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south african n Volume 25 – Number 18 n 28 May 2021 n 17 Sivan 5781

The source of quality content, news and insights t www.sajr.co.za SA Jews face vitriolic antisemitism online TALI FEINBERG was scared to go out, and still am.” From that point on, he was subjected to a campaign with Israel”. She has since consulted lawyers, a counsellor, and of abuse and defamation by fellow medical student. “I got a lot of hate messages, but it’s not only me,” ike Jews around the world, Cape Town business private investigators. “It was extremely stressful for my In response, someone called Imraan Mansoor said he says Osrin. “I got a million messages from people owner Aimee-Leigh Koff was horrifed at the wave family and my boyfriend, even though he isn’t Jewish. wanted to punch Rendel. An anonymous Instagram saying the same thing happened to them. Teachers in of misinformation online as Israel was subjected “I have broad shoulders. I’m stronger than them,” she account sent Rendel a private message saying, “I know Johannesburg – who teach Muslim kids – have put up Lto a rain of rockets from Hamas. So, she wrote a Facebook says. She doesn’t regret posting about Israel, but does that you’re currently studying at Wits, and I just want you frames supporting Israel and got really nasty messages.” post about how Israel has the right to defend herself. In regret that her privacy settings weren’t on. “Why do I to know on behalf of MANY that are in solidarity with One Zakariya Baker sent an email with the subject line response, she was subjected to a torrent of antisemitism need to feel scared about being proud to be Jewish?” she Palestine, be careful when you get into your car, we know “conduct of employee”, supposedly “reporting” Osrin’s and abuse. asks. She says she is still being cyber-bullied and getting your number plate.” support of Israel. The same person shared a photo of “The most racist and ruthless nation is Israel those hate mail on a daily basis. With the assistance of the South African Jewish Board Osrin with the caption, “Here is a South African who dogs. May G-d send a decease (sic) to those thiefs (sic) Medical student at the University of the Witwatersrand of Deputies (SAJBD), Rendel opened a case with the openly is expressing support for an apartheid state. Do and may they die in the gutters. And you my dear may (Wits), Dylan Rendel, was taken aback when a fellow South African Police Service to investigate who sent the you miss the good old days? For anyone interested, this the skin from your face peel off. Remember Hitler left medical student posted on the class Telegram group threat. He says that Wits has been extremely supportive, person is an agent for [property company]. Do with this a few Jews in the world to show how evil Jews are. You encouraging classmates to go to an anti-Israel protest at shutting down the Telegram chat and fully investigating information what you will.” Jewish animals forget that Jews were not wanted all over the Israeli embassy. Rendel asked that the group “refrain the matter. Osrin says that while the experience was “unnerving”, ... Jews are known to be stingy and greedy people,” were from posting any political related things on this group Cape Town estate agent Lisa Osrin added a “frame” she isn’t worried about her safety. “I haven’t seen just some of the comments that a Mahida Khan Moolla which may be sensitive to others on here. This is a class to her Facebook profle expressing support for Israel but any Jews behave in the same manner.” She says her wrote to Koff. group for medicine.” online trolls decided to attack her. The frame said, “I stand workplace has been “100% supportive”, and that her Abdul Gafaa Sadick chose to non-Jewish boss also added a frame subject her to the age-old antisemitic supporting Israel. trope of the blood libel: “We don’t Photographer Chad Nathan shared a support you or your products made balanced post about Israel on Instagram, with the blood of innocent children Rallying written by a friend, and immediately faced and babies,” he wrote. a backlash online. “Let’s make sure he gets These were just some of the the attention he seeks. We might not be hundreds of messages sent to Koff able to get rid of them just yet over there. by South Africans across various But here we could!” wrote Abdullah Sonday, platforms. They hounded her with together sharing an image of Nathan’s profle. antisemitic messages, verbal abuse, Says SAJBD National Director Wendy and calls to boycott her business, Kahn, “We know that whenever there is which sells beauty products. They also a crisis or war in Israel, diaspora Jewry is pressurised a large online retailer to affected. There was a signifcant increase stop selling her products. A few days in antisemitism in South Africa during the later, they went after her sister, sharing Gaza conficts in 2008/2009, 2014, and her profle on public platforms. The 2018. I have no doubt we will see this trend abuse was so bad, Koff got a message in our 2021 statistics. from a concerned citizen saying, “You “They are using intimidation as their must be careful ... you could be in tool of choice,” says Kahn. “We have been danger.” assisting students at schools, university “It was extremely traumatic,” Koff students, professionals, and business told the SA Jewish Report. “I was Ossendryver Ilan Photo: people who have been subjected to toxic scared for my safety and felt helpless. I See page 4 Continued on page 14>>

CHEV VACCINATED

“TO SAVE ONE LIFE IS TO SAVE A WORLD” ~ Sanhedrin 37 a

www.jhbchev.co.za See story on page 10 2 SA JEWISH REPORT 28 May – 4 June 2021 Read the South African Jewish Report online www.sajewishreport.co.za “Israeli imperialists are planning to take our land,” ANC secretary- Shabbat times this week says Jessie Duarte general Jessie Duarte Starts Ends NICOLA MILTZ Israel as “genocide”, 17:06 17:58 Johannesburg Duarte called for 17:29 18:23 Cape Town “Tey [Israel] have to wake up. Now!” shouted a complete break 16:47 17:40 Durban African National Congress (ANC) secretary- in all diplomatic 17:08 18:00 Bloemfontein general Jessie Duarte at an ANC picket at the ties with Israel 17:00 17:54 Port Elizabeth Israeli embassy in Pretoria on Tuesday morning, and supported the 16:53 17:46 East London 25 May. boycott of Israeli “If we don’t stop this imperialism in Israel, goods. Appliance Repairs on Site one day they will move into Africa and start Duarte said , hers dispossessing our land. Tey will become the South Africans who was ish es next imperialists of the world. Tey are getting sent their children , D , Stov ready for this,” she told the 100 odd people to serve in the es hines g ac around her sporting ANC t-shirts or flying the Israeli Defense Forces were “part of the problem” embassy, which would be in clear violation rid g M F hin ruling party’s flag. in the conflict between Israel and Palestine, and of all international diplomatic regulations. as rs & more W Drye Duarte, speaking to a crowd of supporters “should stop”. Furthermore, her bizarre claims that Israel is ble Tum Call Jason from the ANC and its alliance partners, called She was quoted saying, “We cannot be friendly becoming a global imperialist are ludicrous.

082 401 8239 / 076 210 6532 for the Israeli embassy in Pretoria to pack up with people who are genocidal.” Tis delusional and paranoid statement is FREE QUOTATIONS and leave the country following Israel’s 11-day In a tweet by journalist Govan Whittles, embarrassing for a woman in such a key defensive campaign Duarte was quoted as saying, “Our defence position. Her numerous references to genocide against Gaza. industry must stop importing bits of defence are scandalously false, and make a mockery of In an off-the- technology from the state of Israel”. victims of real genocide,” the Board said. cuff tirade, she On behalf of the party, she called on Israel In reference to Duarte’s insistence that neither mentioned three to “stop its campaign of murder and atrocities she nor the ANC were antisemitic, the Board times that neither against the Palestinian people”. She accused quoted Hamlet, saying “Te lady doth protest she nor the ANC was Israel of not being a “democratic society”, too much, methinks,” summing up Duarte’s rant antisemitic, saying, describing it as a “military junta”. Te party outside the embassy. “And I want to make called on the United Nations to put “relentless “One wonders why Duarte needs to keep it clear that we aren’t pressure on Israel”. stating this? For all her protestations, the theme against people of the Reading from a memorandum with a set of of manipulative Jewish power, particularly Jewish religion.” demands, Duarte said Israel must recognise the in the financial sphere, comes through all too A bit later, she rights of the people of Palestine to their land and clearly, however much disguised by code words said, “Our movement freedom. like ‘Zionist’ and ‘Israeli’,” it said. isn’t against and I She said it wasn’t enough to downgrade the South African Communist Party official want to repeat it embassy in Pretoria, it should close. “Go home, Solly Mapaila called for protests by workers to because Israel has go talk about what you are doing wrong, invite continue until the Israeli embassy was closed already said that I am us, we will come and talk to you and help you down and trade ties with Israel completely antisemitic. I can just to bring about peace in both Israel and [for] the severed. say that that is the Palestinians. But please go home.” ANC Gauteng Chairperson David Makhura most stupid thing to After listing the ANC’s demands, she gave said the Palestinians were a stateless people, a say.” the Israeli embassy 14 days to respond saying, nation in search of nationhood experiencing And just in case “Wishful thinking. Tese arrogant people will apartheid aggression every day. He told no one heard, not even accept this memorandum.” reporters, “We aren’t picketing against the Jews. she repeated it Te South African Jewish Board of Deputies Tere are many Jews who understand that this again, “Tomorrow, described Duarte’s attack on Israel as is a question of justice.” they’ll have in inflammatory. Former Israeli ambassador to South Africa, the newspaper It said for someone who holds the highest Arthur Link, tweeted, “Can you imagine what how antisemitic executive office in the ruling party, Duarte a great place South Africa could be if @MTANC we are. We aren’t “should know better than to use inflammatory ‘leaders’ like Jessie Duarte cared half as much antisemitic.” and irresponsible language at such a volatile about vaccines, fighting corruption, job creation, Describing what time”. and education as they do about gathering a few was happening in “Duarte threatened to storm the Israeli dozen people to toyi toyi against Israel.”

Torah Thought Rabbi Julia Margolis, Beit Luria We have a responsibility to be inclusive Progressive Shul ow many times have you heard perspective. person stuck in a bad this sentence (and be honest): “He/ “Looking Jewish” isn’t what makes us a work situation, or an she is lovely, smart … but he/she Jewish people. We must seek truth in our abusive relationship, Hdoesn’t look Jewish.” world, and not be afraid to live according or an addiction, or Our weekly portion, B’haalotecha, to those truths. And we mustn’t be afraid to unhealthy grief, even though it’s “Egypt”, a teaches us about Miriam and Aaron as speak up. Our responsibility is to include, place of unhappiness, sometimes it’s more they speak out against Moses’ life choices: not judge, all who wish to be part of our comfortable than the hard personal choices “He married a Cushite woman.” (Numbers community. G-d lays before us. 12:1) Our sages identify this woman as I often think about the power of Miriam and Aaron had trouble with either Tzipporah, Moses’ wife in Exodus, or language. No less than 12 of the 44 lines this. They were alarmed by this Cushite a different wife from Egypt. In any case, the of the Al Chet confessional prayer recited woman, and spoke out against her, but G-d argument is clear: the non-Israelite woman on Yom Kippur refer to sins relating to the admonished them for it. Moses was the is an outsider, she looks different, and how misuse of words. Equally, I have all too forgiving one. He prayed for his sister to be she could even think that she is worthy of often seen the pain of those who have felt healed from her leprosy. He understood that marrying into our exclusive club? We don’t excluded from the Jewish community. our community needs more forgiveness and know if it was her religion, skin colour, or In the world we live in, our choices matter. openness, more empathy and acceptance some other “fault”, but this “otherness” is We all have the power to change someone’s to get us to the promised land. This is why too much for Miriam and Aaron to accept. life. And it’s that critical choice of being Moses is considered our greatest prophet. G-d punished Miriam with leprosy and inclusive rather than exclusive that’s available May each of us shine light on one during her struggle with this disease, she to us all. another, ennobling ourselves as we strive learned about vulnerability and what it Personal change and growth can be to introduce understanding to a world that was like to be banished from the camp for so scary, that sometimes people would prefers to look the other way. May each of seven days. A week is a short time, but for rather be stuck in something bad than go us recognise our capacity to touch another Miriam, it was long enough to get a new forward into the future. We might think of a soul with love and inclusiveness.

Editor Peta Krost Maunder – [email protected] • Sub-editor Julie Leibowitz Journalists Nicola Miltz • Tali Feinberg • Mirah Langer • Photographer Ilan Ossendryver The source of quality content, news and insights Editorial co-ordinator Martine Bass – [email protected] Proofreader Kim Hatchuel Advertising Britt Landsman: 082 292 9520 – [email protected] • New business development manager Laura Kaufman [email protected] • Design and layout Bryan Maron/Design Bandits – [email protected] • Distribution Sandy Furman Subscriptions Avusa Publishing (Pty) Ltd. Tel: 0860 525 200 • Board of Directors Howard Sackstein (Chairperson), Dina Diamond, Herschel Jawitz, Shaun Matisonn, Benjy Porter. • Advertisements and editorial copy do not neccessarily reflect the views of the editor, staff and board of directors. Tel: 011 430 1980. 28 May – 4 June 2021 SA JEWISH REPORT 3

Principal targeted in I want to Redhill’s anti-Israel flare-up buy your bobba! old or new, NICOLA MILTZ Foreseeing that the situation might escalate out of we’ll pay you control, Gerassi sent a letter to his staff and parent body. a wow price oburg’s multi-faith, multi-cultural Redhill School He wrote that it was an “incredibly contentious and for your car. this week attempted to pick up the pieces after divisive issue”, saying that he felt it was his obligation to angry pro-Palestinian alumni and students ensure the confict didn’t also tear people apart within attackedJ the principal for trying to calm rising tension the Redhill community. around the Middle East confict. “Let me say that I don’t believe that this issue Though there is chit chat between classes and sport shouldn’t be discussed and debated,” his letter read. Call Alan: 082 850 0004 and extra mural activities continue just like the news “However, given the emotions currently surrounding this www.alfinauto.co.za cycle – which has moved onto other things – the school’s crisis and the age of our children, I don’t believe there executive head, Joseph Gerassi, his staff, and students is anything to be gained from having them argue and are still reeling from a torrid week which threatened to debate with each other. tear the forward-thinking school apart. “At such a sensitive time, emotions tend to run high “All I was asking for was time to be able to bring in everything would have been fne,” said one Jewish Professor Karen Milner of the South African Jewish and assumptions tend to be made about people based specialists who could work with our kids on creating safe parent who also wished to remain anonymous, “The Board of Deputies said some of the Jewish parents on their religious and ethnic backgrounds. Making spaces where children would be able to have an opinion fact that he was neutral and unbiased was held against were justifably frazzled. “This was a big event in our such assumptions is dangerous, can create divisions but there would also be facilitators to moderate if things him. He was trying to diffuse a divisive and emotional community. It’s an important issue because it brought within our community, and more importantly, fragment got out of control,” he said. situation.” children into the confict at school level, and had an friendship groups that have taken years to build.” “It’s all very well for journalists to think every child at A bruised and vulnerable Gerassi said, “I’m ok. I’ve impact on their lives,” she said. He urged families to encourage their children not to school is a bastion of maturity who can sit down with managed to get past the hurt of this becoming personal. “Parents were worried about physical altercations discuss the issue at school. their sandwich at break and have a well thought out There were a lot of attacks on me personally, you get breaking out as well as their children’s sense of argument. Those of us who have been in education know through that, and you realise the most important thing is psychological safety and sense of inclusion at the that doesn’t take place. Not when you have these kinds Redhill, and I have to get things back together again.” school,” she said. of issues.” What hurt him the most was when he tried to reach There was a general sense of disquiet One parent who wished to remain anonymous out to students and alumni – many of whom he knew on campus as children processed said the alumni had another agenda. “It was very well and had close relationships with – to engage last week’s pro-Palestinian protest clear that this issue was hijacked and there with them before the protest took place, and they refused. outside the school during the early was always another agenda. It was a pro- “I was terribly disappointed in that. When you purport morning drop-off on Thursday, Palestinian protest by young adults more to believe so much in healthy debate and you’ve been 20 May. Dozens of young adults intent on demonising Israel than calling for at a school that has had so much debate, surely the frst descended on the school dressed in freedom of speech.” thing you do is phone Mr Gerassi and engage on the pro-Palestinian garb, some wearing subject.” old school blazers, waving fags, and Gerassi said that before mid-term break, the school chanting popular anti-Israel slogans. would hold a full-day workshop of presentations and “From the river to the sea, Palestine shall dialogue by experts in the feld. be free” was repeated often. This popular Palestinian “The presentations will educate our students on the slogan rejects the right of Israel to exist and calls for all of Anti-Israel protest outside Redhill School history of the Israeli-Palestinian confict as well as explain the land of Israel to be given to Palestinians. The slogan His intention, he told the SA Jewish Report, was to the different narratives and perspectives. Students will is considered an insensitive, hurtful anti-Jewish battle wait until safe spaces could be created at the school be given the opportunity to ask questions in a safe space cry. which would enable children to debate openly and and make comments in an environment that will allow The co-ed private school took a beating as alumni respectfully with one another. for healthy debate and respectful engagement and which shoved the school’s progressive headmaster under the The letter sparked outrage among some parents and will be mediated by experienced facilitators.” school bus, accusing him of shutting down free speech. their children. It was shared, and spread quickly online. One parent said his children had become prouder to He denied that was his intention, and said he did what In a fash, the school’s untarnished reputation was be Jewish, and had started to wear their Star of David he believed was the right thing to do. dragged through the twisting tunnels of hate on Twitter. necklaces. “We chose not to send our kids to school on “As an educator, I have the right to de-escalate what I One former alumni, Kelly-Jo Bluen, tweeted, “As a Jewish the day of the protest, it was all too much for them,” he might see becoming a major bullying problem. If I don’t former head girl of @RedhillSchool, I am absolutely said. do that and a child is badly bullied or hurt, I could have appalled by this virulent Zionist, racist, antisemitic “If it became heated, they weren’t equipped to defend a parent say that I could have foreseen it. Then I become incursion on freedom of speech at the school and themselves amongst the anger and name calling. School liable,” he said. policing of students. All alumni should immediately Ilan Ossendryver Photos: might be back to ‘normal’ but there is a lot of damage While on leave last week, Gerassi was informed by withdraw fnancial support from the school as a start.” this has torn friendships apart,” he said. senior staff and parents that there was a build-up of That was mild. The posters screamed, “End the occupation”, “Boycott One Jewish child who wished to remain anonymous emotion within the school as tension over the confict Gerassi’s online presence and every past utterance apartheid Israel”, “Condemn the genocide”, “Zionism told the SA Jewish Report, “Kids were discussing this in the Middle East reached fever pitch. Some children he has made has been scrutinised for potential bias. A is racism”. There were one or two which alluded to free issue which didn’t directly affect their lives and which they were being harassed. Parents, speaking on condition protest against censorship was called for by the alumni, speech, which said, “We will not be silent.” will forget about in a week or two. But what they didn’t of anonymity for fear of being harassed themselves, many of whom belong to the Wits Palestine Solidarity Being Jewish himself didn’t help Gerassi either. realise was how the antisemitic rhetoric affected some of said some children felt alienated and intimidated Committee. Nor did it help that he had been interviewed by this their Jewish classmates, and that lasts longer than a week by incessant social-media posts from friends and “The context of my letter has to be taken into account. newspaper after winning an Absa Jewish Achiever Award. or two.” classmates. I was writing frst and foremost to my community, not This was added to posts online. So too was the fact that Understanding the passion of youth, and in spite of “Some parents were writing to me saying that things to the press out there, not to other schools, and not to he had previously been headmaster at King David Victory the hurt, Gerassi said he would always be available to were starting to build up, and children were saying the government. I was writing this after I had loads of Park. chat to the same students who were angry with him. “I things that were cruel to one another,” said Gerassi. parents asking me for advice,” Gerassi said. “Had Gerassi come out strongly in support of Palestine, will always hold my hand out to them,” he said.

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Sandton Shul, Morningside Shopping Centre and Medical and 4 2 Web Ref: RL77134 4 2 Web Ref: RL77118 Educational Facilities. This apartment ticks all the boxes! Joel Harris 082 926 0287 National Sales Consultant of the Year Joel Harris 082 926 0287 National Sales Consultant of the Year 3 2 Web Ref: RL73795 2 2.5 Web Ref: RL76121 Laureen Shalpid 083 789 0229 Laureen Shalpid 083 789 0229 Chrissie Hammer: 082 568 0440 Sandra Luntz: 083 679 1247 4 SA JEWISH REPORT 28 May – 4 June 2021 Anti-Israel protesters want Zionists kicked out of SA MIRAH LANGER region, but what it wanted was peace. Te pro-Israel peace rally was organised after ionists must be kicked out of the pro-Palestinian one was declared. Valiallah Johannesburg and South Africa like said the discontent raised by the decision to the Nazis were defeated, a speaker at a demonstrate outside the SAZF office showed Zpro-Palestinian protest outside the offices of that it was “effective”. She said while supporters the South African Zionist Federation (SAZF) had made a plan to work around the other declared on Sunday. demonstration, “we honestly wish they didn’t “We are saying Zionists and the [SA] Zionist pull this move because we are here to execute Federation, there is no space for you here in and exercise our Section 17 rights, and this is Johannesburg. You must get out. Tere is no honestly disrespectful because they are trying space for you in South Africa. Like the Nazis to meet us with violence”. were kicked out, the Zionists must be kicked Asked if they had experienced any violence out.” from the Israeli side, she said, “not at this So said Johannesburg-based attorney Ziyaad moment because we had to re-root our protest Ebrahim Patel, speaking at the protest organised and re-plan what our action was going to be”. by Voice for Justice and the Palestine Solidarity Pro-Israel supporters at the SAZF rally Another organiser of the pro-Palestinian Alliance. march, who asked to be identified only by his SAZF National Chairperson Rowan Polovin drowned out the speakers on the Palestinian The crowd gathered at said this call was the latest “in a long line of side while playing Israeli and South African the Palestinian Solidarity provocation”. It “wasn’t surprising” that “BDS music. Alliance protest [Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions] leaders However, Patel went on to insist that the antisemitically call for a South African Jewish protesters supported Hamas and wanted more body to be ‘shut down’ alongside their calls for attacks on Israel. “We will send those rockets shutting down the Jewish state,” Polovin said. to Ashkelon,” he urged to huge cheers from the Patel’s call, filled with hatred on the other crowd. “We will not be apologetic for each and side of a wall from a gathering of Jewish people every rocket of resistance that goes to Ashkelon holding a pro-Israel peace rally, was greeted with and Tel Aviv because you are murdering our repeated chants of “Zionism is racism” by the children in Gaza. We see our children being crowd of hundreds of anti-Israel supporters. taken out of the rubble and we see entire Te rally in support of Israel organised by the families being desecrated and destroyed. Our SAZF was held behind the walls of the Beyachad holy mosques are disintegrated. You come with grounds while the protesters stood outside. your arrogance in Al-Aqsa [mosque] with your When the tops of Israeli flags being held by boots of oppression.” He said Hamas represented the “resistance supporters on the one side were seen by the pro- Ilan Ossendryver Photos: Palestinian camp, it made them angry. “Don’t of Palestine” before leading chants of “Viva hide! Come out!” cried supporters, with a voice Hamas, viva the resistance!” Earlier the crowd declaring “Ctrl Alt Delete Israel”, “Israehell”, and first name, Zaid, said that as a Palestinian adding repeatedly, “Jou ma se poes!” also repeatedly chanted, “Shut it down, shut “one Holocaust does not justify another”. himself, he knew the situation on the ground. Inside the Beyachad premises, the Israel rally, it down!” in reference to the Israeli embassy Patel also called for any South Africans Hamas was resistance and “resistance isn’t attended by almost 200 supporters, at times in South Africa. Banners held included those serving in the Israel Defense Forces to be tried terrorism. Terrorism is when you bring terror as war criminals. “We want all of those dockets into hearts, and that’s what Israel is doing. sitting at the National Prosecuting Authority “Hamas isn’t using human shields. It has to be investigated, and for war criminals to nowhere to go. Tere is a wall around it. be prosecuted in South Africa and in the Everything is operating underground.” International Criminal Court.” Zaid said, “We don’t have a problem with In terms of the hoped outcome for the region, Judaism. I have a lot of Jewish friends.” Patel declared, “We talk about solutions – there However, Palestinians need to have political is only one solution in Palestine: a one-state power. “You can’t have two governments and solution.” one state; it doesn’t work. We can live with Jews, but we can’t live with the government of Zionism.” Although the organisers originally arrived early to talk to the Johannesburg metro police department, and negotiated to have 200 Johannesburg-based demonstrators attorney Ziyaad in Elray Road, Ebrahim Patel more than Amera Valiallah, an organiser for Voice for double that number were allowed, including Justice, spoke to the SA Jewish Report affirming children and babies in prams. Patel’s call for the SAZF to be shut down. “We Lior Keinan, Israel Ambassador to South are calling for the closing of the [SA] Zionist Africa, said that the facts of the conflict had Federation – an organisation like this that been obfuscated in the way the world was supports supremacy, that is so blatantly in reporting on the matter. “People tried to support of an ethnic cleansing state, doesn’t create an alternative reality that Israel wasn’t have a place in our constitutional democracy,” protecting itself – that suddenly one day, Israel she said. woke up in the morning and started to kill She said her organisation defined Zionism people. Tere is a reason why in court you have “as elitism: it’s the same thing that Hitler was to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing trying to do with the Aryan race: we see over but the truth.” and over again. It’s white supremacy, it’s any Bafana Modise, a representative for South sort of supremacy”. African Friends of Israel, said it offered its Valiallah declared that the demonstration was support as Christians to have “one voice against about human rights, saying, “It’s not a Muslim the hatred in the world and also to reclaim our versus Jewish protest.” apartheid narrative which was sold in Durban At the rally, cries of “Allahu Akbar!” (G-d is [at the 2001 World Conference Against Racism]. great) were chanted consistently. “Peace won’t happen if we continue to Valiallah said as a new organisation and one demonise Israel,” he said. “Hamas isn’t the way. founded by the youth, Voice for Justice couldn’t Palestinians shouldn’t be used as war proxies; offer a “concrete solution” to conflict in the they deserve better.” 28 May – 4 June 2021 SA JEWISH REPORT 5 What you need to know about vaccinations OPINION PROFESSOR BARRY SCHOUB

n the frst week of the national COVID-19 the attending doctor. vaccine rollout, more than 117 000 people were 12. If I have had the infuenza vaccinated, with many of our senior citizens vaccine or any other vaccine, how long Ireceiving their frst dose of the Pfzer vaccine. should I wait before getting the COVID-19 Gratifyingly, many residential facilities for the vaccine? We recommend a waiting period of elderly, the most vulnerable of the vulnerable, were at least two weeks to minimise the mild-side successfully vaccinated. Families are breathing reactions mentioned above. collective sighs of relief, some even celebrating their In conclusion, I reiterate that both vaccines, Pfzer perceived immunity. Do I really still need to wear a and Johnson & Johnson, are safe and highly effective. mask and take COVID-19 precautions? There is nothing to choose between them, and the Here are key examples of the questions I have been advice is to take whichever vaccine is offered frst in asked over the past week. order to be vaccinated as soon as possible. Advice 1. Does being vaccinated mean that I can and recommendations will change from time to time now dispense with COVID-19 precautions? as more and more is learnt about this new disease Unequivocally not. All the COVID-19 precautionary and newer vaccines are developed to prevent it. measures must still be strictly adhered to for Importantly, advice must always be sought from several reasons. First, the immune response elicited authentic, reputable sources. by the vaccine will kick in about two weeks after vaccination but is really properly effective only after • Barry Schoub is the chairperson of the Ministerial four weeks. Second – and very importantly – no Clinical trials of the Pfzer vaccine were carried frst instance, this should be discussed with the Advisory Committee on COVID-19 vaccines. He is vaccine is 100% effective. The effectiveness of the out with a three-week interval, and consequently attending doctor. In broadly general terms, the the founding director of the National Institute for Pfzer vaccine against the dominant South African US regulatory authorities have maintained that COVID-19 vaccine can be given – and in most of Communicable Diseases, and professor emeritus of variant, B.1.351, is projected to be about 65% recommendation. However, the United Kingdom these cases should be given – to persons with virology at the University of the Witwatersrand. He for mild or moderate illness and 85% for severe (UK) decided to extend the interval to 12 weeks, underlying medical conditions, especially where isn’t employed by the department of health, receives illness. In other words, the chance of still getting primarily to vaccinate and provide some degree the immune system may be suppressed by illness no remuneration from the department, and isn’t a mild or moderate illness is about 65% lower, and of protection to as many as possible with at least or chemotherapy. But this must be discussed with spokesperson for the department. for severe illness about 85% lower, compared one dose. An added advantage was that the longer to unvaccinated individuals. If not careful with interval produced a stronger immune response precautions, there still remains signifcant risk of than the three-week interval, something also infection and illness, from mild to severe. We will observed with many other vaccines. We have be able to return to our pre-COVID-19 life only taken a middle path, in concert with the World once herd immunity has been reached and the Health Organization, to delay for six weeks for an circulation of the virus has been controlled. enhanced immune response but not as long as the 2. If I have had COVID-19 previously, do I still UK recommendation out of concern about people need to be vaccinated? Defnitely. Because neglecting or forgetting about the second dose. more than 95% of virus strains in South Africa are 8. Should I do an antibody test after of the relatively immune-resistant B.1.351 variant, vaccination to confrm that I have high levels of neutralising antibodies are needed immunity? This isn’t recommended by for protection. These levels are often not reached international bodies such as the US Food and The IUA-UCF is pleased to by natural infection. The COVID-19 vaccines Drug Administration. Routine antibody tests are announce that Lior Levy being used in South Africa – Pfzer and Johnson & unreliable in establishing immunity (although they has been appointed as the Johnson – have been very cleverly engineered to may have a role in determining whether someone new Executive Director of produce an even more powerful stimulation of the has previously been infected). the IUA-UCF. immune system than occurs with natural infection. 9. What side effects can I expect from the 3. Why does the Pfzer vaccine require two vaccine? Most people won’t experience any side Lior has a history of doses while Johnson & Johnson only effects. Some may have tenderness or a rash at the success in serving SA requires one? These two strategies have followed injection site. Occasionally, for a day or two, rarely Jewry which will stand from their respective clinical trials. The Johnson & longer, there may be some headache, feeling out him in good stead. Lior has Johnson vaccine has been shown to retain a very of sorts, some muscle pain, or even a slight fever, spent years serving the strong immune response for many months after which could be controlled with something like community contributing a single dose, while the strong immune response Panado. Any more serious adverse event must to the successes of the IUA- with Pfzer was seen after the second dose. be reported to a medical practitioner for onward UCF as senior fundraiser. 4. If I have been vaccinated and come into transmission to the NISEC (National Immunisation Lior’s main priorities is to contact with an infected person, must I still Safety Expert Committee). Alternately it can be continue fostering meaningful working relationships and quarantine for 10 days? Yes – the same as if reported through the “MedSafety” app. collaborations that he has helped to build in his previous you weren’t vaccinated. As mentioned above, you 10. If I’m an allergic type of individual position over the last 5 years. could still be infected, and even if not showing any (previous vaccination or medication, foods, pets, grass, etc.) should I get vaccinated? symptoms, you could still pass on the infection. Lior is eager to apply his many personal and professional 5. If I’m not feeling entirely well, should I Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) to the experiences gained in the management and fundraising field still keep my vaccination appointment or Pfzer vaccine have been reported, but these to guide the IUA-UCF into the next phase of its evolution. His postpone it until feeling absolutely fne? have been extremely rare – calculated at 11 per goal is to keep Israel alive in the hearts of all South Africans, by This is a little tricky. If symptoms are suggestive million doses. About three quarters of these assisting the SA Zionist Federation and the SA Jewish Board of COVID-19, you should be tested rather than go have occurred within 15 minutes of vaccination. of Deputies in achieving their mandate by keeping South for vaccination. However, if they are mild and not It would therefore be important for allergic African Jewry united, educated, informed and safe. Lior’s suggestive of COVID-19, there should be no reason individuals to alert the staff doing vaccinations, long term goal is to encourage our community to keep the to postpone a vaccination appointment. and one should wait for 30 minutes instead of longevity of our organisation alive for years to come. 6. If I have recovered from a bout of COVID-19, the usual 15 minutes after vaccination. The risk of how long should I wait before being blood clots after the Johnson & Johnson vaccine vaccinated? Four weeks. is less than one per million doses and has not, to We wish Lior every success his new position. 7. The recommended interval between the date, been reported after the Pfzer vaccine. frst and second doses of Pfzer in the 11. A frequent question about vaccination Please contact Lior for any further information. United States (US) is three weeks. Why are comes from patients with various chronic we recommending a six-week interval? underlying medical conditions. In the [email protected] | 011 645 2525

lior levy jewish report ad.indd 1 2021/05/24 11:51:31 6 SA JEWISH REPORT 28 May – 4 June 2021 south african Support for terror: JTheewish source of quality content, news andR insightseport explaining the inexplicable United we stand OPINION PROFESSOR MILTON SHAIN don’t recall there ever having been so much antisemitism he origins of all wars are contested. Israel’s and Islamic Jihad are anti-Jewish and hatred towards Israel as there is now, and yes, it’s “Operation Guardian of the Walls” is terrorist movements. Both have taken advantage of mostly on social media. no exception. Relying on the logic of cui heightened tensions and stoked these with a view II’m well aware that most people in the know say that Tbono – or he who stands to gain – some attribute to political gain at the expense of their opposition, every time there is violence in the Middle East and Israel is a Machiavellian role to Prime Minister “Bibi” Fatah. involved, there is a marked upswing in this behaviour. Some Netanyahu. It cannot be gainsaid that shortly Hamas is emboldened by a Western media and insist it has been far worse. I can’t argue about this because before the conflagration, there were signs that an its fellow travellers. Some will argue that Israel’s I probably wasn’t as overtly attuned to it as I am now. alternative government was in the making. response is disproportionate; but all ignore the Now, it stands out vividly for me. As a journalist, it’s Other commentators blame the war on fact that Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005. All always hard for me to criticise my colleagues, however I Israel’s short-sighted behaviour: over-zealous should agree that Hamas is a terrorist organisation, cannot ignore the massive bias in the mainstream media. action by security forces at the Al-Aqsa Mosque formally designated as such by the United States, In the car on Tuesday morning, I caught 702 news in during Ramadan and the mishandling of a Canada, and the European Union. which the newsreader spoke about the ceasefire agreement that followed the barrage of complicated legal case in Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah How then do we account for those marching missiles from Israel into Gaza. Such an agreement, as I understand it, refers to an end to firing neighbourhood. in support of Hamas? We do not, after all, see from both sides, but according to this station and other mainstream media, this was a one- President Mahmoud Abbas’s decision to not hold equivalent action against the oppression (some sided affair. Tey reported on only a barrage of rockets from Israel. long overdue Palestinian elections is also cited as a would argue genocide) of the Uighurs in China, Te newsreader proceeded to tell of these terrible Israeli police who launched a wave of proximate cause. actions by the Xi Jinping regime in Hong Kong, the arrests in which they incarcerated hundreds of Israeli Palestinians for their participation in Te broader context of course is the plight of the military in Myanmar, not to mention the slaughter recent “sit-ins”. Tese apparent sit-ins were in support of Palestinians in East Jerusalem and Palestinians. of civilians in Yemen and Tigre, and the systematic Gaza. Whatever the cause, Hamas saw an opening, and murder of Kurds by the Turkish forces in Iraqi Te police sounded like the worst kind of thugs who would arrest en masse these poor has done its best to show that it’s the protector Kurdistan, the so-called Operation Claw Lightning people who simply conducted a peaceful protest. It didn’t make any sense. When I got back to of Al-Aqsa and the authentic voice of Palestinian that started a month ago. Innocent children, too, my computer, it took me all of two minutes to find out the truth. aspirations. suffer in these conflicts. Police were arresting people for rampaging through Israeli cities – like Lod, Haifa, Acre, Contestation around causation and the Yes, I know there has been the occasional limited and Tiberius – during the 11 days of Operation Guardian of the Walls. Tey attacked Jews apportionment of blame is predictable. What’s protest against some actions and yes, I know and Jewish properties. Rocks were thrown at motorists, cars were set alight, and properties astonishing, however, is the substantial support for that the apartheid regime also raised examples of vandalised. Ten shuls were set on fire, and Jewish pedestrians were attacked. Hamas (and Islamic Jihad) in the West. Both these racial discrimination in other parts of the world Te point is, it’s easy to understand why police would clamp down on violence like this. movements oppose democracy and all that’s valued to bolster its case and challenge its detractors. Tey would do so in any country. However, arresting innocent protesters following sit-ins by human-rights activists. Each has a track record However, the energy, steam, and passion behind sounds terribly cruel. Why didn’t the radio station get all the facts? Why did it put across a of terror. Ask Fatah – or at least those members those supporting Hamas and Islamic Jihad is story that would undoubtedly intensify the already massive hatred towards the Jewish State? who survived the bloody Hamas military coup in unique and needs explanation. Why would it go with one source that is known to be biased against Israel? Gaza in 2007. Some have argued that one can choose one’s I don’t get it. Why would a media company purposely push the boundaries of truth that is Yet, in spite of Hamas’s odious tactics that cause – that one cannot focus on all evils. Te unequivocally going to fuel an already flaming fire towards Jews and the Jewish State? include the placement of artillery in schools, question, however, remains. Why do so many I’m seeing it all over mainstream media. I keep thinking to myself, am I going mad or mosques, and close to apartment buildings and choose the Israeli question? Is it because the region are my former colleagues and friends giving only one side of the story? I admit that Israel hotels housing journalists, tens of thousands in is home to the three Abrahamic faiths? Is it because has made and can make errors of judgement – we all can, and do. However, to ignore 4 000 many Western cities are happy to march in support of oil sensitivities in the region? Is it because “Jews missiles being launched into Israel is to ignore the truth. And as journalists, the truth is what of this terror movement. Who cares about the are news”? we are meant to be offering. indiscriminate firing of rockets at Israeli civilians? None of these explanations is compelling. A more I’m aware there is no such a thing as total objectivity and the way we write our stories has likely reason is that a some form of bias. However, it’s our job as the media to tell the truth as far as possible, not The Iron Dome – Operation Guardian of the Walls historical amnesia has to leave out half the story! descended – identified Te media aside, I do believe the Jewish community is feeling threatened, and not as such by Jacob without good reason. Te number of antisemitic social-media posts and threats has Talmon more than 40 multiplied. People’s livelihoods have been threatened because they have stated that they years ago. In response stand by Israel (page 1). Others are simply fearful of saying it because they don’t want to to the new left’s anti- create rifts between them and those who are vocal about their anti-Israel position. Tey also Zionism at the time – don’t want to be lambasted. the precursors of those From the African National Congress protesting outside the Israeli embassy, to anti-Israel marching today – the protests outside Beyachad in Fairmount, to an early morning protest outside Redhill School, renowned historian we hear the chant of: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” suggested that these Tis slogan isn’t a cry for peace or a two-state solution, it’s a very clear assertion that the “young revolutionaries” land lying between the River Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea will be Palestine. In other were “hypnotised by words, the area that is Israel will be destroyed to become an all-Palestinian territory. Tey the facile theory of are calling for the all-out destruction of the Jewish State. And this isn’t antisemitism? Te the two camps: that of total annihilation of the Jewish State can be nothing if not antisemitic. imperialism and that Is there any wonder we, as Jews, aren’t feeling so secure? of oppressed peoples Here’s the thing, now isn’t the time to get upset with another Jewish person who might fighting for national have jumped the queue for vaccines or who decided not to go to the Beyachad rally on Sunday. Protestors are seemingly oblivious to the liberation”. Now isn’t the time to find fault in each other. Now isn’t the time to find fault in a leader who medieval worldview and visceral Jew-hatred But reality is more complex. Tere has been a made an error of judgement or a Jewish journalist who is trying to do their job to the best of of Hamas. Not even its blatantly antisemitic continuous Jewish presence in the land of Israel their ability. founding charter – which amplified global Jewish for more than 2 000 years in spite of the Greek, We aren’t perfect. machinations and included a reference to the Roman, Arab, and Crusader conquests. Now is the time to join arms across our community, and face this foe as one. Now is the notorious fabrication, Te Protocols of the Elders of Historical amnesia, however, is only a part time to stand up and be counted as a community, not with violence or rhetoric on social Zion, raises doubt among the so-called progressive explanation. Another is more sinister: Israel is the media. left. Young and old are happy to join forces with a collective Jew – the Jew writ large. Put simply, the We don’t need to cower. We need to fight for our rights with intelligence and wisdom. movement that would catapult human rights back Jewish state embodies an unresolved obsession We need to work together to find smart solutions to these clear and apparent problems that to the dark ages. with Jews in the Western consciousness. have arisen. Te reality is that Hamas is undermining the Columnist Brendan O’Neill expressed this with Te reality is that this may be a problem that emanated from the Middle East, but Israel prospect of a Palestinian state. It’s weakening the great clarity in the Spectator: “It seems to me that, isn’t here to fight it for us. Here, on the southern tip of Africa, we as Jews need to work case of peace-seeking Israelis. As New York Times increasingly, there is nothing very rational or together to sort it out. columnist Bret Stephens put it, “If you want a normal about the hatred for Israel that sporadically We aren’t Israel, and Muslims in South Africa aren’t actually our enemies. We need to find Palestinian state to exist and succeed, you must sweeps the West. Rather, Israel has become a ways to achieve a peaceful resolution to our problems here, not allowing racist and antisemitic also want Hamas to be humiliated and defeated. whipping boy for the elites, a nation that has threats. Where there has been genuine hate speech and crimes, these need to be dealt with by Hamas’s sole aim for more than 30 years has been cynically been turned into the embodiment of evil the law. to turn a difficult but potentially negotiable conflict by virtue-signalling Westerners in desperate need You see, a people united can never be defeated. We need to put aside our differences and into a non-negotiable, zero-sum holy war.” Only a for an outlet for their rage and pontification. put our heads together. week ago, Hamas political chief Musa Abu Marzook “Without an alternative explanation,” continues If one Jewish person is being victimised because they’re Jewish, we can’t look for faults in told Russia Today that Jews wouldn’t be allowed to O’Neill, “the rest of us will be justified in wondering them, we need to stand behind them and support them in their time of need. remain in Israel. Tat was how he clarified what the if perhaps an old, dark hatred, whether wittingly It’s simple and the only strategy we can use going forward. war was about. or unwittingly, underpins the manic loathing of Let’s be safe and united. Let me be clear. If an intifada had erupted on Israel.” Shabbat Shalom! the West Bank two weeks ago, it would have been Peta Krost Maunder reasonable to argue that the occupation has simply • Milton Shain is emeritus professor of historical Editor gone on for too long. But this is different. Hamas studies at the University of Cape Town. 28 May – 4 June 2021 SA JEWISH REPORT 7 Use your heart and head to make sense of the conflict OPINION PAULA SLIER write this with an overwhelming sense of home. He mentions mornings that the PTSD linking arms to form a barrier a year earlier in media. Israel and Zionism are sadness. Te past two weeks have been (post-traumatic stress disorder) gets so bad, one of the Jewish settlements in Gaza that was losing the public-relations di fficult for everyone. Quite a few people he can’t get out of bed. But this isn’t what he being evacuated. Abuse was hurled at them war, they declare. Ihave messaged me in private saying that for wants to talk about. by young teenagers who were being dragged But to the mom whose husband was lost the first time in their lives, they are feeling “If losing part of my body and soul is the from their homes. One brown-eyed soldier at sea during the Yom Kippur War, it’s not unsafe living as Jews in South Africa. path I must travel for serving my country, then was crying, the tears flowing down her cheeks about PR. I never thought someone could For me, it has been very difficult to witness that is my journey,” he smiles. without a free hand to wipe them away. die of a broken heart until I heard her son’s the terrible pictures coming out of Gaza. My Shilon is as close as I’ve ever got to In Lebanon, there’s a museum that story. He was just 12 years old, and was so colleague who lives there spent one night meeting a modern-day hero. Shrapnel that showcases all the remnants Hezbollah fighters traumatised by images of his dad drowning outside in the street after his neighbour’s would’ve blinded him missed his cornea by a have captured off Israeli soldiers – tins of that a year later, he simply gave up living. apartment building was destroyed in an Israeli millicentimetre. Doctors were convinced he kosher food line the shelves as do pieces of IDF After trying everything to help him, his airstrike. I was brought to tears when he wouldn’t pull through. But he did, and doesn’t uniforms with blood on them. I remember a mother said she came to understand that interviewed a teenager who was the first to feel bitter at all. Instead, he talks about how pair of blue-rimmed sunglasses. she needed to let him go to join his dad. Te find the bodies of his father, younger brother, he and his soldiers risked boy died. and cousin. Te youngster broke down while their lives to prevent Last week, I sat down with Leah talking about the last time his father hugged civilian casualties in Gaza. Goldin, the mother of 23-year- him and told him to be brave. His pain was as “I’m proud to have old Hadar who was killed and raw as it gets. served my country in kidnapped during the last Gaza war. It reminded me of a previous conflict Gaza, and would do His body is being held by Hamas as when I was reporting from inside Gaza, and I it again,” he repeats a bargaining tool. interviewed a 15-year-old girl who’d lost her several times during our “I’m asking as a mother, please leg, also to an Israeli airstrike. “Nobody will interview. help us, please bring Hadar home. marry me now,” she sobbed, “the only man My point is: both sides We aren’t a bereaved family. We are who will take me will be an old man to be his have pain and suffering. a captive family, fighting to bring second wife.” Tere are lives in Israel our son home.” To be human is to be moved by these stories, and Gaza that have forever And then she broke down. but not to let them cloud our understanding been affected by the cycles “Hadar was engaged to be of what’s going on, and certainly not to make of violence between the married. And his fiancé was married sense of them by being engulfed with hatred sides. One person’s death two weeks ago to someone else and loathing for the other side. reverberates through … which makes me very happy Because for every Gaza story, I have an dozens of changed lives. because we want our kids to build Israeli one to match. Like the five-year-old boy My second point is: you their lives and show that terror whose brother was serving in the army and can’t compare pain and Ziv Shilon, a 33-year-old never wins.” who would stay up late every night drawing suffering – and we mustn’t former Israeli commander I know that by publishing this pictures for him so he wouldn’t feel alone on try. But neither must we who lost his left arm piece in the SA Jewish Report I’m by the border. be taken in by the barrage and large preaching to the converted. Or the 90-year-old woman who was of anti-Israel sentiment and lack of reporting Te Palestinian struggle has become a But the constant barrage of allegations watching TV in her living room two weeks ago in mainstream media reflecting the Israeli celebrity cause for people. News anchors to being levelled against the IDF and Israeli when a rocket exploded in her home. She lost position. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers social media influencers and Hollywood stars government might be leaving some at a loss as both legs and is on life support in an Israeli are made out to be villains committing war talk about the Israeli occupation of Palestinian to what’s really happening and even doubtful hospital as I write this. crimes on helpless Gaza civilians. It can leave territories. It’s almost fashionable to be pro- about Israel’s actions. Don’t be taken in by And what about the injured soldiers whose supporters of Israel feeling lost and confused. Palestinian. Tis year, United States rights the numbers game – which side has more lives are forever changed and who no-one I remember the first war I covered. It was group Human Rights Watch and Israeli rights casualties – and don’t be misled by the one- writes about? 2006, the Second Lebanon War between Israel group B’Tselem (both of whom the Israeli sided stories of pain and suffering. Listen to Ziv Shilon is a 33-year-old former Israeli and Hezbollah. It was midnight, and I was at government accuses of bias) announced that your heart – and reason. commander who lost his left arm and has the Metula fence on the Israel-Lebanon border. Israeli officials were “guilty of the crime of only 10% movement in his right one after an In those days, we were allowed to talk to the apartheid”, a term that has become far more • Paula Slier is the Middle East bureau chief of RT, improvised explosive device almost killed him soldiers just before they crossed over into prevalent than it ever was before. the founder and chief executive of Newshound in Gaza in 2012. He was unconscious for four enemy territory. I remember the fear in their Pro-Palestinian activists have gone as far Media International, and the inaugural winner days. eyes and one soldier asking me to pray for him. as to say that it’s too late for Israeli officials of the Europcar Woman in Leadership Award of I meet him in the garden of his Herzliya I also remember a group of women soldiers or tech companies to turn the tide on social the Absa Jewish Achiever Awards. 8 SA JEWISH REPORT 28 May – 4 June 2021 Tshwane takes sides – again – in Palestinian-Israeli conflict OPINION STEVEN GRUZD veryone is relieved that the guns have fallen silent While Ramaphosa calls for the parties to “fnd each In a radio interview on 702 on 24 May, Pandor said, Palestinian state, existing side by – for now – in the worst Palestinian-Israeli clashes other”, there is no mention, again, about rocket barrages, “We withdrew our ambassador from Israel because we side in peace with Israel within since 2014. The South African government Hamas aggression, or use of Palestinian civilians have reduced the diplomatic representation as a sign of internationally recognised borders, Ehasn’t minced its words in standing steadfastly behind as human shields in residential areas, schools, and protest, given the constant aggression, the occupation of based on those existing on 4 June 1967, with East the Palestinians. Recent pronouncements from both hospitals. There is no mention that Israel unilaterally land, and the intransigence of the Israeli government.” Jerusalem as its capital, in compliance with all relevant President Cyril Ramaphosa and Dr Naledi Pandor, the withdrew from Gaza in 2005. No mention of Hamas When asked why South Africa still has ties with UN resolutions, international law, and internationally minister of International Relations and Cooperation, have tunnel networks, dubbed “the metro”. No mention of Israel, Pandor said, “We have wanted to engage in a agreed on parameters.” Such a Palestinian state should been extremely emotive and one-sided, pointing fngers Israelis having only seconds to seek refuge in bomb positive manner, but I think it has become clear that not be “devoid of sovereignty, territorial contiguity, and only at Israel. Why does this happen, and is this a shift shelters. you now have a stance among the leaders of the Israeli economic viability”. This remains South Africa’s offcial away from Tshwane’s decades-old position on a two-state On 20 May, in her budget speech, Pandor said, “Sadly, government where South Africa may certainly have to position. solution? reconsider its engagement.” South Africa hasn’t had an So, in spite of its venom-tipped rhetoric, Tshwane On 14 May, a Department of International Relations In spite of its venom- ambassador in Israel since May 2018. still sticks to its old two-state principles, even if its and Cooperation (DIRCO) statement said, “The South tipped rhetoric, Tshwane “Do remember,” she continued, “that Israel is the conditions would be mostly unpalatable to the Israeli African government strongly condemns the unjust aggressor, and the Palestinian people are trying to electorate, and disregards how the situation has shifted attacks on civilians by Israel in Gaza and Jerusalem. The still sticks to its old two- protect themselves with inadequate means. They are over the past 54 years. Tshwane is implacably opposed continued escalation of attacks by Israel on Palestinians state principles, even if its trapped in an apartheid-style township manner. They to the pragmatic peace plan developed by the Trump in Gaza is totally unjust and shameful, particularly conditions would be mostly can’t move without permits. They don’t have a livelihood. administration. It’s calling for the Biden administration the targeting of the most vulnerable section of the They don’t have land, their land is usurped. So they to reverse the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, Palestinian community, children, women, and the unpalatable to the Israeli respond by whatever means they can. But they remain and revoke the Trump peace plan. Biden has been elderly.” electorate. the victim and we should not forget that.” reluctant to tackle foreign policy issues with his urgent Not a word is said about the thousands of rocket Every time there is a fare-up in the confict, it ratchets domestic agenda. attacks against Israel from Hamas, or stone-throwing at we all watched as Palestine suffered more and more up more pressure on Israel, and provokes its opponents South Africa, it should be noted, never calls for a policemen on the Temple Mount, or, indeed, Israel’s right brutally … We continue to stand in full solidarity with to adopt more radical measures – alluded to by Pandor. Jewish state. It’s therefore presumably in favour of a to defend itself. the people of Palestine … the cruel bombings and Senior members of the South African government flter not-so-distant demographic day when Palestinians will Then on 17 May, the president wrote in his newsletter, killings of the innocent we witnessed in the past two this Middle East confict through their own apartheid outnumber the current eight million Jewish Israelis. They “For all who believe in equality, justice, and human rights, weeks are a sad testimony of the cruel impunity the experiences. They also are genuinely horrifed by the could then vote a Jewish state out of existence. we cannot but be moved and indeed angered at the world has granted to Israel. The international community violence shown on TV. The Palestinians can be nothing Pandor’s call for sanctions on Israel or a rethink about pain and humiliation being inficted on the Palestinian must stop this impunity. South Africa should support the more than victims, never aggressors, in their view, relations shouldn’t be taken lightly. The president’s people; for it echoes our own.” International Criminal Court in the planned investigation whatever the realities on the ground. This same South sentiments should also give us pause. Ramaphosa wrote, “The senseless and continued of the abuse of human rights by the Israeli government. African government, remember, “noted with concern” Maybe a small ray of hope is that Tel Aviv isn’t on the Israeli bombardment of Gaza will have devastating We hope sanctions and other measures to show the the Abraham Accords of 2020 that Israel signed with list of 10 South African diplomatic missions slated for consequences … the continued occupation of Palestinian world’s offence at this brutality will soon be evident.” the United Arab Emirates (and subsequently Bahrain, closure for fnancial reasons. But is it only a matter of land and the suffering of the Palestinian people is a Again, this is completely partisan, and further Morocco, and Sudan), calling them “regrettable”. time? blight on the conscience of humanity.” evidence that the African National Congress makes The DIRCO statement – and the president’s • Steven Gruzd is a political analyst at the South African He said the controversy over land in Sheik Jarrah, friends for life. Any hope that South Africa could be an newsletter and minister’s views – reiterated South Institute of International Affairs in Johannesburg. These Jerusalem, “was not just about a local dispute; it was “honest broker” in solving this confict is long gone. Africa’s commitment “to the establishment of a viable are his personal views. fundamentally about the forced dispossession of land, about colonial occupation, about racial discrimination, America’s culture war could threaten Israel from within and about the violent suppression of dissent”. Frans Cronje, the chief executive of the Institute of Race Relations, wrote a penetrating critique – “Ramaphosa woefully misreading the Israeli-Palestinian confict”, News24, 20 May – which referred to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 17 May letter to South Africans, titled “From the desk of the president”. Cronje talks about his motivation for writing the response, and why challenging the narrative of the president’s letter is important. Why write a response to Ramaphosa? tie between America’s culture war that country’s existing racial divides Te key points made by Ramaphosa were and their own internal security to cleave a great chasm across incorrect, and so we wrote as much in worries me. which America’s damaging social defence of the truth as in defence of Israel. Te second negative is and political contestations He argued that Israel’s occupation was that Western opinion on now rage. It’s an ideology the root cause of the current conflict and Israel has, I think, been Frans designed to foment conflict Yeshiva College Primary that Israel was evicting Arabs from East altered over the past Cronje given that its theoretical Jerusalem in a manner akin to apartheid- week. Coming on the back point of departure is to cast School requires an era forced removals. He also said that Israeli of America’s culture war societies into unbridgeable Experienced security forces had launched assaults on inspired by the spectacular racial camps of victim and Muslim worshippers, that Israel’s strikes rise of critical race theory perpetrator. Usually the theory Foundation Phase on Gaza were “senseless”, and that Israel in the West, Israel is now more holds that the perpetrators are Remedial Teacher for had bombed journalists. We were able to vulnerable than ever to American white and the victims black, with whites demonstrate that those claims were either public opinion turning sufficiently far that using their influence over Western societies Grade 3 2022. misleading or baseless in that Israel was a future White House might limit support to become rich by keeping blacks down. Te Applicant must be under attack, had a right to self-defence, and for Israel. Te effect would be to weaken its only way to liberate the victims is to destroy that South Africa should be standing with external defences. Should Israel’s enemies the institutions of Western democracy and adequately qualifed Israel. succeed in fomenting an internal front while the “wars” to do so are culture wars. Jews in the early childhood/ What is your take on the consequences also weakening external defences, Israel have featured prominently on the periphery of the conflict? becomes very vulnerable. of critical race theory debates. Ellie Krasne foundation phase, as A positive of sorts is that Hamas’ ability to You’ve spoken a lot about the role of of the Heritage Foundation put it well: well possess a Post target Israel has been degraded. A second is Iran. “According to the theory’s perverse logic, that the Abraham Accords held up in the face Yes, indeed, this is critical to understanding Jews are first and foremost members of Graduate qualifcation of a determined Iranian effort to fracture what transpired over the past week. Te the oppressor class, bearing guilt for any in Inclusive Education/ them. A third is that American support for Iranians, after the setback of the Abraham wrong done to any non-white group by any Israel held across the Democratic Party, in Accords last year, have, I think, regrouped. white people. Simply put, critical race theory Special Needs spite of an attempt from within that party to Iran is emboldened by what I read as repeatedly casts Jews as having outsized Education and/or isolate Israel. A fourth is that several central the Biden administration’s naivete on economic success, even relative to other European states were bold in their support Iranian nuclear ambitions. It’s a lesson of white people, and this supposed success Remedial Education. of Israel. history that you cannot placate or appease makes them the worst of the … oppressors. And what were the negatives? revolutionary ideologues. I also suspect Antisemitism has long depicted Jews as ICT knowledge is essential. Tere are a number, but let’s deal with that the Iranians have astutely perceived racially inferior and extremely clever puppet Must be SACE registered. two big ones. A first is the extent to which that the rise of critical race theory in the masters who surreptitiously control banks, Arab-Jewish relations within Israel may West presents them with the opportunity to politicians, and the media. Modern-day Only successful candidates have fractured. If the damage is serious, apply the theory to the Israeli/Palestinian critical race theory does much of the same. will be contacted. it potentially opens an internal front of question in order to undo American support Tis, coupled with antisemitism, targets conflict that must be added to the external for Israel. Jews and blames them for perceived societal fronts that Israel has always fought on. You’ve spoken a lot about critical race ills. But the goal isn’t simply hatred of the Iran knows that a military assault on Israel theory – what is it? Jewish people; it’s to upend the civic order. from without is, in a sense, futile, because Te potential influence of this theory is now Jews are just the scapegoat.” Israel’s military defence is too strong. If you the greatest threat to the survival of Israel. Iranians will try to exploit the theory to Please email a complete CV to cannot attack it successfully from outside, Critical race theory underpinned the culture “upend” Israel via fomenting a culture war [email protected] you might have better luck trying to do wars that spurred the Black Lives Matter and against “Israeli apartheid” that will incite Applications close 7 June 2021 so from within. Tat few Israelis saw the QAnon movements in America to exploit Continued on page 9>> 28 May – 4 June 2021 SA JEWISH REPORT 9 Pensioner defrauded, then dies under suspicious circumstances in hospital

TALI FEINBERG was poisoned whilst admitted as a patient in hospital by persons employed at the hospital or with t sounds like something out of a horror movie, access to hospital facilities in an attempt to kill off but it happened in a private Johannesburg care the plaintiff in order to quash the complaints laid by facility. him regarding the theft of monies.” IJewish pensioner Bernard “Bernie” Katz As a result of the poisoning, Katz was intubated, was admitted to Netcare Rosebank Hospital on and was unable to breathe without assistance. 26 January 2021, but died under suspicious Although at times lucid, he was unable to walk circumstances on 5 May 2021. In that time, and had no quality of life. He died one month after R153 500 was allegedly stolen from his account, being poisoned. and he was then poisoned with rat poison, as per a In the summons and their letter, the lawyers state toxicology report. that “what is of grave concern is that not only was According to a family member who could not be there an attempt to murder our client while in the named, the 83-year-old grandfather was in hospital care of a private hospital, but in all probability, there for bowel-obstruction surgery. “After the surgery, are syndicates within Netcare hospitals who are he was very weak, but I nurtured him back to life,” committing similar crimes on other patients”. the family member said. “At frst he hardly ate, but They plead with Netcare to put in place measures just before he was due to be discharged, he ate four to address that possibility, as well as for the kneidels in one go! He was ready to go home and hospital group to share documentation and video was building up his strength. He had such a zest for footage that could help with the case. However, life, and had so much more living to do.” all they have received from Netcare is a request The family member says that Katz “suffered for Katz’ medical records – the same records in horrendously” in the last month of his life. “After Netcare’s possession. the incident [the alleged poisoning], they had to “The public has a right to know what transpired resuscitate him and put him on a ventilator. He had Bernard Katz as it is grotesque in the extreme that a patient to have dialysis and blood transfusions. He was in admitted into a Netcare hospital could in fact be agony, with tears running down his face. I could had been misappropriated from his banking and murdered while in such care,” says Swartz in his see he was begging me to help him, and there credit card facilities through a series of credit-card letter addressed to the directors of Netcare. Swartz was nothing I could do. And when he died, we had payments, ATM withdrawals, cash transfers, EFT says he didn’t get any response, and has confirmed to wait for the police. We couldn’t even call the payments, and ‘Autobank instant money cash’ his mandate to pursue this matter to its conclusion. Chevrah Kadisha because of the need for an autopsy. transactions on his bank account,” the summons In a statement issued on 25 May 2021 in It was a double trauma.” states. response to questions from the SA Jewish Report, An autopsy has to be done if there is the Upon discovering the missing funds, Katz Netcare Rosebank Hospital General Manager possibility of murder, but according to lawyers, the requested the return of his personal belongings. Richard Mulder says, “We extend our sincere results could take up to a year. His death certifcate, He then ascertained that “his credit card had been condolences to the family of the deceased which the stolen from his wallet”. He realised funds had been patient. We understand the family’s pain over the SA Jewish Report has seen, says the cause of his stolen by using his cell phone “or cloning his SIM uncertainty regarding the cause of their loved passing is “under investigation”. card”. Alternatively, they could have been stolen by one’s death, and while we as a hospital cannot Katz’ family is being represented by David Swartz using his credit card. He also ascertained that this speculate as to the cause, we are doing everything of SWVG Inc. Attorneys. In a summons to the High theft “was perpetrated by persons employed by reasonably possible to support the process that Court of South Africa Gauteng Division, dated 4 May the hospital, or persons who had access to his cell must, by law, be followed in such instances. 2021, the chain of events is laid out. phone or wallet, both of which had been given to “Whenever a person passes away and the It describes how Katz was admitted to hospital on the hospital staff”. cause of death cannot be determined with clinical or around 26 January 2021 for observation. “Upon Upon discovering the misappropriation of funds, certainty, the death is certified as an unnatural admission, the plaintiff [Katz] was instructed by Katz and his family complained to the hospital. He death, as was done in this case. In accordance hospital staff to surrender possession of his personal was also told he would be discharged in mid-April, with the Inquests Act, 1959, and as part of the belongings, including his wallet, to the hospital for according to a letter his lawyers wrote to Netcare investigation by the state into the probable safekeeping.” dated 16 April 2021. cause/s of an unnatural death, an autopsy will be The next day, “his cell phone was also taken from The summons and letter describe how on 6 April conducted by an independent state pathologist. him by hospital staff for safekeeping”. On 28 January 2021, after eating breakfast, “he was rushed to Any enquiry regarding the death of the patient 2021, he underwent surgery, after which he was ICU presenting with diffculty breathing, low heart should be directed to the state prosecutor, via the transferred to the hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU). rate, and hypothermia. Blood tests performed South African Police Service (SAPS). “While in the ICU, he was intubated in a serious but on his blood on the same day revealed that he “As is the case in all circumstances where a death stable condition. On 13 March 2021, after he had was suffering from organophosphate poisoning. in our facilities is considered of unnatural cause, been transferred out of ICU, he accessed his online Organophosphate is a powerful nerve agent found we are fully supportive of the process to determine banking facilities using a laptop provided to him by in pesticides and insecticides such as Rattex [rat the cause of death, which must now take its his daughter-in-law.” poison].” course,” Mulder says. “The hospital as well as the He discovered that “funds totalling R153 500 In the summons, the lawyers state: “The plaintiff clinicians involved will co-operate fully with the authorities in this due process. America’s culture war could threaten Israel from within “We were further greatly concerned about >>Continued from page 8 allegations that funds disappeared from the bank Arab Israelis to turn against their Jewish culture wars. account of the patient and the insinuation that a neighbours while turning Western opinion Second, America stays soft on Iran, member of staff may have been responsible for the against Israel to cut off American support. allowing the latter to better resource its alleged theft. How well positioned is Israel to proxies in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, “Netcare looked into the matter to determine counter these threats? and Syria. what transpired and to ascertain whether the Israel may have a problem here. General Tird, every few years, Iran incites rocket hospital’s strict procedures for safekeeping of William Westmoreland, the commander attacks against Israel in order to present patient valuables were adhered to. In consequence, of United States forces in Vietnam, would Israel’s response as genocidal Israeli we strongly dispute the allegations as well as a later agree with the lament “[that] we lost aggression. possible connection between the demise of the the war not in the jungles of South East Fourth, that message gets traction in patient and the money which is said to have gone Asia, but on the streets of Washington and the West because it resonates well with missing. in the living rooms of America”. critical race theory and the idea of “Israeli “We have encouraged the patient’s family to Tis is very much the evidence of the apartheid”. report the matter to the SAPS, and to open a case past week – that Israel might have been Fifth, reading the public mood, a future so that this matter can be fully investigated. We dominant on the physical battlefield, but Democratic administration in Washington have zero tolerance for any criminal behaviour, it doesn’t possess strategic understanding gradually cuts Israel off. Tis may take 10 and our hospital will co-operate fully with a SAPS or resources to contest the culture-war to 15 years, but Israel would be a sitting investigation should a case be opened to bring any battlefield. duck, and its Jews forced out of the Middle person or persons responsible to book.” How could that danger play out? East into a great new global diaspora. Says the family member, “Bernie was not an In five steps. First, Israel remains so Some Jews and Israelis will say this ‘old’ 83. He lived on his own, was driving and confident in its military defensive capacity cannot happen. independent. He loved playing bowls, and was and never develops an equally strong I’m afraid the things that cannot happen an avid follower of the stock market. He loved his strategic capacity to confront the far do happen more often than they should. family, and was just the sweetest man. I feel angry greater and more insidious danger of and devastated. I loved him back to life, and they stole him from me.” 10 SA JEWISH REPORT 28 May – 4 June 2021 Uplifting Shavuot as Chev vaccinates residents and Holocaust survivors TALI FEINBERG of the week. This was how we were able to day, we all have sore arms, but the soreness vaccinate all residents across all our facilities. doesn’t last. Now we wait for the second very single Chevrah Kadisha They kept sending and we kept vaccinating, shot!” resident over 60, as well as most of working late into the evenings at times. Tomson says the Chev has since spent Johannesburg’s Holocaust survivors, “At the end of the week, we realised a lot of time educating residents about Ewere vaccinated last week to their relief and that we would have a few left over, and we vaccines and has explained that immunity that of their families. sought permission to vaccinate Holocaust begins only after two weeks. Returning “To say that there was overwhelming relief survivors in Johannesburg,” he says. to some sense of normality is still a long is an understatement,” says Benjy Porter, “We are mindful that Holocaust survivors journey, but for him, it’s a miracle that this whose parents are residents at Sandringham don’t do well in queues, so we brought momentous step has been taken. Gardens. them to Sandringham Gardens. It was very “As the numbers creep up towards a third The Chev’s chief executive, Saul Tomson, emotional.” Sadly, some survivors have lost wave, the risk profle hasn’t changed. In says, “The Department of Health visited their lives to the pandemic, so the Chev was time, we will look at increasing residents’ us on International Nurses Day, and were eager to help those that it could. movements responsibly while maintaining a impressed with our setup and ability “We wanted to show them they haven’t cautious approach.” to roll out mass vaccinations. We were been forgotten. Their story requires us to go Jack Shmukler, who is turning 85 next told we would be given vaccines for our above and beyond the call of duty, with extra week, is one of the Holocaust survivors who Sandringham Gardens residents, as many care and compassion.” was given the vaccine. From surviving the are the most frail and bedridden, and there Porter’s mother, Joan Porter, says she Shoah by hiding in holes in the forest at the is no way they can go to vaccination sites. is grateful that the Chev prioritised her age of three to a global pandemic, Shmukler “We had no choice but to start on Shavuot husband, knowing that he had to have really has seen and survived it all. Now, the with this life-saving mission,” Tomson fve days between his vaccination and his vaccine is one step closer to him enjoying says. “The reaction of the residents was chemotherapy. the full and blessed life he has built up in heartwarming. Some of them were dancing “It was done magnifcently. A nurse Sandringham Gardens resident Betty Milner getting her COVID-19 vaccination South Africa. and singing in celebration.” came to fetch us and our IDs were checked. “COVID-19 has been very hard on According to Tomson, the Chev has ten We were asked if we had any fears [about Home, admits that she was both “How is it going to work, we wonder? him and the whole family,” says his wife, qualifed vaccinators and a pharmacy on the vaccine] as well as allergies and health apprehensive and full of hope. “COVID-19 I sit and give the sister my arm. ‘Ready?’ I Denise. “We led a very active life before the site. As the frst doses were given on Monday issues. We were told it might be sore as has been with us for almost a year and a half. nod and breathe. ‘All over.’ Wow, that was pandemic hit.” Her husband has also battled morning, he walked over from shul to it’s a long needle, and shown what to do We have all been in a state of limbo during quick, and I didn’t feel anything! I have to go health issues, and going to hospital during witness them. if it hurts. It was very quick. Afterwards, we that time, but now we have a vaccine, and and sit with the others who have had their the pandemic hasn’t been easy. “So, we were “It was really overwhelming. Later, were taken for tea and coffee and given two maybe that will help to alleviate the stress injections. I’m given a red sticker with the thrilled to get the vaccine. There’s no way dignitaries from the Department of Health, Panados!” and loneliness we feel,” she says. time on it. ‘You must wait for 25 minutes,’ we could have gone to vaccination sites and the premier’s offce, and the MEC’s offce “We are so thrilled and relieved that we Describing the chatter between the the matron says. Well, now it’s all over and stood in a queue.” arrived. We were one of 11 sites they got vaccinated,” she says, describing the residents as they were told they would fnally I go to lunch. ‘Any reaction?’ is the question Says Porter, “I feel immense gratitude to initiated, but one of the only sites that used atmosphere among residents as “positive” get their jabs, she recalls how some asked, going round the dining room. ‘I feel very the Chev and Hashem that my parents were all our shots on the frst day. So, they sent and the process as “very professional”. “Will it hurt?”, “How will it feel?”, and “Do I tired,’ says one resident. ‘Will we be able to lucky enough to get a vaccine. I think it’s an more the next day and so on for the rest Clara Taub, a resident of Our Parents really want to go into the unknown?” go to the shops now?’ says another. The next enormous privilege.” Antisemitism “on an unprecedented scale”, say British Jews CNAAN LIPHSHIZ – JTA people in connection with the incident. “Antisemitism in the UK, sadly, always spikes when lawyer and father of three who said he feels safe walking Earlier in the day, Goodwin was assaulted outside his there is confict in the Middle East, but this feels worse around London while wearing a kippah. he ceasefre declared by Israel and Hamas after synagogue in Chigwell, north of London, in what police than ever,” wrote Luciana Berger, a former prominent Broadly speaking, Arkush said, the UK’s antisemitism 11 days of fghting seems to be holding, but the eventually said was an antisemitic incident. Jewish Labour legislator who now works in public is mitigated by the fact that unlike in continental Europe, after effects on Jews in Europe – especially in Pinto said her family recently purchased real estate in relations. most British Muslims come from southern Asia and TBritain – are still being felt. the United States and the antisemitic events – notably “This time it feels different. It feels more intense and aren’t Arabs with roots in the Middle East. As in previous rounds of Israeli military conficts over the past two weeks – increasingly are making them far scarier,” Simon Cohen, a 36-year-old Jewish lawyer “Antisemitism is still more prevalent among British involving Palestinians over the past 20 years, antisemitic contemplate a move across the Atlantic. from London, wrote in a reply to Berger’s tweet. Muslims than the general population,” he said, “but violence and intimidation have surged in Europe, where The increase in antisemitic Israel occupies a far less central place in their worldview tens of thousands of protesters have marched and rallied violence in London hasn’t compared to Muslims in France.” at events that expressed rage toward Israel. Some have changed the daily routine of That may be changing with social media. used the moment as a pretext to target Jewish people. Joseph Cohen, an Orthodox “When young British Muslims are surrounded by In the United Kingdom (UK), 116 antisemitic Jewish Israel activist whose hate speech about Israel on their timeline, that may be incidents have been reported since 9 May, the day focus is advocacy in especially eroding the buffer I’ve just described,” Arkush said. Hamas started launching rockets into Israeli cities, hostile environments. In a 10 May panel discussion hosted by the compared with only 11 cases in the previous two weeks. “I think especially in these 5pillars Muslim website, a British-Muslim imam from In one incident on 16 May, a rabbi was beaten by two times we have to be visible, Birmingham called for “an announcement for jihad by young men who hurled antisemitic slurs during the we have to be present, and I Muslim majority states”. The imam, Asrar Rashid, also said attack. The rabbi, Raf Goodwin, sustained moderate will still walk around London Pakistan should fre missiles at Israel just as Iraq had in injuries that required hospitalisation. Police arrested with my tzitzit out, a big the 1990s, when “every Jew was running into his shelter, the alleged assailants, who also are accused of stealing kippah, and a jumper labelled those with the European passport would be running back

Goodwin’s phone. Alisdare Hickson Photo: ‘Zionist’,” said Cohen, 37, who to Europe” as the “Jews are a cowardly nation”. engages with Muslims at This sort of agitation by imams and some Muslim On Friday, after the ceasefre, a man broke into the car A protester marches at a London rally against Israel’s actions in Gaza of an Orthodox Jewish man in a heavily Jewish part of anti-Israel events for videos he community leaders has existed for decades in the UK, London and assaulted him. The suspect was detained by Victoria Prever of London recalled in a column for the posts on the website of his Israel Advocacy Movement a nation of 66 million, including three million Muslims passersby until police took him into custody, the Jewish Jewish Chronicle that on the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, charity. and about 295 000 Jews. But it’s experiencing a News of London reported. her two children had prepared cover stories in case they But even Cohen acknowledges that he is “more resurgence following the rise of Jeremy Corbyn, an anti- For British Jews, the spike has been terrifying. Some were asked on the street why they weren’t in school so fearful than ever before” because of the intensity of the Israel politician who once called Hamas and Hezbollah are feeling unsafe and wondering if they will stay in the as not to reveal that they attend a Jewish one that was current wave of anti-Israel and antisemitic animus that his “friends”, to the head of the Labour Party. UK. And it’s dashing the idea that Jews in the UK, where closed for the holiday. began with the fghting on 9 May. Corbyn was replaced last year by a centrist, Keir most Muslims are not from the Middle East, could avoid “My heart broke. What has happened that at “I’m dressing exactly the same way as I always have Starmer, amid a highly covered scandal over the the level of antisemitic violence observed elsewhere in primary school age, she is working out how to hide her been, I’m going to the same places,” Cohen told the proliferation of antisemitism in Labour’s ranks under Europe. Jewishness from strangers?” Prever, the Chronicle’s food Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “But I’m looking over my Corbyn, as well as his alleged failure and reluctance “It’s the mobilisation, the impunity, the scale, the editor, wrote of her 10-year-old daughter in the column. shoulder much more than I ordinarily would have. And to deal with it. Both current and former chief rabbis of sheer misogyny, and the violence that’s so shocking “Should we be more discreet? Would we be better off I’m much more aware of who I’m talking to and basically the UK have accused Corbyn of being antisemitic, an this time around,” said Linzi Pinto, a Jewish mother of more integrated – in non-denominational schools?” where I am.” allegation he has denied. two from northern London. “It’s the worst it’s been. It’s The convoy and related events have triggered Britain isn’t alone. Elsewhere, in places such as “First, the Corbyn years have been traumatising to terrifying, and we’re defnitely questioning our future dormant fears among British Jews. Vienna, Brussels, and Amsterdam, recent anti-Israel Jews, who still don’t trust Labour and for good reason,” here. We’re fortunate to be able to leave.” “My grandparents were Holocaust survivors. I’m events have featured chants urging Jews to remember Arkush said, alleging that Starmer hasn’t done enough Like many other British Jews, Pinto was especially usually long asleep by now, but my stomach is in knots,” Khaybar, the site of a seventh-century massacre of Jews to reform the party. “So they’re scarred.” shocked by a convoy of at least 10 cars fying Palestinian Becky Aizen, a historian and author who was born in in Saudi Arabia, because “the army of Muhammad is The Corbyn clique, Arkush said, “has placed Israel fags and blasting music in Arabic that on 16 May, drove Australia and has been living in London for many years, returning” to kill them, as the chant goes. at the centre of the far-left movement, who are now 200 miles (321km) from the northern city of Bradford wrote on Twitter on 17 May. “This IS different. My DNA Jonathan Arkush, a previous head of the Board of rushing to use conficts involving Israel politically.” to the heart of Jewish London, the Golders Green isn’t equipped.” Deputies of British Jews, isn’t convinced that the current The agitation shows what “sentiments exist within a neighbourhood. One convoy rider shouted antisemitic Many have echoed that feeling – that the intensity of spike in antisemitic incidents is unprecedented. section of British Muslims and in our society,” he said. insults and incitements to violence there, including “f— antisemitic abuse in the UK is higher than in previous “I think the people are feeling the heat of the moment “But it will die down once hostilities end – until the next the Jews, rape their daughters”. Police have arrested four situations involving Israel. and are having an emotional reaction,” said Arkush, a time.” 28 May – 4 June 2021 SA JEWISH REPORT 11 Israel losing battle for global opinion OPINION ANTON HARBER he recent Israel-Palestine outburst of United States and elsewhere, the #BlackLivesMatter hard to be the victim when you clearly have massive Even Israel’s friends are having violence was in many ways a media and movement has heightened awareness, particularly military supremacy and high levels of control over increasing diffculty defending public-relations war: a battle for the global, among young people, of issues of prejudice, bias, and Palestinian territory. Never mind the issue of the aspects of Israeli policy and Tregional, and local support which is so critical to discrimination, and the unfettered use of power to treatment of Israeli Arabs, who joined the battle in the conduct. And this tide will continue until these both parties in this confict. defend it. In other words, the cry of the Palestinians streets of Israel. core issues – such as occupation, the treatment of Both sides had limited goals, so both were able that they suffer the daily humiliation of apartheid We can contest the comparison with apartheid, and Palestinians, and illegal settlements in occupied – with at least some credibility – to claim victory in resonated in places it hadn’t done before. For the we can argue about the treatment of Israeli Arabs. We territories – are faced up to squarely and dealt with the media after last week’s ceasefre. Hamas was frst time, there were impassioned speeches in the can compare Israel’s behaviour with other countries fully. able to assert its militant credentials and instil fear United States Congress on behalf of the Palestinians. in the region. We can point to instances of biased Israel cannot depend any longer on the leniency of in Israeli citizens with thousands of rockets raining President Joe Biden, who was trying to stay away coverage. We can express outrage that the world the media. down on them; Israel exacted a severe toll against from the fray, came under strong pressure to shift his overlooks the nature and history of Hamas. We can the people of Gaza for Hamas’ actions, and set back position. write selective and partial histories. • Anton Harber is Caxton professor of journalism at the Hamas’ military capacity, maybe (maybe!) earning a During the confict, both sides were vying to portray But we should be aware that the signs are that University of the Witwatersrand and author of the few years of comparative quiet. themselves as the victims. Israel pointed to Hamas’ Israel is losing this battle for global opinion, even recent book, “So for the Record: Behind the Headlines That Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rockets, fred both from and into civilian areas. But it’s in capitals where its position had been assured. in an Era of State Capture” (Jonathan Ball, 2020). was able to strengthen his precarious position in internal Israeli politics probably served the purposes of both him and more militant Palestinians. When looking at the media, one can point to many instances of partial, biased, unfair, one-sided coverage, leaning both in Palestine and Israel’s favour – as might be expected in a longstanding and brutal confict which raises strong emotions everywhere. To dwell on this is useful in understanding the role of the media and coaching journalists about bias and fairness, but it detracts from the major shift that has happened. What we saw refected in the media was a tidal change in global sentiment towards Palestine and Israel. If we don’t take this on board, we won’t understand how much things have changed and how futile it is to argue the minutae of bias or the fairness of coverage. For many years, Israel has been able to rely on the support of most global and particularly Western media, refecting its relationship with Washington, London, Berlin, and other capitals. There was media criticism of some of Israel’s actions, but the overriding sentiment in most coverage in the dominant mainstream outlets was sympathetic to Israel. When looking at the media, one can point to many instances of partial, biased, unfair, one-sided coverage, leaning both in Palestine and Israel’s favour

Not this time. What we witnessed was a rising global awareness of and sympathy for the plight of the Palestinians and a horror of Israel’s use of its military power and dominance. We can argue about whether this is fair and just, but more important is to understand why it is the case and what it means for the future. A few things account for this shift. One is the rise of social media, which has broken down the mainstream media’s capacity to be the gatekeeper of international coverage and set the agenda. Social media has given voice to ordinary Palestinians in a way that did not happen before, and allowed the widespread dissemination of horrifc images from ordinary citizens on the ground. Some of these are fake, unverifed, or partial, but many aren’t. The second is that Israel did some things in the past few weeks that infuriated even sympathetic media. It bombed the building of two of the very few international outlets based in Gaza trying to report from there, Associated Press and Al Jazeera. While it said Hamas was using the building for military purposes, it provided no evidence to the public (though it said it had given evidence to the United States administration) and wanted us to take it on its word. But journalists are less likely to do that after it emerged that the Israeli military misled the media a few days earlier when it said it had begun a ground invasion of Gaza. A number of international outlets reported it, only to be embarrassed when Israel withdrew its statement. Israeli media said this had been a deliberate ploy to draw out Hamas soldiers. And the third important shift is that in the 12 SA JEWISH REPORT 28 May – 4 June 2021 ‘We’re ready for anything’, says firefighter on Gaza border TALI FEINBERG incessant stress. “We don’t call it evacuation,” a sensitive area which shares says Isaacson. This is home for him and so borders with Gaza and Egypt. I volunteer firefighter who was born in many others, and they certainly aren’t leaving. also work with emergency units South Africa has been at the forefront Though people in the area are resilient, Keith Isaacson like fire fighters and rescue of the fight to protect Israel’s “Gaza Isaacson says, more than 50% have had to teams.” envelope”A – the area of Israel that shares a have counselling to deal with the trauma of Isaacson says that 40km – two 40km border with the Palestinian enclave. living under a rain of rockets. “I’m sure there thirds of the Eshkol region’s Former farmer Keith Isaacson, who is head will many more. The whole world comes to border – is shared with Gaza, and of security in the Eshkol region, says his family this area of Israel to learn about how we 20km with Egypt. “In those 20km, made aliyah to the area in 1975 and has never treat trauma because there is no one more there are many problems with left – and he will stop at nothing to protect it. experienced.” fighters from ISIS [the Islamic Last week, a video went viral of Isaacson One of his most challenging moments in State of Iraq and the Levant] standing in front of a fire which he said was on recent days was “saving wooden houses from a interacting with the Egyptian a moshav nearly 7.5km from the border with big fire. It surrounded us, but we managed to army, which affects us daily. Gaza as a result of a rocket landing there. For fight it.” Though the farm’s fields were burned, It’s not our fight, but because him, it was just another day at the office, as he’s satisfied that they managed to save the it’s so close, we are affected. he attempted to help wherever he could as the homes from going up in flames. ISIS is trying to smuggle drugs, area faced a barrage of destruction from the “My father is from Johannesburg, my and it’s violent smuggling, with sky. mother from Namibia. We made aliyah in shooting. This whole area feels Of the 4 000 rockets fired into Israel over 1975, straight to a moshav next to Gaza,” the bombardment of the Egyptian the past two weeks, “just more than 1 200 Isaacson says. A husband and the father of two army. It’s not a quiet border.” were fired into the Eshkol region, and of that, sets of twins, he was a farmer until 2014, when Yet, ultimately it’s a peaceful 72 were fired directly into kibbutzim and Operation Protective Edge wreaked havoc on region, with wide-open spaces moshavim. If 30% of missiles are shot into one the region. and the beauty of farming area, it definitely has side effects,” he says. “After that, I decided to close my farm communities. When he was a These include rockets that have burned acres and go into security, hoping to restore the farmer, Isaacson’s main crop of agricultural land in Israel, and residents confidence that was damaged in 2014. I was chrysanthemums. “It’s the leaving the area to get a break from the mostly work with the army because it’s such biggest farming area in Israel – about 450 000 square metres of agricultural land,” he says. Afrikaans, Jewish, and on YouTube, advocating for Israel “It’s mainly tomatoes, but also MIRAH LANGER In 2014, he returned to South Africa and settled in discussion about Judaism including dispelling some vegetables and citrus.” Cape Town. He briefy tried Reform Judaism, but felt it Christian ideas about it, conversion, and now commentary Terrorists across the border YouTube channel detailing the facts behind the didn’t suit him, and eventually found a religious home on Israel. know that the fields are confict in Israel is going viral for its assertive under Rabbi Sam Thurgood at the Beit Midrash Morasha For the frst few years, the channel was quiet, with susceptible to fire and take unpacking of the context behind the headlines. in Arthur’s Road, Sea Point. In 2017, he completed his about 100 subscribers joining a month. However, advantage of it. “They send fire However,A the life story of its creator, Theo Kriel – an conversion. recently, about 100 people have joined a week, and Kriel balloons and kites which are Afrikaans South African who was inspired to become an Kriel made aliyah in 2019, and is now a part of the now has more than 5 000 subscribers as well as more always carried inland as the Orthodox Jew by two German Muslim converts he met in Hardal community. In Hebrew, Hardal literally means than 500 000 views in total. wind flows in from the sea. They Saudi Arabia – is the most epic tale of all. There is an eclectic mix amongst those don’t care about nature and Born in Louis Trichardt, Limpopo, to a staunch interested, Kriel said, including Jewish baal conservation. But for us, to see Christian family and growing up in George, Kriel teshuvas (secular Jews who have become the fields burn is traumatic. Since said that while he “always believed in G-d from a religious) and Christians. The majority of 2019, they have burnt 40 000 very young age”, he didn’t believe in Christianity. subscribers are from America and also square metres. But lately it has In fact, he always felt a particular infnity for Moses, represented are South Africa, Israel, and been much less as we have better and was nicknamed “Klein [little] Moses” by those even India. equipment and are much more around him. The function of his channel, including organised. There is much more Kriel’s childhood was riddled with illness, the commentary on Israel, is “to show what co-operation between fire fighters including cancer as a result of which his leg was things are really about, without the media and nature reserves.” amputated at the age of seven after a year of or what people say or believe, because with The area is also affected by chemotherapy. It was an experience that would later belief, you can believe in anything. I’m pro- terrorist tunnels, snipers, drones, inspire his choice to become a medical prosthetist Israel but I’m also pro-facts, so if Israel does and anti-tank missiles from Gaza. orthotist and help others in a similar position. something that isn’t sababa [cool], I will also Another danger from the recent His career path opened up opportunities to report on it.” rocket attacks is missiles left work overseas, and by exposing him to many Most recently he has made videos on the ground, some of which different cultures, would even ultimately lead him discussing what really happened at Al- haven’t yet exploded. “We have to Judaism. Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, as well as the demolition squad come in, Coming from quite an insular Afrikaans context, flming and explaining rocket attacks on and their work can take up to a his frst travels to work in Malaysia, where civilians in Israel. He has also discussed month,” Isaacson says. But, in he lived with a Hindu family and comedian Trevor Noah’s comments about spite of the dangers, “I doubt one then Buddhist friends, were eye- the situation. family will leave the area,” he says. opening, he said, although he Theo Kriel When it comes to the situation in the His parents, brother, and three remained secular. region, “I wish people would fact-check out of his four adult children live He then went to work “mustard” and represents a level more. I say in all my videos on the matter: ‘Don’t believe in the Eshkol region. in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, of observance between Haredi what I’m telling you: I’ve got an Israeli fag in my As Israel battled Hamas, dealing mainly with the and Dati Leumi – the national background, I’m ultra-Orthodox, I’m going to give you Isaacson says, “We definitely royal family. At the hospital religious. the religious pro-Israel opinion, but fact-check me – go hit them hard – especially their where he worked, he met “We are very strict in our google it’.” military capacity and tunnel two German brothers who observance, praying three times He says making aliyah “isn’t as advertised” because network.” He points out that the had converted to Islam. a day, and in our learning of of some of the logistical complications but nevertheless, Israeli army “works tirelessly to The trio would often debate between three and four hours a Israel remains the “land of the Jews for centuries, and prevent the loss of innocent life, religion. Eventually, these day, but we also believe that you where we should be”. sending warnings for civilians friends told him that his should work like everyone else,” “It’s not Lalaland, but it’s our land,” he posits. to evacuate well ahead of views refected Judaism, and Kriel said. Now aged 35, Kriel said on refection, he appreciates operations”. In this context, most that he should investigate it Although his mother asked him the inner growth his conversion has nourished. His of those killed were terrorists, further. to speak to a panel of dominees connection to Judaism is profound. “You are joining a and the total loss of life in Gaza At the time, he didn’t even know before becoming Jewish, after four of very long history: the longest history in the world of a was low compared to what it could that one could convert to Judaism, as them approved the conversion, she did too. people that have survived. There is no older civilisation have been if any other army was he understood it as a “tribe, a bloodline”. Since then, his family have been supportive and still in existence. You can read about them in books, but at war in such a highly populated Nevertheless, he consulted – as he jokes – remain close. you can’t come out in the streets of Ra’anana [where he area. “Rabbi Google”, and started researching the religion Even before his conversion was complete, Kriel now lives] and speak to them.” As the ceasefire came into online, discovering that converting was possible. launched his YouTube channel – The Jewish Convert. At At its heart, converting has been about connecting effect, Isaacson notes that “there In 2012, when he returned to South Africa, he moved the time, while many converts had social media channels, with other Jews. It’s not, said Kriel, a religion that can be are many different factions in the to Port Elizabeth and began the process of an Orthodox they were often more concerned with blending in, “even practiced alone. “Ruth [a convert herself] didn’t say, ‘Let terrorist groups, so we hope that conversion. At the time, coming from a totally secular trying to alter their accents. So, I went the opposite your G-d be my G-d and your people my people’. She said no factions break the ceasefire. We lifestyle, he found the switch to a “black and white Haredi direction. I believe converts should be very proud that it the other way around. First you must join the people. are ready for anything, and we are vibe” too hectic. He left for England, deciding to practice they are converts.” You need a community. This is the greatest thing about proud to be civilians of this area.” the religion on his own. The information the channel offers is a mix of being a Jew.” 28 May – 4 June 2021 SA JEWISH REPORT 13 ‘You wouldn’t just unfollow the Nazis’ – dealing with online hate MIRAH LANGER about the other”, including Palestinians, “our The point also isn’t to defend Israel based Activist Rudy Rochman origins, our legitimacy, our identity, and our on its accomplishments, such as how it spreading Israeli he Jewish community must never kowtow in connection to this land isn’t foreign”. pride in Paris created cherry tomatoes, drip irrigation, the face of online hate. It needs to reframe the He also called for a change in labels. “A or internet applications. It’s also not about discussion of Israel to counter allegations of Jewish village isn’t a settlement, it’s a Jewish playing “Israeli music, eating hummus, Tcolonialism and learn about Palestinian history. This village or town or city. We have to stop using and feeling proud for a few minutes”. Even is the advice of activist Rudy Rochman about how this language.” highlighting the country as a democracy best to cope with the current rise in antisemitism in Rochman said a further problem was that in the Middle East isn’t useful. “First of all, mainstream and social media. the Jewish community, for the most part, never democracy is a corrupt system that clearly “Ask yourself what you would do if you were learnt the Palestinian narrative. “We were never doesn’t work in many places and doesn’t living when the antisemitism that would lead to the taught that they are real human beings who achieve true justice for what it’s intended to Shoah was rising? I don’t think any of us, knowing are also suffering; that Israel is also involved build,” Rochman said. what happened next, would say, ‘Let’s ignore it. Let’s in the situation, can play a role, and has a Second, he questioned why, if monarchies unfollow the Nazis, and let them do what they want to responsibility to deal with their suffering.” like Thailand, Jordan, and Morocco, or semi do.’ We would all expose them; we would fght them; Furthermore, many Jewish students are then dictatorships like Singapore, didn’t have to we would try to change society,” said Rochman at a exposed to the Palestinian story only as spun defend their legitimacy, why Israel should. webinar organised by the SA Zionist Federation, the on university campuses by movements like Rochman contends that a solution for the Israel Centre, The Arch, and The Base this week. the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement. region will have to come not from the top, but “Keep that in mind as antisemitism is rising in Once they feel like they have never been told from the ground up. For a variety of reasons, front of us now. Don’t put your head in the sand and the whole story by their own community, at “politicians currently in power, on both sides, ignore it,” the French-born former Israeli Defense times they then reject supporting Israel in the aren’t interested in changing the status quo”. Forces soldier said. Rochman continues to serve as future. Instead, “there’s something better that we can a reservist, and is also involved in organisations and Those supporting Israel not only need to create that can fulfl the aspirations of both on various public platforms that deal with Jewish understand Palestinian history, they also need Facebook Photo: Israelis and Palestinians. It’s going to be about education and uniting Israeli and Palestinian activists. to understand the way Palestinian supporters getting both people to open their hearts to The social-media infuencer said that accusations have twisted this to argue against Israel so that has to be stopped. recognise the other.” that Israel was a colonial state had to be turned on they can better counteract it. “We need to be able to When it comes to the mainstream media, Rochman If this is the end point, there’s no quick fx in their head. “In terms of colonisation and settlements, show why being anti-Israel isn’t the way to be pro- suggests that these channels tend to communicate turning the tide of antisemitism. “It’s not going to these are terms describing foreign experiences and Palestinian.” information like a “soccer match – making it about happen overnight. It’s not going to happen in one foreign individuals coming into a land that doesn’t After all, suggested Rochman, many of those who one side versus the other; a good guy versus the conversation,” he said. belong to them, and exporting those resources back purport to be pro-Palestinian are in fact “hijacking” bad guy”. This reductionist approach needs to be Nevertheless, the focus has to be on investing in to the motherland. their experience for other purposes. “They don’t challenged, he urged, suggesting that in this case, the next generation and education. “It doesn’t matter “The Jews are from this land. When you dig in the care when Palestinians are dying by the thousands social media is actually an advantage because it how many petitions you sign or laws and resolutions sand, you fnd our history. We are the indigenous, frst in Syria; when Palestinians are suffering by the allows a plurality of voices to emerge. you pass; all those laws will be overturned because civilization, pre-colonial identity – the descendants of hundreds of thousands in refugee camps in Lebanon; In addition, modern media houses are ultimately the next generation is growing, and they are against the Hebrews that fnally, for the frst time in history, when Palestinians don’t have equal rights in Jordan businesses concerned with selling advertising. As Israel. So it’s our responsibility to make sure that the achieved decolonisation. We came back and undid or are suffering in refugee camps there; or when they such, if their audience is anti-Israel, they will keep next generation isn’t like that. what the Romans did.” While Rochman acknowledged are being blockaded by Egypt on the side of Egypt that angle in their news. The responsibility of those “Ultimately, it’s important in these tough times to that there had been “a lot of failure in between” and and Gaza. They care only about Palestinian suffering supporting Zionism is “to be ten steps ahead, and be make sure that we take the next chapter of our history “much to fx” whereby “we were getting it wrong when it can be used against Israel.” This manipulation able to change the audience”. into our own hands,” Rochman urged.

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TLG8062 © 2019 BDO South Africa Services (Pty) Ltd. 14 SA JEWISH REPORT 28 May – 4 June 2021 Virtual tour of Jerusalem a highlight for KDL Sandton Sinai appoints student leaders

andton Sinai Primary School held a special assembly to announce Sthe Grade 7 monitors for 2021. It was a proud moment for the school as it was the frst time it had formalised student leadership positions. Jesse Bregman was appointed head monitor; Saul Ephron sports monitor; Ariel Margalit cultural monitor; Uriel om Yerushalayim celebrations at King David Linksfeld Senior Primary began with a live walk to the Miller sound and lighting Kotel with Israel-education organisation StandWithUs and a moving tekes (ceremony) with a fag monitor; and Jaden Cohen procession, singing, and dancing. Other highlights of the day included a Grade 6 tour of the sites of events monitor. Mazaltov and Jesse Bregman; Ariel Margalit; Saul Ephron; Uriel Miller; Mrs Lara Salkinder Jerusalem,Y a Grade 5 Jerusalem poetry workshop, and sessions run by the DIJE (Division of Informal Jewish hatzlacha boys! (primary school principal); Jaden Cohen; and Mrs Sofia Caripi (head of Education) and Lior Agiv from the South African Zionist Federation. department intermediate phase) Letters

MEDIA BIAS REGARDING BOMBING OF ISRAEL PUZZLING JEWS IN CROSSHAIRS OF SA GOVERNMENT I have been reading about the present war in Gaza Palestinians reached 80 missiles a day that Israel Te South African Department of children killed, it seems there were no and watching the comments on TV. Mention has sent in its army. International Relations and Cooperation child soldiers forming part of the Hamas been made of the thousands of rockets launched Te present Palestinian onslaught mentions (DIRCO) headed by minister Naledi militants. Just how blind, biased, and by Hamas and others at Israel and of the casualties about 2 000 missiles. Some years ago, I visited the Pandor has called for sanctions against antisemitic can this minister be? caused by Israel in retaliation. According to the Israeli village of Sderot which is located on the Israel resulting from the recent hostilities South African arms have found their reports, so far, most of the casualties seem to have border of Gaza about 5km from Gaza City after it between Hamas in Gaza and Israel. way to most of those conflicts except been Palestinian. Very few Israeli casualties have had been hit by about 4 000 rockets from Gaza. As the minister of foreign affairs, one Israel, in direct contravention of the been reported in comparison with Palestinian ones, I saw the effects of such an assault on a civilian would think that her department would country’s policy of not selling arms to and I found the tone to be one of largely anti-Israel city and its population for myself, especially on be aware of a host of unfortunate and countries with doubtful human-rights condemnation. the little ones in the creche, the only bomb-proof tragic conflicts around the globe in which records. But profit overrides humanity I find this puzzling. During and before the building in the village. innocent civilians including children have when it comes to the morality of the 2014 Arab onslaught on Israel and the erection I also noted that Israel had destroyed some large been killed. African National Congress (ANC) of the Iron Dome defence system, the number of buildings, but in the TV interviews, one of the Unfortunately, armed with such facts, government. rockets fired from Gaza at the surrounding Israeli occupants stated that they had been warned by the minister, wearing her colour-coded Te South African government needs population was estimated to have been about Israel of the impending destruction of the edifices, blinkers, sees only one conflict that to do some soul searching, and look in 14 000. In fact, it was only after that bombardment and so evacuated before suffering any casualties. warrants comment from her and DIRCO. its own backyard at the crime statistics of the Jewish civilian population by the – Don Krausz, Johannesburg Te conflict in the Tigray province and every other facet of its incompetent of Ethiopia, the Turkish onslaught on administration including its abysmal OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL the Kurds, the Yemen war, the Syrian management of securing and distributing Over the years, whenever Israel has had to fight National Council of Austria, Wolfgang Sobotka. genocide, or the multifaceted conflict in coronavirus vaccines. a defensive war against Hamas in particular, Letters were also received from pro-Israel groups Myanmar are just a few of the conflict When will an administration the world has condemned it. Tis time around, in the parliament of France, Slovakia, Hungary, regions around the globe claiming not responsible for international relations things have changed. and the Czech Republic. Statements of solidarity hundreds but thousands of civilian find the responsibility and morality to An interesting article published in Israel Today and support were issued by the parliamentary casualties including thousands of children deal fairly with all nations around the (23 May) stated that the speaker of Knesset, national security committees in Lithuania purposely targeted, as has been the case globe? Yariv Levin, had thanked various countries and and Latvia, by pro-Israel groups in the United with schools and a hospital in Syria. But It’s simple, the ANC government, in its organisations for their outpouring of support for Kingdom, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Honduras. In the good minister marks all those absent, international stand and its president’s Israel during the latest round of fighting Hamas. Brazil, the son of President Jair Bolsonaro spoke and has yet to make any comment about statements, displays blatant antisemitism Levin said that he had received calls and in favour of the Jewish state in a speech before the human-rights abuses in these conflict of the worst nature. It’s Jews that are in messages of support from Inter-Parliamentary parliament. regions. Obviously these conflicts don’t the crosshairs of the ANC government, Union President Duarte Pacheco who expressed I’m sure that there are many more in the world constitute such abuses. and it’s time that this is called out by unwavering support for Israel’s right to self- who are pro-Israel. Of the 245 killed (on both sides) in freedom loving nations, and the ANC is defence, as did German Bundestag President Te tide is turning, folks. We aren’t alone. the Gaza conflict, it seems there wasn’t a condemned for firing up hatred amongst Wolfgang Schäuble, and the president of the – Sonny Myerson, Cape Town single combatant killed in Gaza. Of those its citizens. – Allan Wolman, Israel

THE MASTER OF THE ONE-LINER WHO MADE PEOPLE LAUGH GRATITUDE TO JOBURG CHEV FOR CARE DURING COVID-19 A tribute to the pen of the late Russell Sadowsky, born what you can do today.” At Golden Acres, we have just received our vaccines against COVID-19. We would like to take this 17 November 1936, died 26 February 2021 – my dad, You loved calling John Berks and radio stations to be opportunity to express our deepest thanks and gratitude to the Johannesburg Chevrah Kadisha. The my hero, my blood. heard. They never had to screen you as they knew you Chev has now administered well over a thousand doses to all residents and staff in all of its facilities, You always uplifted your fellow man or woman with had something up your sleeve. free of charge. your jokes, personality, and loved making people happy. Dad, your attributes and one-liner jokes were As residents of Golden Acres for the past 12 years, and the parents of our late daughter, who You were a true celebrity who loved 702, letters to pertinent. resided at the Selwyn Segal Hostel for 13 years, there can never be enough words to express our editors at The Star, Daily Mail, Greek radio station, and Your wife, Anita; daughter Ros; brothers Lional and sincere gratitude to the organisation that is the Joburg Chev. so on. Cyril; and family in the United States will miss you. Each member of staff (past and present), serves a “holy” purpose. The welfare of each resident Your zest for life uplifted people, and your humour Thank you to the SA Jewish Report for giving me this of every facility has always been the top priority of the management and staff. From a personal will never be forgotten. opportunity to write this tribute. perspective, all these amazing people have been magnifcent, especially during these trying times As a butcher in Hillbrow, your business card said, May you rest in peace, and may your legacy live on. of the COVID-19 epidemic. “Our reputation is at steak” – it was direct and it made – Mike Sadowsky, Johannesburg May the entire staff (and all the donors) of the Chevrah Kadisha enjoy Hashem’s richest blessings. people laugh. You said, “Mike, never put off tomorrow They are most deserving. – Anonymous SA Jews face vitriolic antisemitism online >>Continued from page 1 Greenblatt says, “There has been a global increase that your social media profle has the necessary security Israel on 24 May 2021. She’s unafraid to ask hard posts on their WhatsApp and Telegram groups. Each in online antisemitic content. In South Africa, we are activated. Be very careful of letting others know your questions, and says anti-Israel supporters are usually scenario has to be handled differently according to witnessing an increase in cyber-bullying. There are family’s location, including your children’s school. This unable to answer them. Instead, many turn to empty the circumstances. We aren’t attempting to shut down numerous reports of South Africans sharing online should be discussed with your children too. slogans or antisemitism. conversations, but rather ensure that the discussions antisemitic content, and we are reviewing the evidence. “Although the confict may have come to an end for Responding to some of Rosenbaum’s points, a take place in more appropriate forums.” “Words turn to actions, so when antisemitism is now, the global tremors of antisemitism are likely to Nazeem Hartey Jumbo (who appears to be from Cape Says Cape SAJBD Executive Director Daniel Bloch, allowed to exist and fourish without consequence, acts continue,” says Greenblatt. “We must ensure that we Town) said, “I’m starting to wonder if the Holocaust was “The social media assault is abusive and intense, of intimidation and possibly violence against Jews are continue to build and strengthen the overall security a blessing!” Responding to Jumbo, a Sarah Achmad designed to attack the individual on both a personal likely to follow. We are already seeing this in the United of our community. This takes time, good people, and (whose Facebook profle says she lives in Cape Town) and professional basis. We cannot advise the States and across Europe. In at least three instances in resources. It’s human nature to think about security said, “Me too. They never learnt their lesson.” community whether or not to express themselves South Africa, we have seen cyber-bullying resulting in only when there is a known threat, however this and what platforms to use – that’s a personal choice. physical threats. These are all being investigated.” is usually too late. It’s incumbent on each of us to • To report antisemitism, cyber-bullying, intimidation However it needs to be aware that social media is His advice to anyone being harassed is “to report empower ourselves with the skills, knowledge, and or threats, email [email protected] (Johannesburg) or a platform for hate speech, and people need to be any antisemitic incidents immediately, with as much actions to remain safe.” call, text or WhatsApp the Cape SAJBD’s #ReportHate prepared for a variety of responses.” information as possible. If it’s a threat or physical Nicole Rosenbaum, who made aliyah from South Hotline on 079 994 5573, or complete its The Community Security Organisation’s Jevon assault, a case must be opened with the police. Ensure Africa in 2020, got caught up in an online debate about #ReportHate tool here: https://bit.ly/3hH1ZbU This page is proudly sponsored by We’re sharing our big ad space with small businesses to help create better futures

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We are committed to helping its clients reach their Softkom Solutions has all the experience, expertise, and achieve- goals, personalizing their event experiences, ments that give the company a vast and diversified portfolio of providing an innovative environment, and making a success. We meet high service and quality standards in things we difference. do, including Website Design, SEO services, Responsive Web Design, and more. 16 SA JEWISH REPORT 28 May – 4 June 2021 How to throw a protest party ere’s an opinion I’m fairly certain won’t be a popular one. What if we looked at this whole protest thing Hfrom another angle? What if we didn’t meet INNER VOICE protest with protest, flag with flag, screaming Howard Feldman with shouting, and what if we didn’t allow hate onto the agenda? What if instead of protecting of my protest party is dependent on our our neighbourhoods from the onslaught of guests not wanting us dead for being Zionists, anti-Israel demonstrators, we welcomed them I do wonder if it isn’t time we considered as our guests? Because after all, last Sunday’s alternatives to the traditional hate festival. protestors were our guests. In a strange way. And, whereas it might be too soon to go the And I hope we weren’t rude. Nando’s route, I do believe that in South Before you explain to me they didn’t wish us Africa, we have the opportunity to do things well, let me pre-empt it by saying that I have a differently. list of Shabbat guests we have had in our home Why? Because we aren’t so good at hate. that were less kind. And maybe more deadly. Because as South Africans, we can’t help I know that if my mom was still alive, ourselves and deep down, we don’t want conflict. differently, but who following a protest, would show the world how conflict can be resolved. her first question would be to ask what we Scream what we will, I believe that South be the first to help each other out. And even if we can’t agree on who invented will be serving our guests from another Africans on either side of the Beyachad wall are I believe it’s time for us to take our humus, we can always order a double chicken neighbourhood. And because running out of decent people who might view life and history responsibility seriously, and it’s time for us to burger, lemon and herb, with no garnish. food isn’t an option, we would have to go the catered route. Although tempted to choose A column of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies falafel and pita, it would be best, I would tell her (if she were alive), to keep away from Fighting fires after the ceasefire anything Middle Eastern. I would hate to ogether with the rest of the Jewish world, (SAJBD) is in the process of following up on the have resolved the Israel Palestinian conflict we welcomed with relief the cessation incidents reported to it. In addition to considering ABOVE BOARD only to have it fall apart in an argument as last Friday, 21 May, of the latest deadly how best to bring perpetrators to book, this has Shaun Zagnoev to who invented humus. No, Nando’s – an Tround of hostilities between Israel and Hamas. The involved providing support for community members unequivocally Portuguese and South African confict lasted 11 days, and resulted in the heaviest who have experienced abuse in various settings, demonstration at the same venue. While necessarily brand that has the ability to provide kosher bombardment of Israeli cities since 2014, but including in non-Jewish schools, universities, and limited in size because of COVID-19 concerns, and halaal – would be an obvious choice. fortunately it didn’t necessitate a full ground invasion in the business environment. Working with our this gathering provided an important opportunity Not only does everyone love Nando’s, but it’s of Gaza. At the time of writing, the ceasefre appears international partners, we have also assisted in for Israel supporters from within and without the almost impossible to scream something hateful to be holding. addressing the multiple instances of online hate that community. We will continue to do everything we while eating a double chicken burger, lemon Diaspora Jewry has learned to brace itself for is especially prevalent at times like this. can to protect our community and ensure that our and herb, with no garnish. We have tested this retaliatory attacks whenever there is a major eruption On the political front, the Board has engaged with right to identify with and support Israel continues on our children. It’s also virtually impossible of violence on the Middle East front. Indeed, over this political leadership and diplomats at the highest level to be upheld in spite of the efforts of those seeking to hold tightly on to a Hezbollah flag with past fortnight, there have been a rash of incidents to address issues that have arisen, as well as consulting to intimidate, silence, and sideline anyone who marinade dripping down your arm. around the world, many of them involving serious and liaising with our global counterparts. We have opposes their radical anti-Israel ideology and in so Don’t ask me how I know this. acts of violence and/or vandalism. also devoted much effort to making a difference in doing, shamelessly fout the fundamental democratic For dessert, I would open it up to the greater Openly targeting Jews outside Israel, even when the media arena, ensuring that while still grossly principles upon which our society is based. Glenhazel bakers to whip up something in (as was the case here) there can be no doubt as to biased, the coverage of events hasn’t been all one- We request that community members continue blue, white, red, and green, and mention to our who was guilty of actually instigating the confict, has way traffc. I commend those members of the Board to appraise us of any incidents they experience or pro-Palestinians that if they do want to bring become the modus operandi of radical Islamist groups and the South African Zionist Federation (SAZF), both otherwise become aware of by emailing the something with them into our area, cut up and their ideological fellow travellers everywhere. lay and professional, who have come forward to SAJBD on [email protected] or by contacting the fruit always goes down well. As shown by a sharp spike in antisemitic incidents present Israel’s case in spite of the profoundly hostile CSO control room on 086 18 000 18 or by WhatsApp Te music choice also can’t be left to chance. over the past several days, South Africa hasn’t been environment in which they have to operate. 066 101 8360. I would refrain from playing anything by unaffected by these dangerous trends. However, in We also continue to engage on a political level, Shwekey or Omer Adam, but would definitely terms of both numbers and gravity, the impact of these challenging the gross one-sided statements that • Listen to Charisse Zeifert on Jewish Board Talk, go with Jerusalema, Johnny Clegg, to remind attacks on our community has, fortunately, been less have been issued in the past weeks. 101.9 ChaiFM, every Friday from 12:00 to 13:00. our guests that Jews can both sing and dance, serious than that experienced by our counterparts in In response to a protest march against Beyachad and Kaptein, just to mix it up a little. North America and Western Europe. on Sunday, the Board, SAZF, and Community Tis column is paid for Whereas I’m fully aware that the success The South African Jewish Board of Deputies Security Organisation (CSO) organised a counter- by the SA Jewish Board of Deputies

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