Polish President Kaczynski's Death a Loss to Jews, Israel
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BUTOH - WHERE DANCERS BOOKS: THE IMPROVISE / 12 BOY WHO BOEING BOEING - REASON HARVESTED TO STAY FAITHFUL / 12 THE WIND / 13 Subscribe FREE to Jewish Report’s weekly e-mail edition. Go to www.sajewishreport.co.za www.sajewishreport.co.za Friday, 16 April 2010 / 2 Iyar 5770 Volume 14 Number 13 Goldstone Polish President Kaczynski’s ‘barred’ from grandson’s death a loss to Jews, Israel barmitzvah / 3 PAGE 8 MOTTY SACKS: Religious leaders should sing Hatikvah / 14 Israel’s birthday celebrations / 3, 11, 23 Iran - first ‘suicide state’? / 11 Paula Slier - Settlers are powder keg / 9 Exposing the al-Durrah blood libel / 8 Literary circles mourn death of Shirley Kossick / 16 Holocaust survivor Dr Nathan Durst, displays the yellow star with the word "Jood" (Jew), he A bevy of NOW A BADGE and other Jews in Europe were made to wear during the Second World War. Today that anti- Jewish symbol, has become a symbol of dignity of a people who would not surrender to the beautiful brides Nazi plan to exterminate them. Durst was guest speaker at the Yom Hashoah commemorations OF HONOUR in Johannesburg. (PHOTOGRAPH: ILAN OSSENDRYVER) SEE PAGES 4-6, 24 / 21 YOUTH / 18-19 SPORTS / 24 LETTERS / 14-17 CROSSWORD & BRIDGE / 20 COMMUNITY BUZZ / 7 WHAT’S ON / 20 2 SA JEWISH REPORT 16 - 23 April 2010 PARSHA OF THE WEEK SHABBAT TIMES April 16/2 Iyar Published by April 17/3 Iyar S A Jewish Report (Pty) Ltd, Suite 175, Postnet X10039, The ethical symbolism of milah for all time. Having attained perfec- Tazria/Metzora Randburg, 2125 tion of nature, the Creative Energy Tel: (011) 023-8160 WHILE THE instruction to of the world rested on the seventh Abraham to circumcise himself day. Starts Ends Fax: (086) 634-7935 PARSHAT and all the males in his household Shabbat is considered by the 17:34 18:22 Johannesburg Printed by Caxton Ltd provides a model for the institu- TAZRIA/ sages as a foretaste of the Messianic 18:05 18:55 Cape Town tion of berit milah, “covenant of era, a period which they referred to 17:19 18:08 Durban EDITOR - Geoff Sifrin circumcision”, the command to METZORA as yom she-kulo Shabbat, “A day 17:38 18:27 Bloemfontein [email protected] circumcise a baby boy on the Rabbi Malcolm that is all Shabbat”. 17:36 18:27 Port Elizabeth Sub-Editor - Paul Maree eighth day of his life, is found in Matitiani The Messianic era - a time of sym- 17:28 18:18 East London the first portion of this Shabbat’s Cape Town Progressive biosis and harmony between all the Senior Reporter - Rita Lewis double parshah: Jewish Congregation elements of creation - will be Shabbat and tefillin, both of which [email protected] “The Eternal spoke to Moses, brought about by the efforts of are also symbols of the covenant saying: Speak to the Israelite peo- To quote the Talmud: “Just as humanity to create a better world between G-d and the Jewish Sports Editor - Jack Milner ple thus: ‘When a woman at child- there (Leviticus 19:23) something and a less fragmented society. People (Exodus 31:16 - 17 and in [email protected] birth bears a male, she shall be that produces fruit [is meant], so Perhaps this human contribution Exodus 13:9, 16, Deuteronomy 6:8, unclean seven days; she shall be here (Genesis 17:14) too something to the perfection of G-d’s creation, is 11:18). Books Editor - Gwen Podbrey unclean as at the time of her men- [the limb] that produces fruit [is symbolised by the eighth day of the While circumcision is limited to Arts Editor - Robyn Sassen strual infirmity. On the eighth day meant].” baby boy’s life - seven (symbolising male Jews, Shabbat, and by exten- [email protected] the flesh of his foreskin shall be Thus the removal of the foreskin Divine perfection) plus one (symbol- sion the festivals, is a sign of the circumcised’.” (Leviticus 12:1-3) can be understood as a symbol of ising human involvement in repair- covenant which is accessible to all Youth Editor - Alison Goldberg Although scholars are not quite G-d’s control over our sexual activ- ing the world). Jews, male and female. Shabbat [email protected] certain as to the symbolism of cir- ity and our procreation by means A Jewish male is circumcised on reminds us, not only of G-d’s role cumcision, the Torah calls it an ot of halachah (based on Leviticus 18) the eighth day of his life because the as the Source of all Creation and Cape Town correspondent berit, “a sign of the covenant” which governs our sexual rela- removal of the foreskin represents Life, but also of our ethical respon- Moira Schneider: 021-794-4206 (Genesis 17:11). Thus the removal tions, placing limitations on how the perfection of the male human sibilities to our fellow living crea- of a child’s foreskin is a symbol of and with whom we have sex. form, and by extension the perfec- tures (Deuteronomy 5:12 - 15). Pretoria correspondent the covenant concluded between A Jew is circumcised to symbol- tion of the world. On the eighth day We are commanded to observe Diane Wolfson: 082-707-9471 G-d and the People of Israel at ise that he subscribes to the life- of his life the male child is entered Shabbat because our ancestors MANAGER: SALES AND DISTRIBUTION Mount Sinai. affirming limitations of the Torah into the covenant with its ethical were once slaves in Egypt. Now Circumcision is a sign in the and Jewish tradition, limitations and moral precepts and life-affirm- that we are free, we are obligated Britt Landsman: [email protected] flesh of a male Jew, reminding that protect the sanctity of life and ing values. to remember the plight of those Sales Executives - (011) 023-8160 him of his unique relationship the honour of the individual. The eighth day reminds us of our who are enslaved both literally Britt Landsman: 082-292-9520 with the Divine. Since G-d is the Another possible explanation for obligation to complete creation - a and figuratively and we are berit milah focuses on the fact that task so important that the perform- instructed to ensure equality and Manuela Bernstein: 082-951-3838 Source of Creation, the removal of the foreskin is a fitting sign of the the rite is performed on the eighth ance of berit milah takes prece- the dignity of all life. Freelance Sales Executives covenant. Indeed, the Talmud day. The number seven is consid- dence over Shabbat and even Yom Thus while only men bear the Marlene Bilewitz & Assoc: 083-475-0288 (Shabbat 108a) points out that the ered a complete and perfect num- Kippur. physical sign of the covenant, word “orlah” “uncircumcised’) is ber in Judaism and therefore sym- While many cultures practise cir- women are equally obligated to Classified Sales used in the Torah to refer to fruit bolises Divine Perfection. cumcision as a rite of passage, the fulfil the ethical and ritual pre- [email protected] that is forbidden to be consumed G-d created the universe in six Jewish rite of circumcision has eth- cepts of the Jews’ unique relation- (Leviticus 19:23), as well as the days and rested on the seventh, ical overtones. Being a sign of the ship with G-d, thereby contribut- Design and layout foreskin (Genesis 17:14). sanctifying it as a Shabbat of rest berit, it shares the same meaning as ing to tikkun olam. Frankie Matthysen Nicole Cook Website www.sajewishreport.co.za Muizenberg memories - a nostalgic trip Ilan Ossendryver EDITED BY MOIRA SCHNEIDER Daniels - whose mother was a IC-Creations FROM A REPORT BY DAVID domestic worker in a Jewish [email protected] LAZARUS household, “spoke Yiddish before PHOTOGRAPH BY JUNE HAYMAN he even learned English or Subscription enquiries Afrikaans”. He was a special Avusa Publishing (Pty) Ltd FORMER MUIZENBERG fruit ven- guest at the event along with cen- Tel: 0860-13-2652 dor, fondly known as “Leibke” tenarian Rosalie Wolpe, whose (holding microphone), regaled the mother ran a tearoom next to the BOARD OF DIRECTORS audience with several Yiddish Empire Cinema in the days when Stan Kaplan (Chairman) expressions at a Muizenberg a cup of coffee cost four pence. Issie Kirsh (Deputy Chairman), Marlene reunion attended by over 250 enthu- Muizenberg School songs, siastic lovers of the seaside town. guests relating humorous stories ing to the atmosphere of nostalgia Dr Basil and Sheila Sacks (in sun- Bethlehem, Russell Gaddin, Norman The gathering was inspired by from their school days and two and reminiscence. glasses). Lowenthal, Bertie Lubner, Benjy Porter, the “Memories of Muizenberg” specially composed songs about Others in the photograph • The Memories of Muizenberg Herby Rosenberg, Howard exhibition currently on at the Muizenberg, plus a medley of include (on “Leibke’s” left): exhibition is at the SA Jewish Sackstein, Jason Valkin. South African Jewish Museum. songs from yesteryear, were the Ronnie Derman (gesticulating) Museum running until June 11 “Leibke” - real name Sidney highlights of the event, contribut- and (standing, to “Leibke’s” right) (021) 465-1546 Mr Justice Meyer Joffe (Chair, editorial comm) Road to dignity shown by KASHRUT Val some of SA’s philanthropists Blumenthal The following symbols will appear on (YALE chair- advertisements and/or advertising fea- ROB BAIRD did not require institutionalisa- tures to indicate whether or not they are tion, nor was she able to cope in man) and kosher. Where no Kashrut mark appears SOME 350 philanthropists of the society at large.