency of the congress has Silberhaft, no longer hangs in the balance. since been handed to Harris, Silberhaft At the biennial general meeting of the continues to be its spiritual leader. He took congress in Cape Town on Monday, the this on as well as being spiritual leader for leadership of the Jewish communities the South African country communities. from seven African countries voted The latter role comes to an end at the end TIBERIAS unanimously to continue to keep it alive of this year. and functioning. They represent South Silberhaft has regularly travelled to Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, the affiliated countries to, among other Namibia, Mozambique, and Zambia. Kenya things, officiate at religious services and and Mauritius were not present. life-cycle events, visit individual Jews AJC President Ann Harris was given the living in isolated areas, and oversee mandate to plot the path forward for the the maintenance of Jewish cemeteries, ISRAEL organisation. according to Saks. The AJC was launched in 1992 to Until now, the congress has operated “provide a helping hand to the small under the auspices of the SAJBD. scattered African Jewish communities However, it will now operate as a separate in their endeavours to remain Jewishly organisation. active”, according to David Saks, the Said Harris, “The way forward will still Associate Director of the South African have to be discussed, as will matters such as Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD). funding, and the independence of the AJC. It was set up by the then National “The future methods are currently under Chairperson of the SAJBD, Mervyn Smith, investigation, and we will release further who then became congress president. details in the near future. But we can safely Saks says the congress has provided an say that the African Jewish Congress will important forum for African communities continue.” See page 12 for more is back. is back.

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NEW NEW GARY TORGOW RABBI SIMON

New Sinai speaker Gary Torgow is an inspirational JACOBSON communal and business leader, founder and volunteer. Torgow is the chairman of Chemical Financial New to Sinai and most well-known for his best-selling book, Corporation, the holding company for Chemical Bank (the Toward a Meaningful Life, his Meaningful Life Center has largest bank headquartered in Michigan). been described as the spiritual Starbucks by the New York He is also the founder and chairman of the Sterling Times. Rabbi Simon Jacobson is easily considered one of Group, a Michigan-based real estate, development the most outstanding speakers in the Jewish world today. and investment company. He currently serves on the His books have sold over 300 000 copies and have board of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, and is an been translated into Hebrew, French, Spanish, Dutch, executive board member of Business Leaders of Michigan Portuguese, Italian, Russian, German, Hungarian, Polish, and a trustee and board member of the Community Czech and Georgian. Clearly no stranger to the media, Foundation of Southeastern Michigan. He is on the Rabbi Jacobson has been interviewed on over 300 radio Foundation Boards of Wayne State University and Henry and TV shows, including CNN with Larry King and the Ford Hospital, and is a member of the Beaumont Health Charlie Rose Show. His sought-after talks have captured Trustees. Torgow serves as a trustee on the board of the hearts of thousands of participants on six continents Touro College, is on the executive board of the Jewish and in 40 states, with a strong, spiritual message and Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, he’s a senior VP of the unique insight into the human condition. Orthodox Union and is the board president of Detroit’s largest Jewish day school, the Yeshiva Beth Yehudah. Rabbi Jacobson is truly a master in applying Jewish thought to contemporary life and possesses the unique He is a board member of the Mesorah Heritage ability to express the timeless teachings of the Torah in a Foundation and has served as a volunteer on numerous modern and relevant way. civic and communal boards, including the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation and the Michigan Civil Rights Commission, both of which he served as chairman.

JHB CT | JHB | DBN

That time of year is approaching. The time when we come together as a CT 24 FEB BOOK NOW community to be inspired, uplifted and united. Over the past eight years we have heard thoughts and ideas from some of the most phenomenal DBN 27 FEB Computicket minds in the world – and this Sinai Indaba, they’re back. For a full list of sinai-indaba.co.za speakers go to sinai-indaba.co.za JHB 2-3 MAR 12 SA JEWISH REPORT 8 – 15 February 2019 Biopic reveals Bader Ginsberg before she became ‘notorious RBG’

CURT SCHLEIER – JTA Jane, Ruth’s daughter.) could change the dynamic. Ginsburg’s nasal Brooklyn tone. The idea for the film originated in 2010 at Ginsburg herself was peripherally involved Anna Miriam wrote in Alma that Jones, with he young attorney seems unsure Marty’s funeral. in the film from the beginning, giving her her “fine features and her awkward American of herself. As a law professor, she is “In a eulogy, someone mentioned the only blessing to Stiepleman, opening her files to him, accent, beautiful, perfectly manicured,” erases Tunaccustomed to appearing in court, case the two argued together,” Stiepleman said. and reviewing the script. She never asked for “any trace of Ginsburg’s roots”. so she hesitates at first, unable to begin her “Until the end of his life, he said that this was changes involving her character. Her focus was Besides the Shabbat reference, nothing else in summation. But once she gets going, there is no one of the most important things he did.” on assuring that the law – and Marty – were the film stands out as Jewish. stopping her. Jones has played a Jewish character before: It is the climactic scene of On the Basis of Sex, Margot Frank, the sister of the famous diarist, a biopic about Ruth Bader Ginsburg that makes Anne, in a 2009 BBC miniseries. its debut in February. The film focuses largely on Stiepleman would have none of the criticism. Charles Moritz vs Internal Revenue Service, a “I was desperate [to cast] Felicity,” he said. major gender-discrimination case that Ginsburg “Ruth has a particular alchemy – steely, driven, shepherded to trial years before she became a and precise. But when you get to spend time justice on the United States Supreme Court. To with her in the comfort of her home, all of succeed, she would have to overturn years of that is undergirded by joy and optimism. Some precedent. actresses can play steely. Some can play the

But the film is more than your typical Features Wenk/Focus Jonathan Photo: joy. But Felicity can combine the two, and she courtroom drama. While powerful and channelled Ruth’s essence.” inspiring, the movie also manages to paint a When asked about it, Jones sidestepped, subtle portrait of a woman finding a place for talking instead about how she focused on herself in a society that wants her to stay home Felicity Jones plays capturing the details of Ginsburg’s persona. and cook. a young Ruth Bader “Felicity has to depart, and it’s all about Viewers here don’t meet “notorious RBG”, as Ginsburg in On the becoming Ruth,” she said. “I become obsessive she is often called these days, the tough, take- Basis of Sex about costume, hair, makeup. I became no-prisoners liberal-pop-culture icon of the meticulous, listening to Ruth in court, how past decade. Young Ruth is not yet a superhero Ginsburg entered Harvard Law School in presented accurately. powerful her voice is, and how her Brooklyn in 1972. Yes, she is as determined to fight for 1956, one of nine women in the sixth class ever On the subject of accuracy, some have argued accent comes on strong when she’s frustrated.” truth, and is a respected lawyer, but she is still to accept women. that the casting of Jones erases Ginsburg’s At the time of shooting, Jones was also shackled by the misogyny of the time. “Why are you occupying a place at Harvard Jewishness from the film. Natalie Portman had preparing for her wedding to long-time fiancée, That nuanced and honest approach to the that could have been occupied by a man?” the been slated to fill the role, but that fell through director Charles Guard. For Guard, the timing character is thanks in large part to the approach dean asks in the film. in 2017. wasn’t the best. of two key creatives – screenwriter Daniel “So I can be a more understanding wife,” she When the trailer debuted in July, viewers “I kept telling him he had big shoes to fill,” Stiepleman, and the film’s star, Felicity Jones. responds. called attention to Jones’ accent – a far cry from Jones said. “Look at what Marty does for Ruth!” Jones, a British actress who launched her Her husband (played by Armie Hammer), a career at the age of 12, and has gone on to star year ahead of her in school, is diagnosed with in blockbusters such as The Theory of Everything testicular cancer. So Ruth juggles her own Jewish nominations for the Oscars and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, had an classes, attends his to take notes, and cares for emotional connection to the film. their newborn infant daughter Jane, all while MARCY OSTER – JTA and for best original song, The Place Where “I understood what it felt like as an outsider earning a spot on the prestigious Law Review. Lost Things Go, from the film.Shallow from A on so many levels,” she said in a telephone In spite of her academic success, no law RBG, about the life and impact of Supreme Star Is Born also received a best original song interview. “I grew up on film sets where there firm will hire her. One offers secretarial work. Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, received nomination for the writing and producing were only a handful of women.” Another tells her, “We hired a woman last year. an Academy Award nomination for best team that included Jewish songwriter, Reading the script, Jones said she felt an What would we do with two of them?” A third documentary feature. producer, and DJ, Marc Ronson. immediate connection. wonders warily if she observes Shabbat. The Oscar nominations were announced on Filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen received “What was interesting to me was trying to Ultimately, Ginsburg lands a job teaching law Tuesday morning. The awards ceremony will a nomination for best adapted screenplay discover the woman behind the icon,” Jones at Rutgers University in New Jersey, but even take place on 24 February. for The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. said. “What are the decisions she made, and that is tainted when she realises it is a token hire. BlacKkKlansman, a film about a Jewish Israeli filmmaker Guy Nattiv’s short film how did she get to the place where she is now? She is angry, but at the time, the broad equal- cop who teams up with an African-American Skin was nominated for best live action How did she harness that essence and anger, protection clause was by precedent applied detective to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan, was short film. Nattiv, who has lived in Los and use it to her advantage?” only to cases of race, not gender. There was one of eight films nominated for best picture. Angeles for the past several years, wrote Stiepleman, 37, is Ginsburg’s nephew. Ruth’s little recourse until Marty suggested a unique Adam Driver, who plays the Jewish police the film with Sharon Maymon, a friend husband, Marty, was his mother’s older brother. approach. Charles Moritz, a Denver resident, officer, was nominated for best supporting from high school. The 20-minute film about And while he isn’t exceptionally close to his was denied a tax deduction for home health actor in the film, which also nabbed a best- former skinhead group member Bryon aunt – he is closer in age to her grandchildren – care for his mother because he was unmarried. director nomination for Spike Lee. Widner will be screened this year as a full- he remembers being at the Ginsburg house for Women, divorced men, and widowers were Rachel Weisz was nominated for best length feature. Passover seders and Thanksgivings. (Chanukah entitled to the benefit, but unmarried men were supporting actress for portraying a friend of Roma, a drama that follows the life was normally held at the home of his cousin not. The Ginsburgs believed a male plaintiff England’s Queen Anne in the 18th-century of a live-in housekeeper to an upper- costume dramedy The Favourite. The film middle-class family in Mexico City, also picked up a best-picture nomination, received 10 nominations, including best British peer pledges support for Jewish and seven other nominations, including best picture, followed by A Star is Born and costumes. Vice with eight. Black Panther, with seven life in Commonwealth Composer Marc Shaiman was nominated for nominations, became the first superhero best original score for Mary Poppins Returns, movie to be nominated for best picture. SUZANNE BELLING Parliament, (but) “we have a very active group of Jewish peers interested in Jewish causes”. outh Africa’s Parliamentary Jewish caucus He paid a warm tribute “to one of my gurus, Commonwealth, and why the Commonwealth be done in the fields of economy, social relations, hosted Lord Jonathan Mendelsohn – a the marvellous Ann Harris”, the President of the is so relevant to where we are today. The faith relations, to see what can be done to develop Sformer front bencher in Britain’s Labour AJC, and her efforts to keep it alive. Commonwealth today is part of the future, it is part a new and better future.” Party – as its guest of honour this week. “It is very important for the African Jewish of the free association of nations coming together, The CJC, he said, was devoted to helping Mendelsohn, the President of the Congress to function well, to make sure we Jewish communities from about 33 countries Commonwealth Jewish Council (CJC), spoke at can keep connected with each other, to build, enhance the Jewish life of its members. It the culmination of the African Jewish Congress develop, work together, and do remarkable helped remember important events, including (AJC) biennial general meeting in Cape Town on things.” the Holocaust, with lasting values; and share the Tuesday. The CJC, he said, had started to work more responsibility we have to the world, including in He was effectively forced to stepped down actively within the Commonwealth and within the area of environmental sustainability. It works as a frontbencher by Labour leader Jeremy the various communities, also becoming to build relationships to improve society “to Corbyn at the beginning of 2018. More recently, observers at the World Jewish Congress. It invigorate our communities, to infuse enthusiasm Mendelsohn has publicly called Corbyn an anti- is fully recognised by the Commonwealth across societies, to make a contribution, Semite in Parliament. secretariat. ensuring the rights of people and democratic South Africa’s Parliamentary Jewish caucus “We are trying to be much more engaged values”. – the three Democratic Alliance members in what we can do to support and help Darren Bergman, Geoffrey Ramokgadi, Lord Several diplomatic representatives to South of Parliament, Michael Bagraim, Darren communities. It is a priority for us that we Mendelsohn, Michael Bagraim, Glynnis Breytenbach, Africa attended the event, including United Bergman, and Glynnis Breytenbach – welcomed are able to find ways for the many and varied Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft and children from the Afrika Kingdom High Commissioner Nigel Casey, and Tikkun School in Cape Town Mendelsohn, who is still a Labour working peer communities, stretching as they do across the Singapore High Commissioner Chua Thai-Keong, in the House of Lords. Mendelsohn said there globe. based on common values, with the potential to as well as the South African High Commissioner to was no informal Jewish caucus in the British “That is part of the mission of the build and develop a better future, to see what can Swaziland, Dumisile Sukati. 8 – 15 February 2019 SA JEWISH REPORT 13 Survey of SA Jewish community to answer our questions “This survey is essentially a chance for answer, he believes that Jews from across we can get on what the South African JORDAN MOSHE the community to take a selfie and look the country recognise the importance of the community looks like in 2019. The JCSSA at where it is,” he says. “By investigating survey. is a once-in-a-decade opportunity for all ow do we express our Jewish questions like trends in family sizes, the Hasson agrees, pointing out that the members of our wonderful community to identity in South Africa? Are feelings of parents about Jewish schools, success of the survey depends on communal have their say.” Hmost of us religious or not? Just issues surrounding anti-Semitism, and involvement. Updates on the launch of the survey how many of us are there in the country? impressions of Israel, we can provide “We need widespread participation from are expected to be released soon. The These are just a few of the questions we community members with useful all segments of the South African Jewish community is assured that the survey will soon be able to answer with certainty information that will help guide decisions community,” she says. “Whether one is will be completely anonymous, and no thanks to a countrywide survey of the relevant to the future. This is not a living in the heart of the Joburg Jewish personally identifying information will be South African Jewish community to be scholarly exercise, but one with practical community or in a small country town, collected. conducted this year by the Kaplan Centre. benefits.” whether one attends shul three times a day With religious affiliation no longer Mendelsohn expects a reasonable amount or has never entered a synagogue, each and • For news and information about how to asked in the South African census, the of communal participation. Though he every Jew living in South Africa is invited to get involved, visit the survey website and role of communal surveys has become acknowledges that the questions posed participate in the survey. The more people Facebook page at www.jcssa2109.co.za, increasingly important in gleaning are time-consuming and demanding to participate, the more accurate a picture and www.facebook.com/jcssa2019. information about the Jewish population. The last survey of this kind was conducted 14 years ago, and with the figures becoming increasingly outdated, the Kaplan Centre at the University of Cape Town (KC) and the Institute for Jewish Policy Research (JPR) in London are joining forces to bring these figures up to Optomise S12J VCC date in the form of the Jewish Community Survey of South Africa (JCSSA). The questionnaire is being compiled by the JPR and KC, who will also both carry out initial data analyses. The survey will be administered online by a major global polling company. “We need to fill the gaps in our Protected knowledge of the community,” says associate professor Adam Mendelsohn, the Director of the Kaplan Centre. “While Income Fund we may have some stats from independent research, no holistic collection of data on Closes 15 February 2019 the broader community has been gathered for some time. “Investment in Jewish communal life in South Africa benefits from being based on reliable and timely data. The data from the study will assist with community planning, service provision, care needs, Jewish schooling, and other communal programmes that strengthen the vibrancy of Jewish life in the country.” Because our understanding of the For more information community has been based largely on [email protected] anecdotes and speculation for the past few years, the timing of this survey is particularly important.

“This survey is essentially a chance for the community to take a selfie and look at where it is.”

“People in the Jewish community don’t know as much as many of them believe they do,” says Survey Project Co-ordinator Reviva Hasson. “The Jewish community has been evolving in all sorts of ways over time. Think schooling, migration, and expressions of Jewish identity. But without access to the solid empirical data that this survey will deliver, it is reliant on anecdotes when making important planning decisions about the future and the allocation of communal funds.” Hasson says that this survey is being conducted for the benefit of the community. “Because the Kaplan Centre is an independent research institute, it is able to offer insight into community dynamics without [having] an agenda of its own. The community will gain essential planning data to help a broad spectrum of Jewish communal bodies better understand the communities they *Minimum Investment: R1 000 000.00 Optomise Ventures Ltd is are serving.” an Authorised Financial **The information contained herein is for information Service Provider (FSP Regarding direct benefits to community 49628) in accordance a members themselves, Mendelsohn says purposes only and does not constitute advice in any form with FCSA regulations. that the information gathered will assist people to plan for the future. 14 SA JEWISH REPORT 8 – 15 February 2019 Morasha goes from darkness to light with new Sefer Torah 30 years ago, came from Israel and tore kriya INFINITY ANCHOR FUND (ripped his jacket in mourning). OPINION That afternoon, when we welcomed our LTD IS AN APPROVED first new Sefer Torah, couldn’t have been more different in tone, but it was actually identical SECTION 12J COMPANY, Rabbi Sam Thurgood in theme. We had been using the Lichtenburg Sefer unday, 3 February, was a day of intense Torah, graciously loaned to us by the South ESTABLISHED TO CATER emotion for the Beit Midrash Morasha African Jewish Board of Deputies’ country Sand the Cape Town Jewish community. communities division, and until Sunday, we FOR INVESTORS SEEKING A We began the day by burying the remains of six had no Torah to call our own. Sifrei Torah which were destroyed in the fire The story of this Torah is remarkable. The LOWER RISK INVESTMENT, that engulfed the shul in December 2018, and day immediately following the fire, Rabbi ended it by completing and welcoming a new Ori Einhorn, a previous Rosh Yeshiva of the YIELDING AN ATTRACTIVE Sefer Torah. Yeshiva of Cape Town, began raising funds Neither of these events are common in Israel for a new Torah for our community. occurrences, but holding a funeral for a Sefer Together with members of Kehillat Kfar SEMI-ANNUAL DIVIDEND Torah is particularly rare. The customs and Shmaryahu, Ron and the Bar On family procedure surrounding it are difficult to donated this Torah in memory of his father, RETURN. find. They required numerous calls to the Jack Bar On (Abromowitz), and grandparents Beth Din, Chevrah Kadisha in Johannesburg, even America, to gain clarity on how to proceed. The essence of the ceremony Enquire with Jarrod at is reflected in a conversation I had with a reporter in the Guy Lerner Photos: info@infinityfm.co.za morning after the fire. “I heard,” or visit www.infinityfm.co.za she said, “that the synagogue contained sacred scrolls worth millions of rands!” “No,” replied a friend of mine and member of our shul committee, “they were priceless.” The Cape Town Jewish community participates in the burial of These Sifrei Torah were the Sifrei Torah beloved friends and mentors, the custodians Joseph and Pauline Abromowitz. of the word of Hashem, divine instruction Once again, hundreds came together, for life as copied perfectly from generation to and once again, tears were shed, this time generation for more than 3 000 years. They in gratitude and celebration. In our people’s were our morasha (heritage and inheritance), millennia-long love-affair with the Torah, I received from those before us and transmitted don’t think there have been many celebrations to those after us. We held them each Shabbat, as heartfelt and meaningful as this one. and declared Shema Yisrael (Hear, O Israel). We had come from burying all of our Sifrei We read from them four times each week (and Torah to being blessed with another one. It often more). We raised them high, and said was our journey from darkness to light, and a Vezot HaTorah (this is the Torah that Moshe taste of what it will be like to come from exile presented to the Jewish people). We stood up to redemption. for them when they were raised, and danced On the day after the fire, I quoted a verse with them on Simchat Torah. On Sunday, we from Hallel, “This came from Hashem, tearfully acknowledged that we would never do it is wondrous in our eyes.” It was an this with these Sifrei Torah again. acknowledgement that the destruction of our In the days before the ceremony, I spiritual home was by divine decree, but that transferred the remnants of the scrolls into two we couldn’t understand it. And yet, now we large clay containers, closed them with lids, and were able to say the next verse, “This is the day sealed them. I visited the cemetery to choose that Hashem has made, let us exult and rejoice a plot – we try to bury them next to a Torah on it!” And exult and rejoice we did! MARKET COMPARISON scholar – and then we applied ourselves to Representatives of our community, other INFINITY ANCHOR answer the question of how to lower the heavy communities in Cape Town, and communal INDICATORS MARKET FUND jars into the earth in a dignified fashion. organisations filled in the concluding letters The solution we found was to place them in of the Torah. As soon as the ink had dried, Return (Net fees and 20% p.a.* 15% p.a. an open coffin, which would provide stability we were off on a musical parade through the taxes) and handles to lower them gently. This decision streets that even had traffic officers joining was pragmatic, not halachic, although it was in and dancing. The parade was followed by Gross Dividend 7%+ p.a.* 5-6% p.a. celebration in the shul, in which everyone had a chance to meet Annual Fee ZERO 2% to 2.5% p.a. our beloved new Torah. A particularly poignant moment was when Holocaust Performance Fee N/A 20% of net capital survivor Ella Blumenthal held the new Torah in her arms Minimum Investment R100 000 R1 000 000 and wept. She told me she kept thinking of her Torah in Warsaw, with a maroon cover, that was brought into the ghetto shul, but perished in the fire Malcolm Siegel and Rabbi Suiza roll the Torah in preparation that consumed the Warsaw for the parade ghetto. not out of keeping with the tone of the event. This new Torah is not only the word Among the hundreds who attended were of Hashem faithfully written for a new Chief Rabbi Dr Warren Goldstein and Rabbi generation. It is not simply the beautiful Jonathan Altman. The latter was the former centrepiece of our Shabbat services. It is also *Returns are calculated using the maximum tax bracket for investors. rabbi of our community, and was primarily not just the story of our people from creation involved in recovering the destroyed Sifrei to the borders of the Promised Land. It is the Torah. Rabbi Shmuel Steinhaus, another story of Jewish eternity. former rabbi in the community, who was present for the last Hachnasat Sefer Torah • Rabbi Sam Thurgood is the rabbi of the Beit (dedication of a new Torah scroll) in our shul Midrash Morasha community in Cape Town. 8 – 15 February 2019 SA JEWISH REPORT 15 Primo Levi: the unbearable burden of bearing witness

MIRAH LANGER his reflection on the difficulties of bearing witness. For example, in If This Is a Man, “although death looms over the For example, many camp survivors, like Levi, struggled with how whole narration as a huge, dark shadow, the only direct depiction “For those who have experience of Auschwitz, nothing can after their Holocaust experiences, time no longer seemed to flow of a dying man occurs in the last chapter”, he noted. attain the same degree of reality as Auschwitz.” So said normally. By contrast, the violence committed against prisoners was Professor Mario Barenghi during a recent lecture at the “A barbed-wire fence, similar to the one at the death camp that frequently referenced in Levi’s work – showing his focus on Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Centre in Forest Town, separated the inside space from the outside now separate[d] the detailing observations of human behaviour. Johannesburg, about the difficulties survivors faced in bearing past from the present,” explained Barenghi to the packed audience. Levi’s writing could be traced across two phases, proposed witness to the unprecedented horrors of World War II. This meant that for Levi, even though he had survived, he often Barenghi. The focus of his talk was Italian Jewish chemist Primo Levi, felt “closer to the dead than to the living”. In the first stage, Levi’s style was linked to the Italian term who became famous for his writings about his experiences as a Sometimes, the pull of the past was so strong, “the survivors vertiginosamente – a concept linked to vertigo – with connotations prisoner in Auschwitz. [were] haunted by the fear that of “something frenetic, Barenghi, a professor of contemporary Italian literature at the liberation itself [was] a Primo Levi dizzying, whirling”. the University of Milano-Bicocca, was lecturing in South Africa dream, and that they will soon As such, “in this first phase, as part of recent commemorations of International Holocaust wake up in the camp again”. then, the narration originates Remembrance Day on 27 January. At other moments, Levi from instinct and impulse, Levi, born in Turin in 1919, initially joined a partisan expressed the survivors’ distress from a need to let off steam”, group when World War II broke out. However, the group was that the atrocities experienced posited Barenghi. infiltrated, and Levi was sent first to a labour camp, and then were so unparalleled, those who Levi’s second phase became to Auschwitz. He survived an 11-month stay there before being listened would not believe them. more closely linked to his liberated on 18 January 1945. “My listeners do not follow profession as a chemist. As In the ensuing years, Levi published a number of books, me. In fact, they are completely Levi himself described it, he including If This Is a Man (1947), The Periodic Table (1975), and indifferent… A desolating grief took on the role of a writer The Drowned and the Saved (1986). His works have become now rises in me,” quoted the “who weighs and divides, recognised as seminal texts in exploring the Holocaust professor from Levi’s writing. measures, and judges on solid experience. In addition, explained evidence, and does his best to In 1987, Levi died after falling down a landing in his Barenghi, it was sometimes respond to the whys”. apartment building. His death was ruled a suicide. difficult even for survivors to “His purpose is now to Barenghi proposed in his lecture, attended by representatives accept the veracity of their own distil knowledge from horror,” of the Italian embassy, that what elevated Levi’s testimony was memories. Barenghi said about the shift. He cited, as an example, Levi’s No longer did Levi’s declaration that, “Today, this very day, as I sit at a table and write, I testimony consist of “the simple preservation of the past”. Instead, How to do good and reduce myself am not convinced that these things really happened.” his accounts were now styled to function “as a warning for our The professor also suggested that when it came to Levi’s common future which concerns everybody”. your tax bill – legally writings, what he elected not to write about was as crucial as what Levi came to the hypothesis that the roots of genocide could he did choose to include. be located in the widespread – although often latent – belief JONTY SACKS OPINION “His testimony is based on his awareness of the need to be that “every stranger is an enemy”. selective with information. In order to actually say something, you Nevertheless, he chose to uphold the possibility that this round the Shabbos table, I get asked the same have to give up all thought of saying everything,” said Barenghi. belief could be challenged, and a common humanity asserted question every week, “What is Section 12J?” The professor quoted from Levi’s account of his journey to instead. AIt’s not an easy conversation to have, as most Auschwitz, where he declared, “Many things were then said and As such, suggested Barenghi, Levi’s work came to serve as shtetl folk are stereotypically “experts” in tax, finance, done among us; but of these it is better that no memory remain.” a proposal for the acceptance of the other “not as a gracious investments, share portfolios, and offshore investments. Barenghi added that alongside moments when Levi explicitly granting, but as the foundation of one’s own humanity. Nobody Section 12J is relatively simple. Are you paying tax? If stated that he was leaving out information, there were other is human alone.” yes, carry on reading. Do you have to pay South African omissions that Levi never overtly discussed. “Here… lies Primo Levi’s most precious legacy,” he concluded. Revenue Service (SARS) capital gains tax this year? If yes, carry on reading. Section 12J is one of the few legal ways to reduce your tax bill before 28 February 2019. In fact, SA-born Litvak accuses Lithuania of insincerity on Holocaust Helen Zille promoted Section 12J this week as a legal way >>Continued from page 5 to participate in a tax revolt. It was a catastrophe for the state with the Nazi regime, and were involved position; and that the Lithuanian Let me explain Section 12J briefly with the following and society of Lithuania, and it is very in this horrible crime against humanity – president apologised for Lithuania’s role scenario: Alon earns R3 million, and he would normally distressing that Lithuanian citizens also atrocities of the Holocaust.” in the Shoah back in 1995. have to pay income tax on the R3 million. However, Alon directly participated in the mass murder of It also mentions that Israel has “[The Lithuanian president] also is tax savvy, and invests R1 million into a Section 12J Jews organised by the Nazis. honoured more than 900 Lithuanians recognised the need to tell words of truth company. These are companies that the government has “The government of Lithuania condemns as “righteous among the nations” for about the Holocaust in Lithuania.” earmarked as major contributors to future economic in the strongest possible terms those saving Jews; that Israeli Prime Minister Perhaps the trial will bring us closer to growth, and they need cash injections. Lithuanian citizens who collaborated Benjamin Netanyahu supports Lithuania’s the truth in this situation. If Alon invests the R1 million before 28 February 2019, SARS will allow him to reduce his tax bill by R1 million. This means that because Alon has been paying income tax every month, he will be able to claim up to R450 000 back from SARS as a refund. Yes, you didn’t misread that. It is true. If you are paying tax each month, and if you invest in a Section 12J company before 28 February, SARS will write you a cheque, based on your marginal tax bracket, of up to 45% of the amount, which you invest. Don’t believe me? Well, we expect more than R2 billion to be invested just this year in Section 12J companies, which will bring the total invested amount to about R5.5 billion over the past few years. Why are Jews still investing in South Africa? One of the reasons is because they are still South African taxpayers. Why isn’t everyone investing in Section 12J companies? Either they don’t pay enough tax, or they aren’t fully aware of how Section 12J works. Why aren’t you investing in Section 12J? Ask yourself that question quickly, because we are only weeks away from 28 February, and time is running out to reduce your tax bill.

• J onty Sacks is a partner at Jaltech, a specialist in Section 12J company formation and administration. 16 SA JEWISH REPORT 8 – 15 February 2019 Playing to the seekers of excellence Of course, in those days, there was a There are many black lovers of European witnessing the withering of the rainbow- curfew for black people in white areas, classical music in this country, as there nation dream? TAKING ISSUE and they could not have attended anyway. is a growing interest in opera by black With elections coming soon, racist rhetoric They had to keep to places such as Soweto, practitioners. But overwhelmingly, there is will intensify as parties with a “white” image and carry a “pass” signed by their white disproportion in audiences such as that of such as the Democratic Alliance compete Geoff Sifrin employer, to be in a white area. the Mozart Festival. against parties with a “black” image such as Saturday’s performance left the audience Does the skewed make-up of audiences the African National Congress and EFF. Is Eurocentricity still a proverbial four- breathless, and demanding more. After a indicate that South Africa’s non-racial project Malema knows how to ride that wave. His letter word in today’s South Africa? After standing ovation, Vacatello gave several has failed? In this racially obsessed country, party attracts votes through racial bombast. the coming of democracy in 1994, there encores, the last ending with Mozart’s lively the likes of black populist politicians like But in the broad sense, most people no was political and social pressure to be more Rondo Alla Turca, with a jazz beat. Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader longer regard it as sinful, politically or Afrocentric. This was to counter eons of She came to South Africa under the Julius Malema question the place of whites artistically, to be Eurocentric. brutal white and colonial rule that emanated auspices of the Johannesburg Musical in the country. Showcasing these so-called Too often in the recent past, art has from Europe, and persecuted Africa’s people. Society, a more than 100-year-old institution “European” works could be interpreted by received accolades not because of its quality, But society has matured, and become less currently managed by Avril Rubenstein, mischievous politicians as a statement that but its maker’s identity. This is dangerous threatened by the different ways people in partnership with Richard Cock’s whites are not African, but European, and and misleading. Mozart may have been born might identify themselves, whether it be Johannesburg International Mozart Festival not deserving of African status. in Europe about 260-odd years ago. He may African, European, or something in between. (JIMF). What place does this divisive argument have been born white-skinned and male. But Anyone parachuting into the huge Linder On Sunday, the Linder, which has over have in the new South Africa, which is these are not the reasons he is loved. He is Auditorium on the campus of the University the years been host to significant luminaries confused with identity issues, and is loved because of the brilliance of his work. of the Witwatersrand on Saturday to hear such as Pinchas Zuckerman, saw a grand Italian pianist Mariangela Vacatello perform performance of the Mozart Requiem by A column of WIZO South Africa works by European composers including the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra and Mozart, might have thought it was a wholly the Symphony Choir of Johannesburg, European event. programmed by JIMF, and conducted by Worldwide WIZO sisterhood in The 1 000-plus auditorium was packed Cock. There was not an empty seat and to the rafters with an audience almost again, an almost exclusively white audience. Israel in 2019 exclusively middle-aged and white. There They were there not because they were One hundred Women’s International Lazovsky said she felt confident that was hardly a black face to be seen, aside white, nor because Mozart was European, Zionist Organisation (WIZO) leaders WIZO would continue to be a force from the waiters serving in the restaurant. but because that is the kind of music they from across the globe assembled for improving the lives of people in Superficially, it looked like the 1960s, when love. in Israel last month for the 2019 Israel for years and years to come. apartheid was alive. The dichotomy seems crude. And it is. Meeting of Representatives. This 27 January is annual International week-long event expresses solidarity Holocaust Remembrance Day, and support for the work WIZO designated by the United Nations A column of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies does to advance all sectors of to commemorate the tragedy of the society in Israel. It sets the policies Holocaust. Stellenbosch University denies for the coming year in WIZO’s The number of survivors is getting 800 institutions, projects, and smaller every year, but their stories programmes, and offers an excellent and testaments live on in collective being anti-Israel opportunity to share ideas. Jewish and global memories. WIZO n December 2018, the South African ground and not allowed themselves to be Hailing from more than twenty makes it its duty to support WIZO Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) was influenced by politically-motivated intimidation countries, the delegates in Israel for members and their families who Iinvolved in a public spat with Stellenbosch by outside parties, we can now accept that their the five-day conference visited WIZO survived the Holocaust. We honour University after several Israeli academics, as well actions, however ill-conceived, were aimed at schools and youth villages, and the memory of WIZO members who as a Palestinian peace activist, were removed preventing the conference from being disrupted attended panels and sessions related perished; and we pay tribute to the from the speaking programme of an upcoming rather than an endorsement of the campaign to to this year’s theme, Innovation and WIZO federations and members conference. boycott Israeli academics. Renewal. who worked courageously to save Their removal was in response to threats Stellenbosch, for its part, reiterated its For the first time, Ireland has representation, Jews during World War II, and who helped by agitators from the Boycott commitment to academic adding another group of WIZO women to the displaced survivors after the war. Am Israel chai Divestment Sanctions (BDS) freedom, and confirmed that organisation’s worldwide network. (the Jewish nation lives) – better and stronger movement to disrupt the event Israeli academics, no less than As is traditional, the WIZO meeting than ever. – whose official title, somewhat those from any other country, concluded with former WIZO United States Co- WIZO Johannesburg hosted a fantastic ironically, was “Recognition, were welcome there. In an President Jana Falic graciously hosting a festive Christmas party at Sithandiwe Disabled Reparation, Reconciliation: The official statement released earlier closing event for participants. The “surprise Care Centre last December, whereupon the Light and Shadow of Historical this week, the university stressed guest” was none other than American-Jewish organisation discovered that the kitchen staff Trauma”. its “continued adherence to comedian and pro-Israel activist Roseanne Barr, needed assistance with preparing food for the In spite of persistent denials the principles of freedom who spoke warmly of her admiration for WIZO’s children, who have special dietary requirements. on the university’s part, it of expression and academic important work. The evening continued with a In January, WIZO partnered with Magimix, became all too clear in the freedom”, in which regard it festive meal, and lively singing and dancing in which generously donated one of its food course of our liaising with would continue to welcome an expression of WIZO’s worldwide sisterhood. processors to the care centre. This will help to the academics involved that academics from all over the World WIZO Chairperson Professor Rivka improve the quality of life of the children in their sessions had indeed world, including from Israel. Lazovsky summed up the week’s events. immeasurable ways. been cancelled in response Stellenbosch University is a She emphasised that the fact that hundreds It is the time of year when many annual to BDS pressure. We found respected academic institution of women from around the world came to general meetings of organisations are held, it particularly objectionable Above Board of genuine global standing. It is Israel reflects the organisation’s ability to and new committees formed. WIZO wishes that the removal from the to be hoped that going forward, cope with the disturbing phenomena of the all incoming leadership and their committees programme of Palestinian Shaun Zagnoev the institution, as it has in years de-legitimisation of Israel around the world. success in 2019. scholar Professor Mohammed past, will firmly adhere to the This column is paid for by WIZO SA Dajani was due to his having been brought out above-stated principles. Saturday (9 February) Houghton. Donation: R40. Contact: UJW office 011 648 1053. as a speaker by the SAJBD the previous year. The incident at Stellenbosch showed once AT H ’ Sandton Central Shul hosts Tuesday (12 February) In our correspondence with the institution and again how universities the world over have S • The South Africa Zionist Federation has opened registration for the media statements, we ensured that the real facts been turned into a battleground by those W ShabbaTTogether: Jewish

O of this disgraceful situation were made public. intent on excluding Israel and its citizens Disability and Inclusion Hebrew ulpan of 2019. Join one of its three classes based on a free

On 26 January, the board met the senior from every conceivable international N Awareness with guest speakers assessment at our registration evening on 5 February, from 18:00 to leadership of Stellenbosch to clarify what had forum. To date, fortunately, these efforts and workshops. Time: 11:00. 19:00. Classes will commence on 12 February 2019. Discounts are happened and discuss a way forward. Amongst have met with little success at official Evening Havdalah and movie 19:45. available if you are making aliyah. For more information, or to secure those in attendance was Professor Thuli level. The board continues to monitor the Venue: Sandton Central Shul, 8 Stella Street, Sandton. your place, contact Beauty on 011 645 2601/[email protected] Madonsela, Law Faculty Trust Chair for Social situation on our own campuses. As we have Contact: [email protected] Wednesday (13 February) Justice and law professor. Madonsela stressed done in the past, we will render whatever Sunday (10 February) • Jewish Learning Institute course with Rabbi Ari Kievman discussing that the university’s actions were aimed at assistance we can to those, including Jewish • The Big Band Music Appreciation Society hosts an audio on the life and Justice, Justice Shall You Pursue: Standards of Evidence in the Talmud. ensuring peace and security for the conference students, who take a stand against this tunes of Dean Martin, and a movie, Deep in my heart, a biography Time: 09:45 to 11:15. Venue: Chabad House, 27 Aintree Ave, Savoy following calls to exclude Israeli participants, pernicious, dishonest, and fundamentally of composer Sigmund Romberg. Time: 14:15. Venue: Beit Emanuel, or 19:15 to 20:45 at Sandton Central Shul, 8 Stella St, Sandton, and that it had never been its intention to immoral phenomenon. Slome Auditorium, 38 Oxford Road, Parktown (entrance in Third opposite the Gautrain. Contact: www.jli.org.za 011 440 6600, undermine academic freedom nor to make Avenue). Contact: Marilyn 072 243 7436 or Jack 082 450 7622. Israeli participants feel unwelcome. • L isten to Charisse Zeifert on Jewish Board or [email protected] While our position remains that the Talk, 101.9 ChaiFM every Friday from 12:00 Monday (11 February) Thursday (14 February) conference organisers should have stood their to 13:00. • The Union of Jewish Women hosts Beekeeper Sharon Lage on What • Hebrew speakers meet at 10:45 at Beyachad, 2 Elray Street, This column is paid for by the SA Jewish Board of Deputies is Happening to our Bees? Time: 10:00. Venue: 1 Oak Street, Raedene. 8 – 15 February 2019 SA JEWISH REPORT 17 Judaism and the death penalty JOCELYN ROME how severe restrictions on its Actual executions were thus guilty people be exonerated, deterred only through the use application made the death rare, and needed to be reviewed rather than one innocent of the death penalty. The death apital punishment was abolished in penalty extremely difficult to by a Beth Din of 23 judges individual be executed. penalty cannot be used if other South Africa in 1995 by a ruling of carry out. and 69 rabbinic scholars, who The Rambam did, however, forms of punishment can serve Cthe Constitutional Court, but the In the Mishneh Torah, Laws scrutinised the evidence and as Kievman explained, outline as an equally effective deterrent. jury is out on whether South African Jews of the Sanhedrin 20:1, the offered opinions. “A Sanhedrin an emergency law that could So how, in today’s times, when believe this is just. Rambam outlines the rigorous that executes once every seven be invoked, which lowered the there is no Sanhedrin and Jewish Arguments about the re-instatement standards that need to be years is called a ‘destructive standards of proof if done in courts do not have the authority of the death penalty continue unabated, upheld. In order to impose the court’. Rabbi Elazar ben Azaria accordance with the needs of the to impose the death penalty, are particularly in view of rising crime and death penalty, the murder must says once every seventy years.” time for a deterrent to prevent Torah views of the death penalty the persistence of horrific high murder have been premeditated, the (Mishnah, Manot 1:1). more crimes. relevant? rates. In the United States, where the murderer must have received and The infinite value the Torah The Beth Din has the mandate Kievman says the Torah’s death penalty still remains in 30 states, verbally acknowledged an explicit places on human life underpins to determine such needs. This message is didactic, one that the debate centres on, as it does in South warning of the consequences of the logic behind these high emergency clause can be invoked can teach about the severity of Africa, the morality of the death penalty the crime, and two eyewitnesses standards. The Torah considers it only if murder has become a murder and of the value of life, itself, the possibility of condemning are required to testify. preferable that even a thousand societal problem, and can be even that of a murderer. innocent people to death, its effectiveness as a deterrent, and racial biases in its application. Where does Judaism stand on the death penalty? Are some people so evil Can you save 45% tax and help create jobs and grow the that they deserve to be executed? Is even economy? Yes, by investing in Kalon Venture Partners Digital a slight chance of executing an innocent person too great a risk to bear? Rabbi Ari Technology Fund, a Section 12 J Venture Capital Company (VCC). Kievman tackled these serious questions on 30 January, in a lesson at the Jewish Learning Institute at Chabad House in Sandton, part of a six-part series on Crime and Consequence. The series looks at contemporary legal matters through a Torah lens. The session was punctuated by insight from the audience, which included two retired II judges, Percy Blieden and Ralph Zulman, among the 30 or so people attending. The audience overwhelmingly supported the death penalty, a view which changed Kalon Venture Partners Fund II Limited is a registered Section 12J little when a second poll was conducted at Venture Capital Company set up to invest in digital disruptive the end of the session. technology. Kalon invests in post-revenue startups with high growth and high impact potential who are solving African problems. We focus on providing smart capital as well as on delivering smart returns.

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The Torah, in Exodus 21:12, is clear on the moral applicability of capital punishment for those who commit murder: “One who strikes a person with a fatal blow shall be CHAIRMAN put to death.” *Non-Executive The Mishnah, Sanhedrin 6:2, discusses how confession and regret are part of To Find out more about an investment into Kalon Venture Partners Fund II Limited, please go to a spiritual rehabilitation that can be www.kalonvp.com/invest achieved through the death penalty, allowing the perpetrator to achieve a Kalon Venture Partners Fund II Limited is an authorised Financial Services Provider portion in the world to come. Kalon Venture Partners Fund II Limited is a registered Section 12J Venture Capital Company While the Torah is clear that the death Company Registration Number - 2017 / 430577 / 06 penalty itself is not immoral and can Sars Registration Number - VCC - 0109 rehabilitate the soul – even if only in the world to come – the commentaries show 18 SA JEWISH REPORT 8 – 15 February 2019 Deciding who to vote for Jill Katz, a regal presence who touched many lives DIANE WOLFSON Africa. In July 1987, she concluded an 11-year Patricia de Lille debacle, and its inability to curtail TRIBUTE project as editor of the book, The Story of the Helen Zille, are cause for concern among Jewish ill Katz, a renowned, respected, and Pretoria Jewish Community up to 1930, beginning voters. beloved matriarch and rebbetzin, passed with the first Jews to settle there in 1855. This OPINION Although the party is aligned to the values of many away last week at the inspiring age of 91. book is a great tribute to her for the enormous in the Jewish community, and the organisation is J She was held in high esteem as a refined, amount of work she did to research and edit it. HOWARD FELDMAN populated by members with the best of intentions, it regal, and elegant lady, who conducted Although she held currently does not inspire voter confidence. herself with grace. She was very dear to a public position, she t’s going to get ugly. It always does. Anywhere in • The party most loyal to the community and to Israel her many friends, and incredibly devoted quietly touched and the world, an election year unleashes a tsunami of is undoubtedly the ACDP, led by Reverend Kenneth to her extended family. affected the lives of Inegativity, as each party does their best to show Meshoe. It continues to stand firm on its support, Together with her late husband many. She was a sage and why the other would make a very poor choice. not only for Israel but for South African Jews. That Rabbi Shabsy (Sidney) Katz of blessed larger-than-life presence. Social media, fake news, and the scars left by the said, whether it is multifaceted enough to present memory, she led the large Pretoria Jewish She is survived by deep and unhealed wounds of apartheid, will serve a viable alternative is something that I am not yet community for close to four decades. In her children, Chana to complicate the situation. One thing that we can be convinced about. their rabbinical role, they became highly Zakheim of Jerusalem, certain of, is that is it not going to be that pleasant. • The Economic Freedom Fighters is an interesting influential figures in the wider Jewish Israel; Ruth Chaiton; For South African Jews, it is even more party. Julius Malema is undoubtedly one of the community, and government circles. Rabbi Michael Katz; complicated. smartest politicians on the circuit. He values After the sudden loss of her husband, and Joan Wainer – all of • Even though there is a general approval of Cyril education, and is no doubt a lot more measured Jill continued to involve herself in Johannesburg. The light Ramaphosa himself, his party has been a key than his persona displays. He is also a marketing communal activities. She volunteered of her life was her many component of the corruption that has led to the genius. I continue (perhaps naively) to feel that for many years for several large research grandchildren and great- economic woes of the country. We are in the some of his (anti-Semitic) and other rhetoric is just projects, involving herself in working with grandchildren midst of a state-capture enquiry that has left us that, and that beneath the populist approach is a the archives of various communities in southern Jill Katz throughout the world. speechless on the one hand, but also indicates that practical and shrewd leader. In spite of this, until there is a clear intention to expose the horrors of more is known about his followers and policies, the the past few years and perhaps deal with them. community needs to proceed with caution. Planting seeds of Zionism • Although no doubt a friend to the Jewish A common accusation levelled at the Jewish community in some areas, the African National community is that it views politics and candidates Congress has an appalling track record with regard in terms of their impact on Jews and Israel. There to its flagrant anti-Israel bias. It has gone so far is nothing wrong with this. It’s time that we stopped as to sign a memorandum of understanding with apologising for it. Hamas, a designated terror organisation, whose How a country treats its Jews and its attitude to charter openly calls for the murder and removal of Israel is deeply relevant, as it reflects its prejudice, all Jews from Israel. how it interrogates and understands global politics, South Africa is one of the few countries that allows and who its bed-fellows are. Hamas to travel to the country and even open an The next few months are going to be scratchy. We office here. It has legitimised a genocidal and racist are going to be bombarded with negativity and noise. pariah. It is going to be vital to assess what we hear carefully, • The Democratic Alliance, long the choice for South and make decisions that are best for the country and African Jews even prior to its current format, the community. We need to make peace with the fact has shown significant cracks in its structure. Its that the field is an imperfect one. But we still need to King David Pre-Primary Linksfield children learned about Israel and nature at the same time recently by communication on the Cape Town drought, the decide who plays. building and planting a garden bed in the shape of Israel. The activity was prompted by a visit by Bev Price from the Jewish National Fund, who contributed seeds and decorative stones. Reading aloud to promote literacy

Ariella Urdang and Jordan Abrahams read to Grade 1 children at King David Ariel on World Read Aloud Day Students from the writing club at King David vocabulary, and helps to develop empathy, Victory Park (KDVP) High School visited King curiosity, and critical thinking skills. David Ariel on 1 February to read aloud on Led by Ronel Klatzkin, KDVP High School’s World Read Aloud Day. writing club is an extra mural where high World Read Aloud Day is a day when school students write stories, plays, and people around the globe read aloud together poems. The club’s visit to Ariel was a huge and share stories, part of a movement to success, and was thoroughly enjoyed by reader encourage reading and promote literacy. and audience alike. “Reading to the children Reading aloud is one of the most important at Ariel was such an amazing feeling,” said things a parent or caregiver can do with Ariella Urdang, a Grade 11 student in the children of any age. Not only does it build writing club. “They weren’t the only ones who a strong language foundation, it introduces learned from the experience.” STEM cell at Sydenham Spending time in the STEM Room (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) is always a firm favourite at Sydenham Pre- Primary. Sitting at the mirror table with the activity of the day are from left: Shayli Bubly, Danya Katzman, and Orli Crouse. 8 – 15 February 2019 SA JEWISH REPORT 19 Letters

NOTHING ‘ABOVE BOARD’ ABOUT MANAGEMENT OF COUNTRY COMMUNITIES proper governance and compliance with launched legal proceedings against the I refer to a column which appeared on page would appear that the SAJBD has “washed community trust deeds insofar as country SAJBD in the Johannesburg High Court. I 19 of your 1-8 February edition, written by its hands” and moved along. What then? communities are concerned. There have have done so in an effort to obtain access Shaun Zagnoev. 4. Furthermore, and no doubt because been a number of appointed “commission” to records held by the SAJBD in relation I note with interest that the column of the above decision, Rabbi Moshe reports on this issue, including the Donen to the Pietersburg Hebrew Congregation expressly states that it has been paid for by Silberhaft, who is probably better known report and Joffe report, some of which Trust. With all affidavits now having been the SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD), to readers as the “travelling rabbi”, has have been reported in your newspaper yet, filed, I anticipate that the case will be and that above the author’s name appears been given notice that his tenure with the curiously, have never been made available heard later this year. The various affidavits the words “Above Board”. SAJBD will terminate at the end of this to community members. Why not? Surely address the essential issues involved. I am an ex-Pietersburger now living in year. It confirms that country communities the community is entitled to know what is 10. I am also aware that a PAIA request Israel. My parents, grand-parents, and are no longer a focus of the SAJBD – if they going on? has been submitted to the Pietersburg many friends are buried at the Pietersburg were even a concern of the SAJBD. Hebrew Community Trust’s trustees for Jewish Cemetery. In terms of the 5. What, then, is the future of country access to records on a substantially similar Pietersburg Hebrew Congregation Trust, communities, the members of which are basis to my request to the SAJBD. Either it is required to maintain the cemetery in in effect being “excommunicated”? What ...there has been a general lack way, if the SAJBD is in fact “above board”, perpetuity. was the basis for this decision? Zagnoev this will be established from my court I am concerned about the following: is silent about this. The immediate of proper governance and application or the separate PAIA request. 1. The SAJBD is failing to fulfil its question, then, is which elements of the compliance with community 11. If any of your readers or yourselves obligations to country communities, South African Jewish community does the trust deeds insofar as country wish to know more about these legal whether in respect of trusts or otherwise. SAJBD seek to represent? Only its strident proceedings, you are welcome to contact 2. In 2018, the Gauteng constitution supporters, it appears. That is an entirely communities are concerned. me at [email protected]. I am was amended to exclude about 95% flawed approach. prepared to provide copies of what are of the geographical area for which it 6. In his paid advertorial, Zagnoev states now public documents in my case against was then responsible. The areas which that on an annual basis, the trustees of the 8. With regard the reference to Beyachad, the SAJBD. But I will not go any further now fall outside of Gauteng include various trusts, have meetings to “assess it (Beyachad) has by all accounts in the circumstances, and will not provide Witbank, Springs, Kroonstad, Welkom, how the funds have been allocated during unilaterally extended its role way beyond comment. In any event, the affidavits filed Potchefstroom, Polokwane, and many the previous year, and how they should be simple administrative services, in spite of provide sufficient information about the others. used in the year to come”. I disagree. This what Zagnoev suggests. The activities of issues involved. I will let the court decide 3. Accordingly, as of next year, only the is nonsense which Zagnoev could never Beyachad require thorough investigation, what I am entitled to. Gauteng and Pretoria urban areas will support. and by an independent body. The findings 12. I conclude by urging your readers to remain under the jurisdiction of the 7. I am concerned, and believe, that such then ought to be made available to the exercise their democratic right and, when Gauteng board. Where the excluded meetings have, in fact, not taken place, community. An organisation which the next round of elections is held in communities sit is not entirely known. It and that there has been a general lack of survives on donor funding needs to respect of the SAJBD and its constituent account for its activities in all respects, bodies, to exercise their right to vote and without exception. in such a manner as will ensure proper The Board Responds 9. My concerns are such that after governance of the affairs of the Jewish requesting access to information in terms community in South Africa. Anything less CAMPAIGN TO VILIFY BOARD HAS NO BASIS IN TRUTH of the Promotion of Access to Information is not conducive to accountability by those In response to the various comments and has since been implemented so as to Act (PAIA), the SAJBD for all practical who claim to represent the community. allegations made by Dennis Wiener, the ensure that all our activities, including purposes declined my request. I have – Dennis Wiener, Israel SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) in those relating to the trusts, have been the first instance wishes to point out that strictly compliant with the findings and certain of the issues he raises are the subject recommendations of this commission. The of an upcoming court hearing. Since the SA Jewish Report was given full access to the Fundraising Executive for matter is sub judice, it is our intention that findings of the investigation at the time. they be addressed in the appropriate legal Finally, with regard to the future of the Non-Profit Organisation forum rather than playing out to no good country communities, it is categorically not purpose in the press. the case that the board has taken a decision We can respond, if only briefly, to certain to “wash its hands” of its responsibilities to This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and motivated fundraiser other assertions unrelated to the impending care for the needs of Jews in smaller country to play a pivotal role in the growth and security of Jewish communal hearing. centres. Rather, following a necessary First, it is simply untrue to claim that restructuring process that took into account organisations dedicated to securing the future of Jewish life in the board’s Gauteng constitution “was current demographic realities, it was decided South Africa, and its connection to Israel. amended so as to exclude about 95% of that from the beginning of 2020, the needs the geographical area for which it was of Jews still living outside the main urban then responsible”. The Gauteng Council, centres, and the maintenance of cemeteries, We are seeking an enthusiastic and also be responsible for developing as its name implies, is responsible only will be cared for fully in alternative ways, capable person with a proven track the organisation’s communications for centres that fall within the boundaries which may entail the relevant SAJBD record in raising funds within the and media profile at national and of Gauteng province (but not Pretoria regions assuming responsibility. Rabbi local and international South African international level, in collaboration – Wiener is perhaps unaware that there Moshe Silberhaft, who for many years has Jewish community. This person will with the executive directors of is a SAJBD Pretoria Council which carried out his role as spiritual leader to be responsible for developing and beneficiary organisations. functions independently of the Gauteng the South African country communities delivering the overall fundraising Council). Virtually all of the towns he with distinction, was very much a part of strategy of the organisation and its • A strong track record of securing mentions (Witbank, Kroonstad, Welkom, this process, and continues to be centrally beneficiaries, supplementing existing funding (more than five years) for Potchefstroom, and Polokwane) are located involved in ensuring a smooth, efficient grant funding with unrestricted charitable or non-governmental in other provinces, and as such fall under the transition to the new system. funding from individuals, corporates, activities from diverse funding purview of the board’s country communities I am extremely disappointed that in spite grant-makers, and other sources. streams; department. of our request to Wiener to have his dispute • A strong portfolio of communication Next, there is no basis to the assertion with the board adjudicated by any retired The fundraising executive will be and awareness-raising materials that meetings of the various country Jewish judge, he has elected to pursue responsible for leading a team, (essential); communities trusts administered by a costly and resource-intensive judicial and developing a diverse range • Excellent contacts and connections Beyachad have not taken place. For the process. Notwithstanding Wiener’s extensive of sustainable funding streams to with potential major donors; record, over the past four months, such campaign to vilify the board (of which his support and expand the work of • An understanding of the Israeli and meetings have been held for all but one of letter to the SA Jewish Report is another the organisation. This individual will local political environment; the 12 individual trusts that we oversee salvo) and threats to take this issue to the (including that of Pietersburg/Polokwane), mainstream media unless his demands are and a meeting for the remaining one will be met, we are duty bound to pursue what our Interested parties should send their full CV held within the next month. We also note elected leadership considers to be the correct and a letter of interest to [email protected] that, other than nominating trustees to course of action. Suitable candidates will be shortlisted the various trusts to supplement trustees I conclude with the firm assurance that and invited to an interview in Johannesburg. appointed by the various communities, the the board, as it has done throughout its long SAJBD is not responsible for managing the history, will continue to represent the entire Those shortlisted for the interview will be given a brief trusts. These trustees function independent Jewish community of South Africa, and be on the financial and fundraising position, and will be required of the board. guided by what is in the community’s best to present a summary fundraising strategy during the interview. In 2017, the board conducted an internal interests. Those wishing to know more about investigation, headed by Judge Meyer what we do, or who have specific questions Closing date: 21 February 2019 Joffe, into governance practises within the are more than welcome to contact our offices. Planned start date: March 2019 organisation, and every recommendation – Shaun Zagnoev, SAJBD Chairperson