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south african n Volume 25 – Number 05 n 12 February 2021 n 30 Shevat 5781

The source of quality content, news and insights t www.sajr.co.za Arsonists destroy family’s Mpumalanga bush hotel NICOLA MILTZ him that the lodge was before fleeing the something positive would come out under attack. scene with the stolen of this. hen a group of marauding Hundreds of items, leaving behind a He said the lodge has a rich cultural arsonists torched and kilometres away from trail of costly damage. history, with 250 recorded San rock destroyed a luxurious the scene, a frantic Employees at the lodge art paintings. MpumalangaW game lodge recently, it Seligman instructed reportedly had to Te surrounding local community not only devasted one Johannesburg his staff to vacate the run for safety as they has expanded in recent years, as has family but affected the lives and premises for their witnessed the horrific unemployment and poverty. Te livelihoods of many in neighbouring own safety while he event unfolding in COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked villages. attempted to call for front of their eyes.” further economic havoc in the area. Te Seligman family of help. While investigations In recent months, Seligman said Johannesburg won’t be spending “Fortunately, a group continue, the there had been a “huge upswing” Passover at their beloved Bongani of guests had departed shareholders are in poaching. He had on several Mountain Lodge in Mpumalanga earlier in the day. I then picking up the pieces occasions warned local authorities of this year like they often do, after a called everyone including after this “senseless the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks gang of thugs set fire to the hotel the police, the riot squad, attack”. Agency about concerns about safety they share and partly own, razing it and local community “Everything that and security. Last Sunday, a week almost to the ground. members,” he said. wasn’t destroyed was after the incident, police discovered Te beautiful, and tranquil Sadly, reinforcements looted, there’s nothing nine carcasses of four different lodge, situated in the 8 000ha didn’t arrive in time to left,” said Seligman, animal species on the reserve, Mthethomusha Game Reserve that assist the police, and “Only 18 years of believed to be the work of poachers, borders the Kruger National Park, is a the gang was able to “do wonderful memories according to police. burnt-out shell. Te hotel is now out what it liked”. Bongani Mountain Lodge after the fire that we have shared Te family and other shareholders of business. Loyal hotel employees Te details are sketchy, with family and were involved in numerous outreach risk losing their jobs and countless but it’s rumoured that the incident appeared before the Kanyamazane friends at the lodge. I feel sad and projects aimed at the upliftment of local community businesses have was sparked by the shooting of a Magistrates Court in Mbombela disappointed. surrounding communities. been affected, from fresh produce suspected poacher whose body was on Tuesday on charges of arson, “It’s a sorrowful indictment of Seligman said these included suppliers to locally-sourced building found in nearby Mpakeni Village. possession of stolen goods, and other our society. Sadly, this incident will education drives, and sponsorship of contractors to laundry and security Members of the community crimes. have a long-term impact on the the local annual sports tournament, vendors. angrily pointed fingers at the He said that before the attack, a local community. Te jobs of 80 an initiative by 702 Talk Radio host Members of a local gang went on local Mpumalanga Tourism and group in a white SUV barricaded the employees, all bread winners, are now John Perlman called Dreamfields. a rampage on Sunday, 31 January, Parks Agency anti-poaching unit, road leading to the lodge using rubble in jeopardy.” During the lockdown, the lodge’s destroying the 40-room hotel. Te which resulted in an alleged act of including stones and branches of He said he hoped this “needless staff distributed food parcels and lodge was one of the late Nelson retaliation. Te gang first attacked trees, so it was difficult to get there. tragedy” would result in the continued to distribute sanitary pads. Mandela’s favourite retreats. He even the barracks just outside the lodge “While police were clearing the government moving to protect “It’s heartbreaking. A lot of people had a special suite named after him which housed the Mpumalanga road, people among the group national assets effectively and to help have been displaced and have lost following one of his visits. security rangers. Te following day, proceeded to the lodge where they are uplift communities who are integral everything. No one is a winner here,” Manty Seligman, one of five they returned around noon making reported to have broken several doors to the growth and sustainability of said Brenda Seligman. partners of the lodge, told the their way to the lodge. and helped themselves to liquor these assets. “Communities need to Te family spent many Shabbos SA Jewish Report he was at home that Police spokesman Brigadier as well as other items belonging benefit from our heritage. We need meals at the lodge as well as special Sunday afternoon when he received Leonard Hlathi told the SA Jewish to the lodge. Tey also damaged to ensure that this type of criminality occasions like Manty’s 50th birthday a telephone call from his lodge Report this week that three suspects some property, torching some of doesn’t happen again elsewhere.” party. manager, Johan Meintjies, telling aged between 28 and 37 had the rooms and other infrastructure If that were to happen, at least Police investigations continue.

FULFILL A REALLY BIG MITZVAH THIS PURIM

OFFICIAL DISTRIBUTOR OF THE COMMUNITY HELP THOSE LESS FORTUNATE IN OUR COMMUNITY • Brief • Wo in rld s N ew e N w s ld 12 – 19 February 2021 2 SA JEWISH REPORT r i n o B W r i • e

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f 18:15 19:19 Durban • 18:15 19:37 Bloemfontein not guilty in his ongoing corruption trial, then left the courtroom while trial won’t be delayed by Shabbat now that his Orthodox Jewish lawyer 18:15 19:47 Port Elizabeth the hearing was still taking place. has withdrawn his request for the delay. 18:15 19:36 East London Later on Monday, he dismissed the charges, as he has in the past, as Last week, David Schoen asked for and received permission to delay the “fabricated”. proceedings should they extend into Friday evening and Saturday, as they are Appliance Repairs on Site Netanyahu is on trial for fraud, bribery, and breach of trust – the frst time expected to do. But on Monday, he withdrew the request, saying he had worked rs, ashe a sitting prime minister has stood trial in Israeli history. The investigations of out a solution with the former president’s legal team: Schoen’s role would be ishw s allegedly illicit payments and favours stretch back years. His trial began in May, completed by the time Shabbat begins. , D s, Stove es chine but successive delays due to COVID-19 have drawn out the process. Trump’s Senate trial, which started on 9 February, is for the role he played idg Ma Fr ing Ahead of Monday’s hearing, Netanyahu urged his supporters not to protest in inciting the deadly 6 January mob assault on the US Capitol by protestors ash more W Dryers & outside the courtroom. Hundreds of protestors who oppose the prime minister heeding his call to stop Congress’ validation of his election loss to Joe Biden. ble um Call Jason did show up. The hearing came about six weeks ahead of Israel’s election, the T 082 401 8239 / 076 210 6532 fourth national vote in the span of two years. Rabbis defend congresswoman over FREE QUOTATIONS reference to Hitler British teen youngest- Illinois ever convicted of Republican A freshman congresswoman who said, “Hitler representative, was right on one thing” during a speech just terrorism Mary Miller before the Capitol insurrection, last week met A London court has convicted of right-wing rabbinical group The Coalition for terrorism a 16-year-old boy who Jewish Values which defended her from calls researched producing weapons for what to resign. he described in online chats were for Speaking to a pro-Trump crowd on hanging gays and gassing Jews. 5 January, the day before the deadly The Central Criminal Court of England insurrection at the Capitol, Representative and Wales sentenced the teenager Mary Miller, an Illinois Republican said, from Cornwall, a municipality located “Hitler was right on one thing: he said,

about 250 miles (402km) southwest Inc via Getty Images Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Tom Photo: ‘Whoever has the youth has the future’.” of London, to 24 months at a youth rehabilitation Facing criticism from Democrats, some Republicans, and Jewish groups, programme. He is the kingdom’s youngest-ever including some calls to resign, Miller later apologised for “using a reference to person to be convicted of terrorism. one of the most evil dictators in history”. The Coalition for Jewish Values issued a He pleaded guilty last week to 10 counts of press release two days after the speech expressing its support for her but saying possessing terrorist material and two counts of that there were better ways to express concerns about the “indoctrination of our disseminating terror documents, Cornwall Live youth”. reported. His crimes began when he was 13. The teen wasn’t named as he is a minor. • All briefs supplied by JTA

Torah Thought Rabbi Yossy Goldman, Sydenham Shul Te difference between “no” and “not yet”

vernight sensations are road seems too far, the trip too long critical difference often just that. Tey don’t and arduous. Here, G-d is giving us between the two. necessarily last. Slow and wise words of encouragement. Don’t “No” implies that Osteady, step by step, the gradual expect overnight miracles. Don’t say, I’m not doing it approach usually has longevity and “I have a whole country to conquer, now nor do I have any plans to do it more enduring success. how will I do it?” Rather say, “Where anytime soon. “Not yet” means that In this week’s reading, the should I start today?” while presently I may not be there, Almighty tells the Jewish people If you were just starting your first I’m open to suggestion. Hopefully, that they won’t inherit the land business venture, and I asked you the time will soon come when I will of Canaan immediately. It will be if you were a millionaire, would you be ready to make tefillin part of my to their benefit that the conquest say “no”, “not yet”, or “I’m working daily observance. of the Promised Land be gradual on it?” It should be the same in our Te “not yet” approach is a good and deliberate. To settle the land Jewish journeys. one. No one does it all. We should all successfully would take time, and Franz Rosenzweig (1886-1929) was want to aspire to greater things. If we they were cautioned to be patient. a German-Jewish philosopher who don’t practice a particular good deed Te process would unfold at a slow as a young man considered opting at the moment, there’s no reason but steady pace so that there should out of Judaism completely. But his why we can’t begin to do it in the be a smooth transition. intellectual bent compelled him to near future. Don’t be discouraged by Every Jew has a share in at least do a proper examination of the length of the journey. Take the the Promised Land, not only Judaism first. So he went to shul and, first step and keep moving. It may geographically but spiritually. as it happened, experienced a spiritual be slow, but if there’s steady growth, VEHICLES WANTED Tere’s a piece of Jerusalem inside transformation. He went on to you’ll get there. each of us. We all have the capacity become a serious student of Judaism. So, if someone asks, “Do you put for sanctity and spirituality. But It seems that when Rosenzweig on tefillin?”, “Do you keep kosher?” sometimes we may be discouraged was once asked, “Do you put on or “Do you observe Shabbos?” and from beginning the journey to our tefillin?”, his answer was, “Not yet”. you don’t, please don’t say, “No”. own personal Promised Land. Te Not “no”, but “not yet”. Tere is a Say, “Not yet”.

Editor Peta Krost Maunder – [email protected] • Sub-editor Julie Leibowitz Journalists Nicola Miltz • Tali Feinberg • Jordan Moshe • Photographer Ilan Ossendryver • Editorial co-ordinator The source of quality content, news and insights Martine Bass – [email protected] • Proofreader Kim Hatchuel CEO Dani Kedar – [email protected] • Advertising Britt Landsman: 082 292 9520 – [email protected] • New business development manager • Laura Any make, any model, any condition Kaufman [email protected] • Design and layout Bryan Maron/Design Bandits – [email protected] • Distribution Sandy Furman Accident damaged vehicles and non-runners also wanted • 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. % Arnold Orkin 082 823 7826 The SA Jewish Report subscribes to the Code of Ethics and Conduct for South African Print and Online Media that prescribes news that is truthful, accurate, fair and balanced. If we don’t live up to the Code, within 20 days of the date of publication of the material, please contact the Public Advocate at 011 484 3612, AUTO AFRICA fax: 011 484 3619. You can also contact our Case Officer on [email protected] or lodge a complaint on their website: www.presscouncil.org.za 12 – 19 February 2021 SA JEWISH REPORT 3

I WANT TO Doctors pull back the BUY YOUR curtain on COVID BABY! I'M PAYING TALI FEINBERG MAD PRICES FOR complacent, believing we understood this disease, but atching a quarter of their patients die from COVID-19 decided otherwise. The new variant affected CARS COVID-19. Being yelled at by a family younger patients, led to a fuller intensive-care unit and unable to come to terms with their father’s a higher percentage of patients on ventilators. This demise.W Spending hours talking to families and rabbis time, patients tried to get us to promise that they would when a patient refused ventilation. Seeing the frst survive to see their children grow up, and we witnessed Call Alan: 082 850 0004 critically ill young patient typing a goodbye message last phone calls to wives in which they professed their www.alfinauto.co.za to his wife, afraid to close his eyes in case he stopped love and asked them to look after their babies. A lot of breathing. Witnessing a 17-year-old finging herself on time is spent agonising over our decisions, trying to fnd her father’s body, begging him to keep fghting (when something more we could do. The emotional trauma family were allowed into wards). inficted by COVID-19 is unique.” “There was the stress of trying to fnd hospital beds for has only trained for war but is now experiencing real These are just some of the traumatic experiences A local general practitioner (GP), who spoke on patients. Everyone was under immense pressure, which war, and it’s a whole different ball game. They are seeing that Drs Carron Zinman and Anton Meyberg describe condition of anonymity, says, “Since the beginning of was palpable. Trying to support families, keep them traumas that the public don’t see, and this can lead to as they try to capture why being on the frontlines of the the pandemic, I have experienced anxiety, although over updated on their relatives, as well as dispel myths and huge frustration at the ignorance, arrogance, and lack of COVID-19 war has been so devastating to the mental time, what specifcally triggers it has changed. give reliable advice all felt like a lot to manage. prevention they see on the street.” health of doctors and other frontline workers. “In the beginning, I felt overwhelmed by not knowing “And then there were the deaths. So many deaths. Bushkin says GPs often treat generations of families They are both pulmonologists at the Linksfeld enough. We saw the hospitals in Italy, and it was It really took a toll on me. I had physical symptoms and get to know them well. Now, he says, “they have Clinic in Johannesburg, working together during the frightening. The thought of possibly having to work in of anxiety such as a tight chest, abdominal cramps, a front-row seat to families being broken and the pandemic. “The most poignant time was when I watched a hospital setting after a number of years as an offce- insomnia, and headaches. I absorb a lot. Usually I try to incredible losses of many people that they had a Anton say the vidui prayer for our patients make time to decompress, but during the peak, it personal relationship with”. In addition, before the who we knew weren’t going to survive,” Dr Carron Zinman using an was really impossible. The thought of a third wave pandemic, people who died were usually elderly, or says Zinman. ‘ambu bag’ to breathe for a gives me massive anxiety. I’m choosing not to think slowly declined after a cancer diagnosis. Now, patients Going back to the beginning, she recalls COVID patient about it.” of all ages are getting sick and dying within weeks. “It’s how they “understood coronaviruses, but Clinical psychologist Dr Hanan Bushkin says that incredibly traumatic,” he says. SARS-CoV-2 changed the rules. While we among the medical professionals he has treated, “PTSD doesn’t get you when you’re in it,” says were grappling with the complexities of “the rate of burnout, post-traumatic-stress Bushkin. “It’s afterwards when the trauma hits, when this new disease, we had to contend with someone tells themself, ‘I cannot believe that’s the a deluge of patients”, many of whom were Dr Anton Meyberg and Dr Carron world I’ve just come from’.” He hopes that when seriously ill. Zinman in their PPE (personal the pandemic is over there will be some kind of “I remember the terror when the frst protective equipment) platform or forum that allows healthcare workers AIDS patient was admitted. I looked after the to “de-brief” what they’ve witnessed. nursing sister who picked up Ebola, dressing Clinical psychologist Dr Dorianne Weil, who has in a spacesuit to assess her. In those times, consulted healthcare workers since the beginning I felt calm and in control. But COVID-19 was of the pandemic, says, “Doctors are looked to for overwhelming and exhausting, and caused a answers. But if they don’t have all the answers, it high level of anxiety and stress,” she says. creates a dissonance that’s incredibly stressful. They She remembers getting used to may feel like an ‘imposter’, like they are ‘living a lie’. PPE (personal protective equipment), Everyone sees them as heroes, but they don’t feel which is uncomfortable, restrictive, and that way.” depersonalising. “There is also the pervasive fear of contracting “We felt like we were fghting a war whose the virus and passing it onto their families. They rules of engagement we didn’t understand. become ‘torn’ as they know it’s their calling. I remember the shock at the sheer number Sometimes they don’t want to rely on their families of death certifcates we had to sign. I recall when Anton based practitioner was overwhelming. The as a support system as there is a feeling that admitted a friend – it’s impossible to stay dispassionate ‘silver lining’ was the realisation that I wasn’t ‘unless you’re in my shoes, you don’t know what it’s in that situation.” alone in feeling majorly under-prepared. like’,” she says. She was deeply affected by the rollercoaster of “The fear of becoming ill, of bringing the Doctors have also had to take on the role of being emotions when patients were well enough to be illness home to my family, coupled with the their patients’ families, when family members discharged, yet died suddenly, or the guilt of children enormous pressure of trying to be available haven’t been allowed to comfort dying loved ones. who had inadvertently given their parent/s COVID-19. to see patients while having kids at home “They are stepping into a role that they aren’t “More often than not, only one of a couple would go remote-learning was exhausting,” she continues. “By the disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety is through the usually called to do. It’s unprecedented, and it’s really home. The ward rounds felt interminable, often being time the second wave came, I felt more knowledgeable, roof. With the pandemic showing no end in sight, it has getting to them.” interrupted by calls for resuscitation and admission. but when it came, it was much harder. become way more diffcult. The brain likes to predict the So what can we do to support our frontline workers? It’s an unpredictable disease and as such, we couldn’t “The number of patients who contracted the virus end point and if it can’t, despondency and depression “There needs to be a group effort to do what these always prepare the families for what was to come. We felt was high. The practice couldn’t keep up with the set in. professionals are recommending,” says Bushkin. “I like we were being pulled in multiple directions while appointments, tests, and patients who needed to be “Doctors used to have time to be with family, rest, cannot think of a greater insult than for them to come being physically tired, sleep deprived, and emotionally managed at home. The constant feeling of not being see friends, exercise, and so on but now they don’t,” he out of a ward and witness people disobeying the drained,” says Zinman. on top of things and also of ‘neglecting’ non-COVID-19 says. “This pandemic has piled on their stressors and rules. It’s incredibly disheartening, and doctors are “Then the second wave hit. We had become patients took a toll. eradicated their resources. It’s like being a soldier who devastated. It’s the least we can do.”

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TALI FEINBERG because people who take their knowledge of G-d and mis- Chabad de la Fontaine interpret it and distort it the way he did need to be kicked hat do you get when you combine antisemitism, out of the country,” she continued in a rant that became even conspiracy theories, and COVID-19 denial? While more hysterical. “I don’t want him in South Africa anymore. white supremacists and QAnon supporters feel He’s not a South African. He can go to America and live with likeW they are far off, this toxic combination came much closer to all those people that are the Zionists and the cabal that are home last week when a woman calling herself “Chabad de la trying to manage our planet. No, Mr Ramaphosa, immigrate Fontaine” started spouting such ideas to journalists at an anti- [sic], go and live in America, we don’t want you.” The video lockdown protest in Cape Town. was posted on Twitter, and went viral, with almost 90 000 “[South African President Cyril Ramaphosa] became a Jew,” views. she told news photographer Esa Alexander in a video he took at She’s not the frst person to spout such a theory. Local Fish Hoek beach on 6 February 2020. Although the initial word antisemite and white supremacist Jan Lamprecht also calls “Ramaphosa” is cut out of the clip, Alexander confrmed to the Ramaphosa “the Black Jew”. SA Jewish Report that this was what she said. She isn’t wearing Jevon Greenblatt, the director of operations at the a mask in the video. Community Security Organisation in Gauteng said, “The “And he is acting like the anti-Christ, so I don’t respect him, frst time we heard this theory about Ramaphosa was from Lamprecht. He would justify it by sharing that they call viruses,” she stated, also not photos of Ramaphosa talking to the chief wearing a mask. rabbi, or of the president talking on the “They’re not viruses, they’re parasites, and bimah of a shul. It proves that you can sell you don’t need to wear a mask because none anything you want to if you have a willing of it can be transferred, even with kissing or audience. in a sexual act. What we need to understand “It’s not just about spreading propaganda, is that you’ve got to build up your immune but having an audience that’s receptive to it. system, like mine, I’m 77 years of age, There are so many conspiracy theories out and I’ve got a strong immune system.” A there that you can espouse anything that quick look at her LinkedIn profle and other suits your own agenda.” investigations online make it clear that she Greenblatt says the “Ramaphosa is a Jew” isn’t a medical professional. lie is attractive because it ties into age-old Asked if she’s on the radar of the SAJBD antisemitic tropes of Jews controlling the and if the organisation will take her on over world. “When society is under pressure, her antisemitic conspiracy theories, Cape this idea is often the frst port of call. We see SAJBD Executive Director Stuart Diamond, Jews being blamed for the virus or being said, “In 2019, we launched our ‘report hate’ Vaccine rollout delayed but not derailed implicated in benefting from the virus. It’s a tool to capture concerns about antisemitism, strong element of the extreme right-wing to anti-Jewish rhetoric, conspiracy theories, NICOLA MILTZ suspended not cancelled until we have Professor Lucille Blumberg, the deputy blame others rather than look at themselves. hate speech, discrimination, and the like more scientifc data. In the meantime, we director at the National Institute for And it suits them to say that the Jews are from the Cape community. To date, this he COVID-19 vaccine rollout is on are getting other vaccines – in the next Communicable Diseases. controlling the government or South Africa, tool has provided us with various cases that track to start as soon as next week couple of weeks – to start the rollout,” “We need to prioritise health workers and here is ‘proof’, ‘Ramaphosa is a Jew’.” we consider in our antisemitism and legal say community medical experts he said. and those in the general population In November 2020, the Randburg subcommittee to determine appropriate Tin spite of the curve ball wrought by The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine “may who are at risk for severe illness from the Magistrate’s Court issued an interim action. the immediate suspension of the newly still well prevent severe infection. We still variant.” protection order against Lamprecht following “The videos of Chabad de la Fontaine acquired and much anticipated Oxford/ have to fnd this out,” Schoub said. She said the Johnson & Johnson an application by Professor Karen Milner, the reached us via this tool over the weekend. AstraZeneca vaccine. “The good news is that we have vaccine “has been shown to be Gauteng chairperson of the SA Jewish Board It’s our frst interaction with her content. We South Africa’s COVID-19 vaccination scientifc depth and expertise in this benefcial”. of Deputies (SAJBD), after Lamprecht posted are following the same process to determine rollout will now take place with vaccine country that picked up this particular “The focus in the frst phase of the her personal details along with disparaging appropriate action, if any. Further fndings on doses from Johnson & Johnson. variant to begin with. Then we were able vaccine rollout needs to be on reducing comments about her on his website, the reported content will be communicated There was a sense of despondency to conduct clinical trials to demonstrate severe illness and death from COVID-19. resulting in her receiving hate mail. in due course. in the community this week when that this particular vaccine didn’t work so The target group needs to be the at-risk Over many years, Lamprecht has used “Giving conspiracy theories any airtime the government stopped the Oxford/ well. Imagine if we had ordered vaccines group: those over 60 years of age, and his website to promote Nazi propaganda is a dangerous activity,” Diamond said. AstraZeneca vaccine rollout, seemingly for the entire adult population.” those with co-morbidities. Studies to and disseminate extreme antisemitic and “People are vulnerable to misinformation, bringing hope to a grinding halt. This He assured the SA Jewish Report that date support the use of the Johnson & racist content. His published comments especially as South Africa faces a pandemic after researchers found it offered minimal “the vaccine rollout is on track”. Johnson vaccine for this purpose even include, “Given what a race of two-faced, and its associated complications, economic protection against mild to moderate “It will be starting very soon,” Schoub in infections caused by the variant of backstabbing fends they are, I … have turmoil, and social challenges. We urge COVID-19 disease caused by the country’s said. Several studies are in progress the virus circulating in South Africa. made the argument that there is no such our community to refer to global and local dominant coronavirus variant. to investigate the use of the Oxford/ There needs to be further evaluation in thing as a good Jew”; “They need to meet a health authorities on all matters related to On 7 February, Health Minister AstraZeneca vaccine in combination with this regard for the Oxford/AstraZeneca new kind of white man, the kind they’ve not COVID-19. We also urge our community Dr Zweli Mkhize publicly announced the Johnson & Johnson jab. vaccine.” met since the time of Hitler”; and “flthy little to continue to use the report hate tool if (shortly after addressing the Jewish The clinical-trial data that came to light The government has allowed for an race of rats and pathological liars … They they become aware of any possible hate community in a webinar with Chief at the weekend showed that the Oxford/ implementation study of the Johnson & dominate EVERYTHING … and turn all the incidents.” Rabbi Dr Warren Goldstein) that South AstraZeneca vaccine wasn’t as effective in Johnson vaccine. powerful against us … Hitler was too nice Antisemitism expert and emeritus Africa would temporarily halt its Oxford/ fghting the 501Y.V2 variant. Dr Mkhize Professor Glenda Gray, the principal to them.” professor of history at the University of AstraZeneca vaccine rollout plan. It would said on Wednesday, 10 February, that investigator for the Johnson & Johnson He is prolifc on social media, managing Cape Town, Professor Milton Shain, said, instead conduct an implementation the government’s process of procuring trial and the president of the South multiple websites. His homemade videos “She’s clearly living in a world in which study that would assess how different vaccines preceded the discovery of the African Medical Research Council, said spread infammatory, racist, and antisemitic ‘Zionists’ [the collective Jew] are ‘controlling’ vaccines (Pfzer, Johnson & Johnson, and new strain of the virus. this vaccine, administered as a single material. He lauds lone-wolf white and ‘manipulating’ global affairs. This is a possibly Oxford/AstraZeneca) compare While the halting of the rollout may shot, doesn’t protect against “the supremacists including Pittsburgh Tree of classic trope. Her use of the ‘anti-Christ’ also in protecting against severe COVID-19 have thrown scientists an unwanted sniffes” but has a “high effcacy against Life Synagogue mass shooter Robert Bowers, suggests a penchant for conspiracies. This disease. COVID-19 curve ball, experts this week severe disease and death”, also in regard and Charleston Church mass killer Dylann idea goes back to the medieval world. Such Community experts say there is a lot said it was now a matter of re-assessing to the new variant. Roof. tropes are always available, but in times of to be hopeful about as scientists, in spite the national vaccine strategy and Apart from the 1.5 million doses of Lamprecht has continued to post crisis they seem to have greater traction.” of the latest setback, devise a plan to reconfguring ways to best to deal with a the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine already infammatory material and incite violence Darren Bergman, the shadow minister vaccinate the population in the shortest virus intent on wreaking havoc. in South Africa, Dr Mkhize said the even after he was served with the protection for international relations and cooperation, time possible. As the Wits Professor Shabir Madhi, government had secured nine million notice. He is expected to appear in court on said he hadn’t heard fellow politicians say “The main aim is to prevent severe the trial’s principal investigator, put it doses from Johnson & Johnson. It has 16 March for his fnal order, and the interim that Ramaphosa was Jewish. However, it is a illness and hospitalisation,” said to Daily Maverick “The fndings suggest secured 12 million vaccine doses from order will be in place until then. theory circulated amongst some right-wing Professor Barry Schoub, the chairperson that as a global community, we need the COVAX initiative, and 20 million from It’s clear that the woman calling herself extremists. of the Ministerial Advisory Committee to recalibrate our thinking around the Pfzer. Chabad de la Fontaine is elderly, and while “It’s sad to see such vile hatred. on COVID-19 vaccines and emeritus pandemic and expectations of COVID-19 There are 35 other vaccines in late- some social media users laugh at her Unfortunately, as the government’s failures professor in virology at the University of vaccines.” stage human trials. statements, others say that she is bigoted, increase and citizens’ desperation increases, the Witwatersrand (Wits). Meanwhile, experts have stressed “The way forward,” said Professor a white supremacist, antisemitic, racist, and so will the risk of scapegoating, and that “The trial data doesn’t yet tell that there are no safety issues with Schoub, “is to make good, scientifc- a danger to society. This became clearer in bottle could spin between race, religion, and researchers how well the Oxford/ the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, the based evidence decisions”. another clip posted by Alexander from a parties. The sensitivity for Jewry is that we AstraZeneca vaccine protects against questions are all linked to its effcacy It’s also crucial to continue to different lockdown protest at Muizenberg have seen this rodeo far too often, and for severe disease, hospitalisation, and against the 501Y.V2 variant. implement health protocols including beach on 31 January. us, it has had fatal consequences historically.” death. So, guided by scientifc evidence, “It’s important to reassure people that washing hands, wearing masks, and “I’m a very highly skilled medical doctor • To report antisemitism in the Cape, the Oxford/AstraZeneca rollout is being the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are safe,” said social distancing.s as well as a virologist, immunologist, and visit at www.capesajbd.org/focus-areas/ quantum physicist, working with parasites antisemitism/report-hate/ 12 – 19 February 2021 SA JEWISH REPORT 5 What does the ICC investigation mean for Israel? PAULA SLIER had been a member of the Israeli war cabinet over Netanyahu’s corruption trial). that sanctioned the assault on Gaza, in which Responding to the ICC statement, Mandelblit he recent decision by the International more than a thousand Palestinians were killed. said, “Te principled legal position of the state Criminal Court (ICC) to allow an In the end, Livni cancelled a trip to the United of Israel, which is not a party to the ICC, is that investigation into possible war crimes Kingdom (UK) and the threat of arrest kept the court lacks jurisdiction in relation to Israel Tcommitted by Israel isn’t a surprise. But that her out of the country until authorities in and that any Palestinian actions with respect to doesn’t lessen its significance. 2011 granted automatic immunity to all Israeli the court are legally invalid.” Last Friday, 5 February, the court’s pre-trial officials visiting the UK. He noted that only sovereign states could chamber ruled 2-1 that it had jurisdiction to But should Israeli (and/or Hamas) officials delegate criminal jurisdiction to the court, open a criminal investigation into the 2014 ultimately be convicted of war crimes by the claiming that the PA didn’t meet the criteria. He Israel-Hamas conflict (Operation Protective ICC and senior officials named in such a verdict, also argued that Israel had “valid legal claims” Edge), Israeli settlement policy, and the Israeli they could be subject to international arrest over the territory in question, and that the sides response to protests at the Gaza border. Tere warrants upon travel abroad. had agreed in the past “to resolve their dispute remains the possibility that other incidents However, for now at least, Jerusalem says over the future status of this territory in the could also be probed in future. it doesn’t anticipate any immediate threats to framework of negotiations”. For many Israelis, this is yet further proof of senior Israeli political or military figures. But Te ICC is meant to serve as a court of last the double standards under which they believe that could change. resort when countries’ own judicial systems are the court operates. Te ICC has honed in on Te court’s announcement also has unable or unwilling to investigate and prosecute Jerusalem while ignoring human rights abusers implications at a state level. A negative ruling war crimes. Until now, all attempts to prosecute in Iran, Syria, and China. on Israeli actions in Gaza would ultimately Israel in the ICC have failed, not least because Palestinians have welcomed the move. raise questions about Jerusalem’s right to self- its courts are seen as independent and able Although the ICC will examine actions by both defence, and make it difficult for the Israeli to investigate any allegations of crimes in the Israelis and Palestinians, including Hamas, army to operate against threats on the country’s territories on their own. the probe was launched at the request of the southern border. Israel’s military also has its own internal Palestinian Authority (PA), and is expected to If the court also rules against settlements and systems to probe alleged wrongdoing by its focus overwhelmingly on Israeli actions. Jewish building in east Jerusalem, this would troops and in spite of criticism that the system Te ICC doesn’t try countries, but rather undercut the country’s legal claims to historical is insufficient, experts say it has a good chance individuals. Tis means that war crimes suits and religious rights. Any Israeli activity in the of fending off ICC investigations into its could be levelled against Prime Minister West Bank would amount to a war crime. wartime practices. Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Jerusalem has long argued that the ICC But when it comes to settlement activity, which Israel considers to be legal, Jerusalem hasn’t held criminal investigations. Some experts say The International Criminal Court the country could have a difficult time contesting international law that forbids the transfer of a civilian population into occupied territory. In practical terms, ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda hasn’t yet decided to launch her investigation into possible Israeli war crimes. She has only requested, and now received, authority from the court to do so. Her term as prosecutor is set to expire in June, and some Israeli officials are hopeful that her as of yet unelected successor could take a different path. Still, meetings will be held Minister Moshe Ya’alon, who held that post has no jurisdiction, and that Palestine isn’t in coming days to discuss strategy moving during the 2014 Gaza War. a sovereign state. Although it was given the forward, including the possibility of a shift away Avigdor Lieberman, who was defence option to submit its position on the matter from the current path of refusing to co-operate minister when the Great March began, could to the ICC, it declined. As such, Israel cannot with the ICC. also be targeted, as could Defence Minister appeal this ruling even if it wanted to. Israel’s judicial establishment has been Benny Gantz and his predecessor, Naftali Already back in 2016, Netanyahu appointed preparing for possible scenarios of ICC action Bennett. Tis is in addition to individual Israeli Avichai Mandelblit as attorney general because for the past decade, and now fears that the soldiers and commanders. he believed he was the best person to defend country could be headed down a path that Already in 2009, an arrest warrant was Israel against future actions from the ICC. will lead to eventual ICC rulings against its issued for Tzipi Livni on the grounds that she (Ironically today, the two are at loggerheads politicians and military officials. Biden administration draws Palestinians close, Israel closer

RON KAMPEAS – JTA robustly push back against anti-Israel bias at the UN. “I look forward to standing with Israel, standing against the unfair targeting of tatements and appearances by United States (US) offcials suggest the Israel, the relentless resolutions that are proposed against Israel unfairly,” she said. Biden administration’s emerging Middle East strategy, namely reassuring Her remarks recalled one of the fnal acts of the Obama administration, when Israel while resuming ties with the Palestinians ruptured by President Joe it allowed a Security Council resolution condemning Israel’s settlement policies. SBiden’s predecessor, Donald Trump. The Senate roundly condemned President Barack Obama’s failure to veto the On Tuesday, 26 January, the acting ambassador to the United Nations (UN) resolution. Trump’s UN ambassadors went on to use US infuence to nix pro- outlined plans to reverse the Trump administration’s policies concerning the Palestinian moves at the body. Palestinians. Biden has indicated that he wants to repair ties between Israel and Democrats “The Biden administration will restore credible US engagement with strained by tensions between the administrations of Israel Prime Minister Palestinians as well as Israelis,” Richard Mills said at a meeting of the UN Security Benjamin Netanyahu and Obama. Notably, some of the most pointed pro-Israel Council, the frst such appearance since Biden’s 20 January inauguration. questions at Thomas-Greenfeld’s hearing came from Democrats who are close Mills, a career diplomat, is acting as UN envoy until the Senate confrms Biden’s to Biden like Chris Coons of Delaware, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, and Ben nominee. Cardin of Maryland. “This will involve renewing US relations with the Palestinian leadership and There remain more differences between the Biden and Netanyahu Palestinian people, relations which have atrophied over the past four years,” administrations than there were under Trump, but Biden is striving to tamp down Mills said. “President Biden has been clear in his intent to restore US assistance Israeli anxieties about his revival of some Obama-era policies when he served as programmes that support economic development and humanitarian aid for the vice-president. For instance, Biden wants to return to the Iran nuclear deal, which Palestinian people, and to take steps to reopen diplomatic missions that were Netanyahu reviles, but says he will do so in consultation with Israel. Obama cut out closed by the last US administration.” Israel until the last phase of the negotiations. Reassurance came on Wednesday, when Biden’s nominee for UN ambassador Biden campaigned on restoring ties with the Palestinians, but it won’t be easy told senators that she would maintain some of the pro-Israel policies advanced by to reverse Trump’s policies, which included shutting down diplomatic relations Trump. and severing assistance to the Palestinian Authority. Biden must deal with a law Linda Thomas-Greenfeld said at her confrmation hearing that America would Continued on page 7>> 6 SA JEWISH REPORT 12 – 19 February 2021 south african Time to substitute evidence for JTheewish source of quality content, news andR insightseport emotion about vaccine delays Glass half full OPINION DR DANIEL ISRAEL t the beginning of the week, the news broke that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine his week, a balloon of hope that thousands of became apparent that 95% of all that we had been waiting for, and which healthcare workers would be well on their way cases in the second surge of the arrivedA last week, wasn’t going to be very helpful to long-awaited immunity against COVID-19 pandemic were, indeed, this new variant. against the mutation most dominant in South Twas deflated as the government announced it Stuck between a rock and a hard place of procuring Africa. wouldn’t dispense the one million doses of the Oxford/ stock while still awaiting results, the government After all the excitement of the first lot of vaccines AstraZeneca vaccine as planned. The vaccine’s efficacy secured its first shipment and cautiously forged having arrived, we felt let down. Consequently, it led against the 501Y.V2 South Africa variant was unveiled ahead. Telling results have now followed, just before to moaning and finger pointing. at just 22%. implementation. For so many of us, this seems to be a knee-jerk As this development was announced, my Facebook We are all deeply disappointed by the failure in the reaction. It’s easy. We look for the worst-case feed became increasingly flooded with frustrated efficacy of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine against our scenario, and blame someone so we can resume our community members calling out the “inept” local strain of COVID-19. But we should be equally position of doing nothing, complaining, and being miserable. It doesn’t help any of us government for buying one million vaccines that now encouraged by our scientists’ and the country’s though. need to be thrown away. “Typical South Africa!”; “Trust commitment to balancing swift action against And, as is blatantly clear from the story on page 4 and Dr Israel’s OpEd on this page, our country to get it wrong!” These were the comments evidence-based results, which unfortunately takes time those of us who had this reaction missed the point. attracting the most attention. to unravel. Yes, a great deal of money was spent on the vaccine and there was much anticipation My mind went to a mere six weeks ago, when I With this mindset, let’s take a moment to reflect on of the rollout. But shouldn’t we be relieved that there is enough honesty to stop the followed a webinar in which Professor Barry Schoub, what we now know about COVID-19 in February 2021 vaccine from being distributed and people from being vaccinated for no purpose? Te the chairperson of the COVID-19 Ministerial Advisory that we didn’t know six or eight months ago through fact that our scientists did the research in time, making it clear that the vaccine was less Committee on coronavirus vaccines, said that the this evidence-based lens: than we expected, should surely be applauded. We should be proud that we have such government would be taking its time to evaluate 1. The 501Y.V2 variant of SARS-CoV-2, causing scientists, and that there are experts now trying to figure out if this particular vaccine the most appropriate choice of vaccines and rollout COVID-19, was detected in the Eastern Cape in can still be altered or not. approach in view of the complexities of the population November 2020. It accounts for 95% of infections in What’s more, if it hadn’t been for South African medical experts, we wouldn’t know and variants here. This would be in contrast to South Africa today. It’s more transmissible than its about this particular mutation of COVID-19. It was our guys who discovered it, which countries like Israel that had already dived predecessor, the original led to a great deal more knowledge about this coronavirus. into a mass rollout. Interestingly at the SARS-CoV-2 virus. (High- Systematic Reviews I must say, looking at the same scenario in this way is so much more helpful and time, I also came across similar “typical level evidence.) and Randomised Level 1 inspiring. inept South Africa!” comments. Control Trials 2. The Oxford/ Te facts are the same. Te government procured vaccines, the first of which arrived Aside from the apparent cynicism AstraZeneca vaccine Level 2 last week. Tey weren’t exactly what we needed, and we found out only once we that has grown in our society – showed 70% efficacy Cohort Studies already had them. However, there are a great deal more vaccines – different and more perhaps from inconsistency against the original appropriate ones – still on the way. in public policy in so many Level 3 strain. A high standard From that point, it’s how you look at the situation. Yes, it’s possible there was an facets of public life, Case-Controlled Studies trial showed only error or an oversight. Tat does happen. COVID-19 being no 22% effectiveness However, we caught it in time. We also have many more suitable vaccines on the way. exception – I believe a Level 4 against the variant. We may still be able to salvage the situation, but we will lose a few weeks in the process. real understanding Case Series This was for mild and Add to that the fact that we have learnt how proud we can be of our medical scientists. of levels of moderate illness only You know, one of the directors on the board of the SA Jewish Report, Benjy Porter, evidence of Level 5 though. (Level 1 – RCT pointed out this week how fortunate we are to have so many incredible people in top medical Case-Based Reasoning vs Epert Opinion on young, healthy positions in our country. research is * based on the Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine – Levels of Evidence people). (High-level He was specifically talking about the calibre of people who are willing to make time – needed evidence.) their own personal time – to be a part of our webinars. He mentioned two in particular, here. Sound medical decisions are informed by 3. The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine’s efficacy against Eskom Chief Executive Andre de Ruyter (see page 7) and Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, evidence. Evidence is graded into seven levels: severe disease in South Africa is still unknown and vice-chancellor at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). randomised control trials occupying levels 1 and 2, being determined. (High-level evidence.) De Ruyter gave up his Saturday night to be put through his paces in answering control trials without randomisation level 3, case 4. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is a single- questions on our power predicament. He was still doing it at 22:00 with a courteous controls level 4, large reviews level 5, single studies dose vaccine, showed a 82% efficacy against the smile, and graciously answered questions to the best of his ability. level 6, and expert opinions level 7. So, without original strain. This dropped against the variant Marwala was so impressive last Tursday in addressing how we futureproof ourselves getting too technical, when you visit your doctor to 57%, but the number remains high against to ensure that we aren’t victims of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. and (s)he tells you (s)he strongly believes in a new preventing serious disease, hospitalisation, and As deputy chairperson of the Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial supplement, it may be a level 7 at most. death, even against the variant – 83%. This is very Revolution and in his position at UJ, Marwala has his hands full, but he selflessly made The risky and expensive process of rolling out important. (High-level evidence.) time for us. millions of vaccines across South Africa ought to 5. Pfizer, Moderna, and Sputnik vaccines may achieve Obviously, like these two men, there are exceptional people who give their all for this be informed by the highest level of evidence – similar results against the variant. No trials have amazing country in which we live. Tis is something that should inspire us. randomised control trials (RCTs). An RCT involves been released on them yet. Te reality is that we have outstanding people in this country – not everyone, but a recruiting thousands of volunteers and randomising 6. All these vaccines are safe. The question remains majority. Te same goes for our particular community. them to two groups: one that receives the vaccine and which are effective in the South African context. Most people want the same things and aspire to do good. Yes, we know there are bad one that doesn’t. However, the volunteers ought not (High-level evidence.) people among us, and a fair number of them are in senior political positions. However, to know who is in which group lest their preconceived 7. The second wave in South Africa is almost over. The they are still in the minority, and there are far more of us who are good and do amazing beliefs and subsequent behaviour play a role in the R value is 0.43 at the moment. This means we are things in our lives. outcome of their results. in a recovery phase. This is the lowest the R value On last week’s front page, we wrote about Professor Efraim Kramer stepping down In the context of a COVID-19 vaccine, to test has been since the pandemic began. (Middle-level from the work he was doing. To my amazement, so many chose to badmouth him for whether an Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine would work evidence.) his choice rather than to recognise the work that he has done for the community. He on our population, thousands of people needed to be 8. A third wave is probable – soon. As early as April put in months of work to help make sure that our shuls were safe. He wrote protocols recruited and randomly assigned to either a placebo – June. This is probably inevitable. (Low-level on safe weddings and much more. He did this only because he cared so deeply for our or a real intervention group, and then followed for evidence – expert opinion.) community’s well-being. months to see whether there would be a difference in 9. The extent of the third wave is determinable by He was angry, and he had his reasons. Instead of thanking him for all the work incidence of COVID-19 infections between the groups. preventative, non-pharmacological behaviour. he put in for us and trying to understand why he was angry, some lambasted him South African mainstream medical scientists (High-level evidence.) Masks and social distancing for challenging members of the community who are ignoring the safeguards. I do have, thankfully, always been focused on these are definitely here to stay for the next year at least. appreciate that they were a small minority, but it wasn’t helpful, respectful, and didn’t principles with a deep commitment to recommending (Expert opinion – low-level evidence.) show integrity. interventions that do no harm and work scientifically. 10. COVID-19 can be contracted twice – particularly Tis week, we take you behind the scenes to see the reality faced by frontline doctors COVID-19 has been no exception to this. So, the above with different variants being present. (High-level dealing with COVID-19 patients (page 3). Tey, too, get frustrated when people ignore process was followed. evidence.) the protocols because they see the results of this. Let’s recognise why, instead of The Wits Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics 11. COVID-19 is likely to last for the rest of our lives lambasting them. (VIDA) Research Unit has run the Oxford COVID-19 and become endemic. However, with the correct Right now, we are seeing a little lightness as the second wave abates. If we follow vaccine trial in South Africa for months, and has raced vaccination, its clinical effects can be attenuated protocols and take precautions, we can hold off a third wave or reduce it significantly. ahead to produce results as quickly as possible. It so and it will hopefully tend towards a more common It’s up to us. happens that because of the immune pressure on cold. (Low-level evidence. Expert opinion.) We can choose to see only the bad in our country and wallow in it, or we can the SARS-CoV-2 virus to survive amongst a relatively Let’s take a feather out of our South African scientists’ recognise the good that people do, and celebrate that. already exposed population, the virus mutated in hat, salute our government for its transparency and its I choose the latter. November 2020. approach to following the science, and put up with the It was only due to the rigorous efforts of units like unexpected hurdles along the way. Shabbat Shalom! VIDA that South Africa identified the variant so quickly Peta Krost Maunder and soon began to evaluate whether the Oxford/ • Dr Daniel Israel is a family practitioner in Editor AstraZeneca vaccine would work here. It also soon Johannesburg. south african

The source of quality content, news and insights t www.sajr.co.za why culture eats strategy for breakfast Saturday 13 February 20:30 SAST

Register now: http://bit.ly/sajr75 12 – 19 February 2021 SA JEWISH REPORT 7 There’s light at end of Eskom tunnel JORDAN MOSHE was graceful enough to admit that the in full backup capacity, they install grid- on a global basis against reasonably efficient government was wrong and should have linked systems. If the sun doesn’t shine and costs of generating electricity and compensate skom is making progress, though begun building capacity earlier.” batteries run down, they want the luxury of us for that.” it may not be visible yet, Andre de Te construction of the two stations was tapping into Eskom’s system and accessing Beyond renewable sources of energy, Ruyter, Eskom’s group chief executive, also pursued in an uncoordinated fashion. our electricity. De Ruyter said South Africans need to adopt Etold a SA Jewish Report webinar last Saturday “At one time, we were building before “Tey relieve the burden on the grid, but for an integrated approach moving forward. night. designs were complete,” said De Ruyter. “Te Eskom to remain available as a proxy battery “When people hear ‘load shedding’, they He said a great deal of work was being project management was inappropriate, for when your battery runs down and not get just think Eskom, but they should think done behind the scenes to address 10 years where the policy is coming from in terms of state capture, deliberate neglect, of the department of mineral resources and and ill-discipline, but all hands were on Screenshot from the SA Jewish Report webinar energy and the role of the National Energy deck to turn the power utility around. Regulator of South Africa [NERSA],” he said. “Eskom has 12 key risks, and “We concluded an auction process to add by March 2020, five of them had short-term emergency power procurement manifested,” he told the online to the grid, but NERSA decided not to allow audience. “We’re addressing issues we it. We need to address the alignment issue, inherited and are trying to rebuild from and address it quickly.” the low base to which we’ve been worn Load shedding will remain an issue as down.” long as maintenance is delayed, De Ruyter In 2001, the utility was named power said. company of the year at the Financial “We’re maintaining two large power Times Global Energy Awards in New stations, and while we do it, it will increase York. Much has changed since then. the risk of shedding. The alternative is that “State capture, corruption, self- the whole system crashes. We have taken an enrichment, and neglect crept in. Good aggressive stance on maintenance, and the practice was deliberately neglected first step should be complete by April. to create opportunity for looting,” De “The second round of units will then Ruyter said. “A lot of procurement be taken offline and by September, we was done on a free-text basis, typing any and as a consequence, there were major compensated for the fixed cost we incur is should have a substantial reduction in description in to push through an order. challenges in design that slipped through. incorrect. If you want to go off grid, we’re not load shedding. Ultimately, it’s vital that we “I caught an incident where someone was “We have identified the defects and stopping you, but we want to be compensated address capacity shortage. buying a mop with a wooden handle for implemented fixes at five of six units at for allowing the backup facility option.” “Load shedding risks remain as long as we R238 000. Fortunately, we could stop it, but Medupi. It has taken us 72 days of outages De Ruyter stressed that the money Eskom don’t address capacity shortage,” De Ruyter systems have degenerated such that that was per unit at Medupi to correct them at a cost receives from the treasury is used to pay said. “We’re willing to do what’s necessary possible.” of R300 million per unit. interest not debt, which isn’t sustainable. to enable new capacity to come on the However, he said in recent months, much “Eskom takes no pleasure in load shedding. “We aren’t asking to be subsidised for our grid. Eskom was resistant to new capacity had been done to root out corruption. Te Tis isn’t an easy fix,” De Ruyter said. “We are own inefficiencies,” he said. “Where our costs in the past, with projects failing as Eskom company reclaimed R1.1 billion in the time living with the consequences of the decisions are high and headcount excessive, we accept refused to sign. The country needs the extra before he joined. Since he has come onboard, taken more than 15 years ago, really poor that as our management challenges and will capacity, and we’ll do what’s necessary to a further R177 million has been reclaimed, management, and no maintenance over fix it. What we are saying is benchmark us make it happen.” with further claims in the pipeline. Eskom decades.” has also launched action against the “dirty A private investment opportunity aimed at dozen” – former Eskom executives and increasing generation capacity will result in others (including the Guptas) – aimed at Eskom being restructured into three separate recovering R3.8 billion. divisions – generation, transmission, “I know most of the money is safely hidden and distribution. By the end of 2021, the offshore and it’s unlikely we will recover transmission arm is expected to be set up as it all,” De Ruyter said. “But you have to an independent buyer of electricity. demonstrate that there are consequences. Eskom will also have to overcome its Te wheels of our criminal justice system crippling debt, said De Ruyter. grind very slowly, but we must keep going “Eskom spends R32 billion in net finance after people with civil actions.” cost, an enormous burden that is the legacy Lower-level corruption is also being of mega projects that we undertook with exposed, with lifestyle audits being ordered no equity support,” he said. “We have on suspected employees. consistently had below-cost-reflective tariff De Ruyter described the situation at the increases, so the debt mountain has become Kusile and Medupi power stations, saying bigger.” that their problems could be traced back Te newly adjusted tariffs have aroused more than 27 years. the ire of those who want to go off grid and Independent living for senior citizens “Te problem originated in 1993 when an generate their own electricity, but De Ruyter energy white paper was published,” he said. stressed the necessity of the changes. SCALE DOWN IN SIZE – SCALE UP IN “Eskom warned government that we were “Te adjusted tariff reflects capacity and COMFORT AND PEACE OF MIND about to enter a shortage of capacity. energy charge,” he said. “People install solar “Tat duly happened, and Mbeki panels, but because it’s expensive to invest Afordable rates – no monthly levy Situated in Orchards, Garden Place ofers the ultimate in choice and value Biden administration draws Palestinians close, Israel closer for money when it comes to independent living for senior citizens >>Continued from page 5 passed by Congress that denies funding for the arrangements with the United Arab Emirates, • Three diferent types of accommodation • Relax at one of our pools in the Palestinians as long as the Palestinian Authority Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco,” Sullivan said. to choose from: standard rooms, studios magnifcent gardens and make use of pays families of Palestinians who killed Israeli and Thomas-Greenfeld said she would build on the with kitchenette and cottages with the 2 conference centres - ideal for card American civilians. Another law makes it hard for normalisation agreements – called the Abraham lounge/dining room, bath and walk-in games, lectures or even pilates classes. a president to allow the Palestinians to reopen an Accords – to encourage those countries to change shower plus fully equipped kitchen. • All residents have the option of a panic offce in Washington unless the Palestinian Authority their approach at the UN and take an active role in • All units are fully furnished, have a button with direct access to CAP and we agrees not to seek charges against Israel in the countering anti-Israel actions there. heated bathroom and are serviced are easily accessible to doctors, dentists, International Criminal Court. “If they’re going to recognise Israel in the Abraham 5 days a week. nurses, physios and Hatzolah. Trump also shut down a dedicated consulate for Accords, they need to recognise Israel at the UN,” she • Rates include: Electricity, Wi-Fi and • Management resides on the property. 24-hour security, DStv, aircon, fridge, • There is a daily shuttle to nearby malls Palestinians in Jerusalem. Reopening that offce said. microwave, safe, cutlery and crockery, and we are within walking distance could face resistance from the Israeli government and Thomas-Greenfeld also denounced the Boycott, linen and towels. to 4 shuls. the municipality. Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement targeting • There are 2 lounges and we cater for all • Garden Place is a 4-star establishment At the same time, Biden offcials are seeking to Israel. meals in our beautiful dining room and and has been operating for more than reassure Israel that they will sustain some of the tone “The actions and the approach that BDS has taken braai area. 23 years. and substance of changes carried out under Trump. toward Israel is unacceptable,” she said. “It verges In one of his frst statements Jake Sullivan, on antisemitism, and it’s important that it not be CALL US TO VIEW Biden’s national security adviser, described his frst allowed to have a voice at the UN.” WE’LL CREATE A (under strict COVID-19 regulations) THE COMFORT & conversation with his Israeli counterpart, Meir Ben The Obama administration also opposed BDS, PACKAGE THAT 011 485 3800 CONVENIENCE Shabbat. They “discussed opportunities to enhance but unlike the Trump administration, didn’t make SUITS YOUR www.gardenplace.co.za YOU DESERVE FOR the partnership over the coming months, including it a front-and-centre issue, nor did it compare the STYLE OF LIVING [email protected] A GREAT PRICE by building on the success of Israel’s normalisation movement to antisemitism. 8 SA JEWISH REPORT 12 – 19 February 2021 From Durban to Rikers Island: Jewish entrepreneur’s fall from grace TALI FEINBERG investors threw money at him without through three investment schemes. He Eyal raised in an initial coin offering for into his old ways, especially in the ‘start-up asking what he was doing with it. The pleaded guilty to all charges. He wasn’t the Shopin start-up, and he was ordered to nation’ that is Israel. ran Eyal seemed destined for result was that he lived his dream: a trendy jailed, but as part of his plea agreement, return that amount to investors. Timm was there when Eyal was sentenced success: a head for business, a love New York apartment, spending $500 000 he has to refund $600 000 (R8.8m) to four In his sentencing on 26 February 2020, and deported. “They brought him in with his of technology, insatiable ambition, (R7.4m) of investor funds on rent, shopping, Springleap investors he defrauded. He Eyal was told that he would have 48 hours to legs and hands shackled. He was wearing a Ea charming personality, and extreme entertainment, and a dating service. “He also had to step down as chief executive leave the United States. He was deported to white yarmulke and holding a small Torah. intelligence. But all this may be what led to was so set on having this lifestyle that he of Shopin, and was banned from raising Israel in May of that year. There are already He’s never been a practicing Jew, so I’m not his downfall. When he realised that his start- even fooled his landlord about how much capital or serving in any position of authority reports that he has travelled to the United sure if it was to receive benefts in custody, or up dream wasn’t going to succeed, he investors were paying him,” says Timm. in any New York business for three years. Kingdom to see his girlfriend. Many believe maybe he was trying to change his life. But simply reached for more. New York authorities Investigators were able to fnd only he got off lightly. Timm isn’t sure what his you could see he was a man in turmoil. I felt Fooling investors and responded to complaints, $450 000 (R6.6m) of the $42.5m (R628m) next steps will be, but fears he could fall sorry for him.” everyone else in his and began to investigate life, he stole and him, eventually lied shamelessly pouncing in August Communities come together to keep the faith until the 2018, when he bubble burst was charged during COVID and he was with stealing TALI FEINBERG fne line between life and death, sickness and health. If we don’t care arrested in $600 000 for each other and co-operate, we’ll be going in the opposite direction New York (R8.8m). he COVID-19 pandemic has shown that no matter who they towards aggression and injustice.” He thanked the Cape SAJBD for City. He “I started pray to, religious communities have a lot in common and are hosting the event, and said he looked forward to more interaction spent three writing about dealing with similar diffculties. with the Jewish community. Eran Eyal weeks at the it as part of TRecognising the power of coming together to share experiences, Mlingane Poswayo, the director of the South African Baha’i Offce notorious Rikers my job [editor impart wisdom, and optimise solutions, the Cape South African Jewish of Public Affairs, also thanked the Cape SAJBD for creating a forum Island prison at Ventureburn, a Board of Deputies (SAJBD) hosted a webinar titled, “Coping with to share and explore ideas to deal with the crisis. He said many of his surrounded by South African online COVID: thoughts of the interfaith community” on Thursday, 4 February, congregants were isolated due to lack of data and living in rural areas rapists and murderers publication that covers the during the United Nations Interfaith Harmony Week. The Cape SAJBD without reception. While they were able to provide data for some, before being released on start-up sector], but then I really has been commemorating the event annually since 2012. reaching isolated community members was more diffcult. bail of $250 000 (R3.7m). got into the story. It epitomises a big The event opened with Cape SAJBD Chairperson Tzvi Brivik His community is focusing on working with children to ensure How did he get to this point? A new book, problem in the tech start-up sector globally lighting a candle in memory of those lost to the pandemic, and that they keep up with their education and teaching them real-life At Any Cost: The South African fraudster – the ‘fake it till you make it’ syndrome. cantor Ivor Joffe singing the haskarah in an empty shul as faith lessons of serving others through, for example, making masks for who took the tech world for more than $40 Eran’s story represented the dark side of this leaders took a moment to pray for healing across the globe. communities and helping to raise awareness about safety protocols. million by Stephen Timm tells the full story industry,” says Timm. Dominee Riaan de Villiers of the NG Groote Kerk said that at the “We hosted monthly virtual discussions with academics, media, of how a nice Jewish boy who was born “And he was such a nice guy, that I had beginning of lockdown, community leaders focused on caring for and the government, and these were the highlight of my year. I in Israel and grew up in Durban, came to to keep going to understand where these their most vulnerable. This included everything from helping people learned so much from my fellow South Africans. It showed that we be investigated, arrested, charged, and allegations were coming from. The more to stay positive and connected, to assisting a community member can have a socially cohesive society.” eventually deported. South African business involved I got, the more I could see that it with how to use an ATM as he usually went into the bank. Rabbi Sam Thurgood of Beit Midrash Morasha in Cape Town leader Michael Jordaan describes the book was plain and simple lying, that he twisted pointed out that “faith as “an age-old narrative about ego and fying everything. And he had been doing it for leaders feel losses too close to the sun as well as a modern years. So it really is a detective-type story. It more keenly [during version of greed in the tech world”. reads like a movie.” the pandemic] as they When Eyal was released from Rikers From his interactions with Eyal and are conducting the Island, it was one of the few times he from what he heard from others, “He’s a funerals, comforting the responded to communication from Timm, really charming person. Very well spoken, mourners, and facilitating who was covering the story at the time. intelligent, a gentle soul. No one saw it the mourning process”, “Literally been through hell. Rikers Island is coming, because he would take you in. all in very challenging no picnic. Been sleeping next to murderers Like others who have committed fraud, circumstances. In and rapists,” he wrote over Facebook he convinced all these people to part with addition, they are helping Messenger, adding that he was in a cell with their money. Investors say he has the gift congregants to navigate 50 other people during those three weeks. of the gab. huge losses from fnancial Timm has covered Eyal’s story from the “Those who knew him at school – he went to emotional, and the very beginning when he was still the darling to Carmel College – said he always had a way full range of emotions of the tech start-up sector in South Africa. with people. Sometimes I would reach out to that come with such an Eyal’s frst company, Springleap, began as a acquaintances who would initially respond uncertain time. He said the crowdsourcing platform for t-shirt designs, but then wouldn’t come back to me, maybe A screenshot from the webinar virus had changed places and then pivoted into a conduit for clients to because they themselves didn’t believe he “I would think about how our church is one of the oldest of worship from spiritual sanctuaries to places where contagion could access thousands of creative professionals. could get convicted of fraud.” buildings in the city, and how it has witnessed many crises, including spread, which had been particularly challenging for all faiths. Timm says Eyal was born in Israel pandemics,” said De Villiers. “While the building has always been “Teaching our communities to turn their homes into centres and came to Durban with his family a place of stability and connection, under lockdown, we had to fnd of prayer, study, and kindness has been a positive result of the when he was very young. He is one of other ways for people to connect.” pandemic, but on the other hand, some congregants say they now three siblings, and “I think a key thing They scheduled online readings and music, shared news over prefer praying at home,” he said. “This is a continuing challenge, that motivated him is that he has a social media, and encouraged people to pray for healthcare workers but it’s been important to empower congregants. It’s the call of the successful brother, Avi Eyal, who has and leaders. He said many congregants appreciated the time to hour.” He shared how a mother spoke about how much joy it brought done really well in the tech and start-up reconnect with family under lockdown. “Life is so busy and stressful, it to hear her son praying with his friends over Zoom, something she sector. That could be the reason that he was something of a Sabbath.” never got to hear when they prayed at school. “The sound flled their wanted success at any cost and to be like De Villiers expressed concern about the spread of conspiracy home. It became a house of prayer.” his brother, who he looked up to.” theories that are often religion-based. “This is bad theology as it Creating a sense of community and helping people to feel “safe Timm thinks that because Eyal could be life threatening. We have a responsibility as preachers to and sane” is important, Thurgood said. “Zoom is great for delivery of worked so hard and made so many share a message of hope, kindness, and love.” He said the pandemic a message, but it’s challenging for socialising.” He combatted this sacrifces, he felt that success was owed forced religions to “think anew about concepts in the Bible”, and by telling children’s stories with puppets when schools were closed, to him. “And he also began to believe had “exposed clear fault lines in society that we as faith-based and encouraging community members to imagine being in their his own lies. Because he worked so hard organisations need to seek justice for”. shul garden, swapping stories and news of the week. Congregants and hardly ever slept, he was always on Sheikh Ismail Keraan of the Al Azhar Masjid Educational Institute, also gave talks on their areas of expertise. Once lockdown eased, they edge. He was close to breaking. He saw one of the oldest mosques in District Six, echoed the responsibility started having “hybrid celebrations”. the things he did as ‘white lies’ that were of religious leaders to reject conspiracy theories. “We need to have “Having events online is a little sterile, so we sent packs around excusable because he was suffering critical thinking, especially these days. We need to stop irrational with fruits, treats, and drinks to enjoy during an online event so that so much to build a massive, successful conspiracy theories. When people are impatient and lonely, they ‘act we were all eating together like we used to,” Thurgood said. “When he started Springleap, I think that company. out’, and this leads to frustration. But if we all agree that this infection He examined the question many are asking at the moment: was meant to be the big ‘Silicon Valley start- “A lot of this goes on in the tech sector is life threatening, then our response in handling it must be real.” “Where is G-d in all this suffering?” Looking at the parsha from a up’,” says Timm. “When that didn’t happen, because it allows people to hide behind From the beginning of the frst hard lockdown until today, his few weeks ago, when G-d told Moshe to “come to Pharaoh” to ask he brazenly committed fraud by paying things. You don’t have a proper product, congregation has fed more than 400 people in Woodstock and Salt him to release the Jewish people – not “go to” Pharaoh – Thurgood a Bulgarian hacker a few dollars to ‘web- it’s still being developed, so you can lead River. It has also offered fnancial aid to those needing assistance with explained that “G-d is where we act in a godly manner. When we act scrape’ 180 000 profles, which he then told people along. And your worth is based on paying salaries and funeral costs, and its members have worked in an as G-d acts, we bring the presence of G-d into the world. investors were the company’s network.” how much money you can raise. So it’s about orphanage for abused children. “While there are many things that G-d does that we cannot do, Eyal would go on to employ similar who is able to pitch the best, and he was “We have had to communicate in creative ways. This ‘new normal’ there are many that we can do, like acting with kindness, care, strategies for two more companies, Passo highly talented at that.” goes against our inherent social nature as human beings. So we need and compassion. So when people are struggling on so many and Shopin. And it worked, because no Eyal was eventually convicted in to re-imagine and reshape the perspective of our life,” he said. levels, there is something everyone can do to reach out to one one looked too closely. The media reported December 2019 in a New York court of Keraan said it was a “wake-up call” to show that “we are all human another. G-d is present in the world through us. A challenge to on his success without questioning it, and defrauding investors of millions of dollars beings on the Almighty’s earth. It has made us acutely aware of the G-d is a challenge to us.” designbandits.co.za/030221 10 SA JEWISH REPORT 12 – 19 February 2021 Gone but not forgotten, unearthing Joburg’s shuls JORDAN MOSHE taken to the Africana that showed the area and noticed The rebuilt Beth Hamedrash on Fox Street Museum [now Museum the distinctive dome of the shul in here were 43 breathtaking Africa], so she said I the image. synagogues in should go there. “Tat picture was worth its weight Johannesburg at the turn of “I found four of five in gold. Some people wouldn’t give Tthe 20th century and, tragically, beautiful plans there. I tuppence for it, but it was proof that not one of them is still standing. had to search everywhere, the shul had once stood there.” Tey were, indeed, architectural but there they were.” Te shul was located near masterpieces, which could rival Norwich devoted four what was called the Telephone their counterparts in Europe. years to the dissertation, Tower. When a railway company Tey loomed above the streets accounting for 43 of announced its intention to construct of a city still in its infancy, with Johannesburg’s first headquarters in the area, it bought their towering domes and detailed shuls. Teir stories out the shul, converting part of facades catching the eye of any captivated her. the building into its offices. Te passer-by. “Te President Street money from the sale went towards While they no longer exist, their Synagogue was the building what would become the stories remain a lasting testament very first,” she says. “It Doornfontein Shul. to the Jews who first made ran between 1889 and “I knew about the sale only Rose Norwich with her Johannesburg their home. 1926. Tey had used because of an article I found at the research “Te stories of these synagogues of Poland,” she recounted. “I other premises before, military museum,” says Norwich. “It are absolutely incredible,” says reflected that they had been including the Rand Club, became a very personal thing, that Rose Norwich. “Tey formed part through a war there, but that in for services on high search. I hunted high and low.” of Johannesburg in the early days South Africa, our shuls had fallen holy days. Later they Norwich also discovered a shul when it was established in 1886. apart out of sheer neglect.” got some land from the which had stood at the end of Fox Most people today don’t fully Norwich returned home government, but they Street in the centre of town, known appreciate what we actually had determined to record and account sold it because they didn’t as the Beth Hamedrash. here.” for Johannesburg’s earliest shuls. like it.” “An Orthodox group bought a Norwich, who recently However, she found that the shuls Because no plan of the little house in 1893,” she says. “It celebrated her 100th birthday, weren’t the only things that had shul existed, Norwich was a tiny space. Tere are stories is an authority on the early faded out of existence. had to recreate it using of how people had to come in small shuls which were established in “Tere was simply no a few photographs of groups, people with prams coming Johannesburg and on the reef. information available. No one the building she’d found in, and then the next lot because An architect by profession, she seemed to have taken any notice during her search. space was so limited.” undertook a study of these shuls of the shuls or made records of “Te shul was copied “I struggled to identify the plans more than 40 years ago after them. No one had preserved them from a famous German because it looked like an ordinary visiting the YIVO Institute for or accounted for them. Tere was synagogue, and it was house, but eventually realised that Jewish Research in New York with nothing.” fascinating to see how an odd feature in it was in fact the her late husband. Encouraged by her husband they had replicated it. women’s gallery. Tat was how I “Te man in charge showed me a and close friend, Stephen Cohen, It didn’t last very long knew it was a shul.” folio of the destroyed synagogues Norwich decided to address because there was an Te shul was demolished and the issue by preparing a master’s argument. Tey had a rabbi, Mark larger premises built in 1912, only dissertation on the subject, Harris, that people didn’t like, so to be demolished later. Te property returning to university at the age of the congregation split, and a new was sold, and no photographs of the 66. Beginning in 1886 (when Jews congregation was formed.” original building survive. first settled in the Witwatersrand), Following the split, a magnificent Tere were also shuls that were she charted the stories of the shul was constructed on the planned but never built. Such first shuls built in Johannesburg, Wanderers Park, named the Park was the case with the End Street concluding her study in the 1930s. Synagogue. Te shul was opened Synagogue in Doornfontein. Norwich received a list of the by none other than President Paul Says Norwich, “Tey were in the city’s shuls from the Federation of Kruger in 1892, but lasted only until process of building and had laid the Yeshiva College is a Jewish Day School in Glenhazel, Synagogues, but it was woefully 1914. foundation in 1906, but they never incomplete. After obtaining the Johannesburg. We invite well qualifed, enthusiastic The Park Synagogue in few photographs housed at the and dynamic professionals to apply for the position. Wanderers Park South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD), she set off on an exhaustive search. HEAD OF BOYS “I trawled through every archive imaginable,” she says. “From the SPORT AND CULTURE library of the SAJBD, I moved on to the government archives, museums, university collections, and many more. I was given access to all council plans as well as I wanted to Yeshiva College would like to appoint a passionate find out everything I could about these shuls and what they had physical education teacher with strong people looked like. “I went to a woman called Nola Says Norwich, “Kruger actually built it. Tey didn’t have the money, and management skills; with the aim of achieving Green at the city council and begged gave them the ground, and they and later donated it to a Catholic her to help me. She said that plans established a shul, a school, and nun, Kate O’Brien.” excellence in both sporting and cultural felds. had been moved from the Town Hall a minister’s house on the site. I “Tere’s only one picture that to Hillbrow, adding that someone hunted for photos of the site and exists of that space. Te foundation A minimum requirement for this position would had found people tearing up the ended up at RAU [Rand Afrikaans stone that sits on display at Great plans. Some had been saved and University]. I found a photo there Park Synagogue actually comes from be an appropriate, professional and educational there.” qualifcation and current SACE registration. By the time Norwich began her research in 1988, only nine of the 43 shuls she studied still stood. None of them exist today. “It’s a loss we have to accept,” she concludes. “Jews moved away Please email a short CV, letter of motivation and from these areas, they built new references to: [email protected] synagogues and established new Closing date: 26th February 2021 communities. It’s a great shame that they are no more, but it was The school reserves the right not to make an appointment. inevitable. Only short-listed candidates “People always migrate, so be careful will be contacted for an interview. The President Street Synagogue in inner city Johannesburg where you build a shul, because people won’t always stay there.” 12 – 19 February 2021 SA JEWISH REPORT 11 No time for donor fatigue – poverty is worse than ever JORDAN MOSHE in different ways. Angel used As South Africa continues to battle the Network founder in the pandemic, Lubner predicts that many “The situation in South Africa is more Glynne Wolman says charities will fall away due to lack of desperate than ever. The need for food the organisation has funding in the coming year and there is security and employment is greater than gone beyond provision likely to be a merger or strategic alliance ever, and government social-support of food. between a number of NPOs. grants have become a necessity,” says “We have learnt “A strategic collaboration between Marc Lubner, the chief executive of Afrika how to handle the food nongovernment organisations (NGOs), Tikkun. “If it weren’t for the addition of the crisis more effectively government, and private sectors can R350 per month special grant, I believe and have partnered have a material impact as service there would be rioting in the streets of the with suppliers so that delivery can be optimised,” he says. townships.” everything runs far “For far too long, these entities haven’t Like many other local charities, this more smoothly,” she worked in a co-ordinated manner organisation is being stretched to the says. “We also have a and there has been duplicity and limit as the second wave of the pandemic much better idea of redundancies. If the commercial and sweeps across the country. The number of who we are helping, private sector were to plan with NGO desperate South Africans continues to rise which saves time and service delivery partners, there would daily, and while charities are busier than makes it easier. certainly be a better utilisation of ever, they’re struggling to cope with the “We aren’t just corporate social investment funding. demand. focusing on hunger “The collaboration between private “Our charity efforts are more active than relief anymore. We’re Yakima Waner screening children at the informal settlement of Plastic City sector, government, and NGOs could ever before,” says Lubner. “In fact, we’re getting involved have a far greater impact on South targeting a 12% increase in our 2021 in bringing solar-powered geysers to doesn’t seem to be a game plan for the moment to make a difference, but we Africa’s destiny. We can turn this terrible budget over our 2020 budget.” communities, sanitising pit toilets, and rebuilding of the economy.” didn’t think for the future.” crisis to good if we realise that we are Yakima Waner, founder and chairperson developing vegetable gardens to make Waner agrees, saying that during the Wolman, however, says that her more effective working together than at non-proft organisation (NPO) The communities self-sustainable. frst wave, food distribution was a problem, organisation hasn’t experienced any apart.” Harvest Project, says that the organisation “The need is sadly relentless,” Wolman and the role of larger organisations such as donor fatigue. Lubner, Waner, and Wolman have has doubled in size and scope in the past says. “Far more people are without jobs and the South African Jewish Board of Deputies “We are extremely fortunate in that we urged the community to continue to six months. support, and often they have nowhere to was pivotal in helping the charity reach have been able to build up a reputation support those in need, whether by “We have reached the maximum that turn, unlike our community which offers an more people. in the past fve years so that donors know donating to existing initiatives or just our NPO can, and still we are pushed enormously wide net of support.” “Without it we would never have been and trust us,” she says. “We haven’t really offering support where needed. further,” she says. “All our initiatives are The second wave has also brought with it able to bring salvation to so many,” says felt the effects of donor fatigue, but what “Just show someone that you are active at the moment, and we have started the threat of fewer donations, with people Waner. “We will forever be grateful because has changed is that many corporates there for them,” says Waner. “Show that some more. All souls have been affected.” giving less to charities than they did during it’s a tough sight to see grown men cry of are now approaching us to get involved, support, that no one is alone in this A preparatory school, children’s feeding the frst wave last year. hunger.” something that has never happened crisis. scheme, and animal rescue which fall Says Lubner, “There were a number However, the situation is more before. “If every one of us helps another under The Harvest Project’s umbrella of really remarkable high-net-worth challenging now. “I think people want to make a person in whatever way, it will are constantly in need of resources and individuals and foundations that gave “The position we fnd ourselves in now difference, and are aware of how hard life spread love and compassion that will struggle to cope with demand. considerably during the frst wave, and it’s is daunting because it’s the aftermath of can be for so many.” automatically change lives.” “During COVID-19, I saw how the not clear whether they will continue their war. After growth, you have further to fall,” virus brought everyone to their knees,” support or at what levels.” she says. “We have many lives that rely on says Waner. “In many cases, money did It’s concerning that this generosity might us for aid, and now you have made them still protect you, but at the same time it not be available during the second wave, a promise that they will never go hungry also became obsolete. We deal with a where the need is actually greater, he says. again. community which is completely hand to “We must remember that many “To keep to that promise is tough, mouth – it works and recycles today, and companies paid out retrenchments, which especially now that the funding that was will eat tonight.” would have been utilised by the end of the meant to help a pandemic which no one In the time that has passed since the frst frst quarter of 2021,” says Lubner. “Now, thought would last this duration has wave, charities have also increased their millions who have lost their jobs will be begun to dry up. People donated large, range of initiatives in order to help people without an income and much hope as there life-changing amounts of money, and it was Yeshiva College is a Jewish Day School in Glenhazel, Progressive shuls stay online Johannesburg. We invite well qualifed, enthusiastic and dynamic professionals to apply for the position. TALI FEINBERG Rabbi Greg Alexander of the Cape Town Progressive Hebrew Congregation (Temple Israel), says the rabbinic he South African Association of Progressive Rabbis team are offering to officiate at life-cycle events via Zoom, (SAAPR) has made the decision to recommend that “as this is the safest way of celebrating the milestones its progressive shuls remain closed for the time of one’s life without endangering family and friends. SENIOR ENGLISH TEACHER Tbeing. Should celebrants wish to have in-person ceremonies, then the event must take place outdoors and only close family that are living in the same household bubble – limited to Yeshiva College would like to appoint an five individuals – may be present with the experienced Senior High School English Teacher. officiating rabbi. All present must strictly observe COVID-19 protocol throughout the The ideal candidate will be one who strives for ceremony, including the wearing of masks, educational excellence and is self-motivated. sanitising of hands before and after any instance of contact, as well as observing The successful candidate will work in a dynamic social distancing between themselves and and experienced English department and in a the rabbi, who will sadly not be able to offer school with a well established academic record. hugs or handshakes.” In the interests of pikuach nefesh and Experience in teaching Advanced Program English to avoid super-spreader events, the organisation strongly urges celebrants “not would be benefcial. A minimum requirement Lupemba Fisher’s Barmitzvah at Temple Israel, Cape Town to host gatherings for in-person seudot for this position would be an appropriate, “Te Jewish value of pikuach nefesh [saving a life] has mitzvah (celebratory meals)”, Alexander says. the highest value in Jewish tradition, and the safety of “Even though the infection numbers are, thank G-d, professional and educational qualifcation our community is our primary concern. Until it’s safe dropping and it looks like the second wave is passing, we and current SACE registration. to gather in numbers, we will continue to offer online are still in the middle of a pandemic and it’s not the time services on Zoom and Facebook for all congregants,” says for people to relax their guard. If there’s anything we can Rabbi Julia Margolis, the chairperson of the SAAPR, and do to keep ourselves and our community safe, we should Please email a short CV, letter of motivation and the rabbi of the Bet Luria congregation in Johannesburg. do it and be as creative as possible in helping people references to: [email protected] “When arranged with individual rabbis and in to connect to their rabbis and shuls online, and where Closing date: 26th February 2021 accordance with strict COVID-19 protocols, some life- possible, in-person.” cycle celebrations may take place outside synagogue Margolis says the same protocols will be implemented The school reserves the right not to make an appointment. buildings. We look forward to a time when we can all be in Johannesburg and elsewhere in the country. “We are a Only short-listed candidates together, safely, once more,” she says. united movement,” she says. will be contacted for an interview. 12 SA JEWISH REPORT 12 – 19 February 2021 Holocaust victims and the art of survival JORDAN MOSHE of the Mohicans.” possible. Said Elsby, “For many, the moment brought questions: “It was all very fresh,” said Elsby. “These rt assumed a central role in helping many what was it all for? Why did we suffer? The frst instinct people had just lost their families and had yet Holocaust survivors come to terms with their for many was a feeting moment of joy. Some were to rebuild their lives. Many of them used this ordeal and share their harrowing experiences overwhelmed with despair; others were in utter disbelief. as an impetus to draw what they went through. withA the world. In their drawings, paintings, and They were liberated, but not free.” They’re saying, ‘This is the horror of where I sculptures, we don’t only have a testament to what This was refected in many art pieces at the time, was. This is what the world didn’t see and didn’t happened, but also a warning for future generations. illustrating that survivors had to grasp that while they had prevent.’” “Many Holocaust survivors used the language of art been suffering, life was going on outside. Images show The next notable movement in artwork dealt to express their trauma and embrace life and hope,” said people walking freely in the streets, disconnected from with yearning, loss, and longing, refecting a Liz Elsby, an artist and educator at Yad Vashem. “Many the suffering of so many others. nostalgia to return to places alive in memory of them rebuilt their lives and captured what they had For some survivors, art expressed the euphoria of only. As Elsby explained, many works showed David Friedmann’s ‘Mass Grave’ charcoal drawing experienced.” re-joining the world. Buchenwald survivor Jakob Zim, the Jewish life of Warsaw and Vilna, the shuls, Elsby explored the art created by those who survived for instance, chose not to capture the horror of his Jewish institutions, and communities that were no more. to soften and become misty by the eighties. Images the Holocaust this past Monday, 8 February, in an experience, but the European landscape he could now be “They expressed a sense of mourning, a need to of Majdanek by Israel Kantor show something less exclusive webinar hosted by the Johannesburg Holocaust a part of once again. remember,” she said. “They knew that these places were menacing, with green felds, no people, no horror. & Genocide Centre. being replaced with something new, would be forgotten, Memory has softened.” “The [post-war] period of Holocaust artwork and wanted to create an epitaph in their art. How do you In the 1960s and 1970s, religion also featured tends to be looked at a little less compared to really get over the loss?” frequently, with Christian iconography often included the art created during the Holocaust,” she said. Guilt was also a central motif in much of the artwork as an indictment against those who professed love and “After the war, people asked what it meant to that follows the war. Themes of identity play a central concern in the name of Christ but did nothing to help be a survivor. role, with artists trying to understand who they are now suffering Jews. “Students like to ask survivors what they without their families and to live with the guilt of being “Some survivors take years to express themselves, did frst after being liberated. They perceive alive. Abstract images, fgures aged by horror, and images painting in the 1990s only,” said Elsby. “As we move it like a TV programme, believing there’s an of wandering Jews are common. further away from the Holocaust, there is more of a end to the ordeal. In reality, it was a long and This changed in the 1950s, however, when many tendency to look at it as less of a historical event with arduous road, and we see this in the artwork survivors attempted to get on with their lives. dates and to focus instead on names and places. We see a of survivors.” “Their bodies are healing, and they begin to trust in desire to bring back humanity.” Images created by artists such as Zinovii humanity again,” said Elsby. “They are trying to avoid These works of art are inspiring, she said. Tolkatchev, a Soviet artist who accompanied dealing with what they have gone through, and don’t “With so much pain, anguish, and memory, they could the Red Army forces that liberated the want their new families to know about the past. Again, somehow still create and wanted to join the world of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, they struggle with their identity, and we fnd them living,” she said. captured some of the euphoria of salvation. Waiting for the Train by Marc Klionsky sometimes transported back to their experiences. “As Tamara Deuel Sternberg wrote, ‘I feel that by my art “He captures people waving and smiling, celebrating Others, however, responded differently. “The trauma won’t go away, and as much as you try to I am helping to transfer my experiences and feelings to the moment,” said Elsby. “That’s the way that many “David Friedmann writes about a sudden urge of rebuild your life, everyday things can trigger you and take others to help prevent this from ever happening again. people think of liberation. That the gates opened, artists to show what happened,” said Elsby. “It wasn’t you back.” Every individual who survived that other world has a duty survivors greeted their liberators, and they went on to enough to express joy, but that they could bear witness at Memory also changed, Elsby said. to leave documentation, art, music, and personal stories start a new life.” last after having been unable to while in the camps. They “After a period of wanting to testify, memories begin behind that future generations will never forget.’” This wasn’t always the case, as survivor Antek wanted to draw what they went through.” Zukerman wrote. Often raw and unnerving, these paintings frequently Cheers to 100-year-old who sees glass half full “The grief was never as great as on that joyous day,” show suffering victims, menacing oppressors, and a quoted Elsby. “I wanted to weep, not from joy but clear distinction between humanity and the inhuman. JULIE LEIBOWITZ “He wanted to be the first on the train. sorrow. Suddenly, we were faced with the desolation of Penetrating expressions accuse perpetrators, artists often He was 89,” his daughter, Joan, remembers. reckoning. What? Who? We had lived all the time with a inserting their own sense of injustice into the image erman Rothenberg, who turns 100 on “My son, Larry, picked him up at 04:00, and sense of mission, but now? … It wasn’t easy to be the last and asking how the atrocity could have been humanly 15 February, escaped the Holocaust they went to wait at Sandton Station. It in Germany in 1934 when his parents was a freezing morning, and they were the Hsent him out the country on his own as a part very first passengers. He made international of the Kindertransport rescue effort. news.” Still crazy for each other after He was just 13 when he left his parents in Rothenberg attended a few World Cup Frankfurt and headed to the United States soccer matches at the age of 90. He bought 65 years (US). his last car, a Honda, at the age of 98. Joan JULIE LEIBOWITZ Rothenberg’s parents sent him out of the was horrified, she says, because she wanted over,” Ronnie says of Esther. “I was very attracted to country following several ugly incidents him to stop driving. here is a saying that a successful marriage means him,” Esther says of Ronnie. in the country. On one occasion, he His adventurous nature included Tfalling in love many times, always with the same From those early days riding their bikes to school witnessed a demonstration piloting his own light person, and this couldn’t be truer for Esther and together to raising three children and still running a at the Bahnhofsplatz aircraft, which he often Ronnie Jankelowitz. successful business together today in their eighties, outside Frankfurt, with flew to Bloemfontein. the couple would defnitely describe people yelling “Sig Heil”. He He once flew Joan back their experience as a “true love wasn’t meant to be there, from Durban because she story”. and got into trouble with his couldn’t face taking the In their time together, Ronnie parents for going. train back. completed 17 Comrades Marathons After a long sea voyage, Rothenberg met his and climbed Kilimanjaro once. Rothenberg got to Ellis wife, Doris Speyer, Esther was an accomplished Island in New York and playing table tennis at marksman and member of the says, “the g-ds smiled on Temple Israel. Tey have Benoni Pistol Club. She won a him” when distant family in been married for 73 number of awards for combat and Cincinnati fostered him. years. Herman Rothenberg target shooting, a skill she passed His journey didn’t end Tey both loved playing down to all her children. there. After a few years at Walnut Hills High tennis, and Rothenberg has always loved “You’ve got to work on School in 1939, he left for South Africa to music and books – though he reads only happiness,” Ronnie says. “It’s not join his parents, who had relocated there. nonfiction. Being a Holocaust refugee, he healthy to divorce. Accept that He intended to return to the US, but at has had a lifelong obsession with Holocaust every fve years or so, there will be the age of 18, was conscripted into the army, literature. Last year, he donated his huge change. Not all your years together where he served in Italy and Egypt and was Holocaust library to the Johannesburg will be good, but you have to work discharged at the end of the war, with shell Holocaust & Genocide Centre, including Esther and Ronnie Jankelowitz together, play together, and forget. shock, in 1945. some titles not seen in South Africa before. “Give each other space, but never Rothenberg has always been a radio Rothenberg says he has “reason to be The couple, who still work together in their go on holiday apart,” Esther counsels. “Celebrate enthusiast, becoming an electronics engineer satisfied” with his life so far. Joan says: agribusiness, Benfarm, in Benoni, celebrated their every year with your children.” and starting numerous technology-related “He supplied all our needs, and is the most 65th wedding anniversary on Wednesday, 3 February. “When I turned 80, I told Esther, ‘I’m an old man, companies. outstanding role model for my two sons.” The company, which has also stood the test of time, whatever I do, forgive me’,” Ronnie says. Tere were numerous “firsts” in his career, Retirement hasn’t slowed him down was started by Ronnie’s father and is more than 100 This is the frst year that the couple have had to including being the first company to bring much. “He has an iPad and an iPhone, and years old. celebrate their anniversary in masks, but they are microwave ovens to the country (for use in he Skypes us twice a day and uses WhatsApp Born only a few months apart, Ronnie and Esther grateful to be able to go to work every day in spite of hospitals), and the first to do underfloor and Zoom,” Joan says. “You can’t tell him met at school at the age of 15, and have been COVID-19. heating in South Africa. anything – he already knows it all.” together ever since, marrying at the tender age of 22. “This is the frst year in 65 years that I couldn’t kiss He was also the first public passenger of “He’s very disciplined,” she says. “He never It really was a case of love at frst sight. “My sister, Esther happy anniversary,” Ronnie says. “We rubbed the Gautrain in 2010, when it opened just stops halfway, but he’s also someone who Judy, brought home a lovely young girl. I nearly fell elbows instead.” before the FIFA World Cup. always sees the glass half full.” south african

The source of quality content, news and insights t www.sajr.co.za Thursday 11 February 20:00 SAST THE BLEEDING EDGE OF MEDICINE

Register now: bit.ly/sajr74 In proud partnership with 14 SA JEWISH REPORT 12 – 19 February 2021 Fears over fertile rumours about vaccines SHIRA HANAU – JTA across the Orthodox world mount compared Israel’s recommendation a campaign to convince women to that pregnant women get the vaccine An Orthodox woman in a Brooklyn neighbourhood in New York or much of the past year, the get vaccinated when they’re eligible to Nazi doctors’ torture of Jews. young mothers of Lakewood, and be more careful if they’re “Disgusting! Tey are really making New Jersey, have experienced not, some mothers in Lakewood experimentation on Jews!” one Fthe pandemic as much as a nuisance are reconsidering their families’ woman wrote. as a matter of life and death. approach to COVID-19 safety. Several shared information about Tat’s not to say the community Lakewood, with a haredi Orthodox a drug cocktail created by a Hasidic hasn’t experienced its share of community that makes up more doctor, Vladimir Zelenko, that outbreaks; it has. Or that families than half the town’s population of Donald Trump touted but was later haven’t lost loved ones; they have. more than 100 000, is by far New found to be ineffective and even But to hear the young mothers of the Jersey’s most fertile town. In 2015, harmful in some cases. Someone

large Orthodox community tell it, it recorded 45 live births per 1 000 else shared a video of Zelenko in Clary/AFP via Getty Images A. Timothy Photo: the crisis part of the pandemic had residents – a rate more than four which he said that young healthy passed. And to watch the Instagram times the state average and among people don’t need to get the vaccine. videos of the frequent indoor the highest in the world. So when He suggested taking zinc to inhibit weddings held in the town, where rumours started circulating about “viral replication” and said “in my few if any guests wear masks, the the effect of the soon-to-arrive medical opinion, no one needs the dark days of last March were nearly COVID-19 vaccines on fertility, vaccine”. infertility. paediatrician with a practice in forgotten. locals were alarmed. In early January, Michal Tova Herskovitz, a 30-year-old Borough Park and Williamsburg, Tat has changed in recent weeks, Te rumours began right around Weinstein, an Orthodox Instagram mother of four living in Tom’s both Hasidic communities where as news of the death of a 37-year-old the time New Jersey began offering influencer who lives on Long River, New Jersey, a large Orthodox weddings and other social events woman understood to be previously vaccines, and they took root on Island and has more than 21 000 community neighbouring Lakewood, resumed their pre-pandemic pace healthy swept through WhatsApp Instagram and WhatsApp. followers, posted an Instagram said many of her friends were months ago, said he thinks about groups at the same time that In one WhatsApp group organised livestream of Dr Lawrence Palevsky, confused about the vaccine. 20% of his patient families are misinformation took hold about the by Orthodox Jews to discuss a paediatrician and well-known “It’s scary to know that there are “vaccine sceptical”. Most vaccinate new coronavirus vaccines potentially COVID-19, a woman said she had anti-vaxxer who spoke at a 2019 women who are saying whatever their children for other diseases threaten fertility. In a community been thinking of moving to Israel, symposium of anti-vaccine activists they want about this vaccine,” because of school requirements, but where childbearing and mothering but was reconsidering after the that was attended by hundreds of she said, noting that Instagram the COVID-19 vaccines are optional are marks of status among women, mayor of the Israeli city of Lod haredi Orthodox Jews in Monsey, influencers popular in the if you can get one at all. the two developments brought the said he would require parents to New York. In the video, Palevsky Orthodox community have spread To combat this, Orthodox pandemic’s seriousness home for be vaccinated before their children suggested that the vaccines were misinformation. “A lot of my friends healthcare professionals are many of the town’s young mothers. could come to school. a profit move by drug companies follow these people.” turning their attention to building Now, as physicians there and In another group, women and that they could contribute to Dr Mark Kirschenbaum, a confidence in the new vaccines. Te Jewish Orthodox Women’s Medical Association, an organisation Race against time to preserve Jewish languages for Orthodox women doctors and medical students, has been OPINION SARAH BUNIN BENOR – JTA debunking misinformation in a fact can’t stop thinking about Flory Jagoda, Joseph Jagoda’s work to promote Sephardic language and culture in Myanmar, and Kolkata (formerly sheet and podcast that it produces. Sassoon, and Kitty Sassoon – three American Jews in just a week before she died. Calcutta) in India, Joseph and Kitty spoke And a group of Orthodox Jewish their 90s who died last week. As an Ashkenazi Jew, I While Jagoda is among the last generation of native multiple languages, but their parents spoke Judeo-Arabic nurses are hosting a weekly call to don’t share their family backgrounds. But their deaths Ladino speakers, young people have continued her when they didn’t want the children to understand. As many discuss the vaccines to take place Ihit home for me as they were among the last native language-preservation work, as we see in Devin Naar’s American-born children of immigrants know, this means on hotlines that are accessible to speakers of endangered Jewish languages, languages I’m archive of Ladino letters, books, and other historical they picked up snippets of the language. women who don’t use the internet helping to document before it’s too late. treasures; Bryan Kirschen’s Ladino research and classes; As adults, living most recently in Los Angeles, Joseph for religious reasons. Flory Jagoda devoted much of her life to preserving and Sarah Aroeste’s contemporary Ladino music and and Kitty spoke Hindi and English together and didn’t Orthodox doctors said they’ve one of those languages. She grew up in Bosnia speaking children’s books. Due to these efforts, American Jews tend have much opportunity to use Judeo-Arabic, but their been getting dozens of phone Ladino, also known as Judeo-Spanish, which her ancestors to know about the language. When I ask audiences which granddaughters remember them using some words and calls about the safety of vaccines had maintained since their expulsion from Spain in 1492. Jewish languages they have heard of, they generally phrases. Kitty used pet names for grandchildren, like over the past two months, many She survived the Holocaust in part through her musical mention Hebrew, Yiddish, and Ladino. abdalnuana for boys and abdalki for girls (both literally with questions about whether the skills, playing accordion and singing in Serbo-Croatian. People are less familiar with other Jewish languages, meaning “penance” like the Hebrew kapara) and frequently vaccines are safe for young women or For decades, she wrote and performed Ladino songs, including Judeo-Shirazi (from Iran), Judeo-Malayalam said mashallah (what G-d has willed) when expressing women who are already pregnant. maintaining the Sephardic folk traditions of her Nona (from India), and Jewish Neo-Aramaic (from the Kurdish pride and joy. Joseph called his mother Umm Shalom “If somebody asks me, I absolutely (grandmother), innovating them, and bringing them to a region) – all critically endangered. The many endangered (mother of Shalom, her frst son), in line with Judeo-Arabic recommend that they take it,” said wider audience. dialects of Judeo-Arabic have been documented to varying convention, and hurled joking insults at grandchildren, Rabbi Dr Aaron Glatt, the chief of such as harami (thief) and mamzerim (bastards) – a Hebrew infectious diseases and hospital word used in several Jewish languages). epidemiologist at Mount Sinai South The Sassoons are characteristic of speakers of Nassau on Long Island. “You’re endangered languages. Unlike Jagoda, they didn’t devote dealing with a real risk of dying or their lives to cultural preservation. And they had varying having serious complications from degrees of knowledge of the language. Joseph grew up COVID-19 versus a theoretical risk speaking more Judeo-Arabic than Kitty. While language when there’s no real theoretical documenters would prefer fuent speakers, even semi- reason why it should be dangerous. speakers can provide important information, particularly “Tere is zero evidence to suggest when the language is severely endangered. there’s any risk with infertility.” Every day, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, Some cite changing guidance more speakers of endangered languages die. If we don’t from health authorities as a cause of interview them now, we will lose our opportunity forever. confusion. Fortunately, several organisations have been doing this Te new coronavirus vaccines important work, including the Endangered Language made by Pfizer and Moderna

Photo: Getty Images Getty Photo: Alliance, the Jewish Language Project, and Wikitongues in haven’t been tested on pregnant the United States, and the Mother Tongue Project in Israel. women, leading the World Health This isn’t just a Jewish issue. Of the 7 000 languages of Organization (WHO) originally the world, about half are now endangered. Organisations to advise that only pregnant like these are our last hope of recording them before the women who were at high risk for Jagoda’s music introduced me to Ladino and ignited extents, from Egypt to Morocco, from Syria to Yemen. And last speakers are gone. We can all get involved by donating complications from COVID-19 get my interest in Jewish languages. In my ffth-grade class some young people are keeping the music alive, such as funds, volunteering, or connecting the projects with vaccinated. But over time, consensus at Jewish day school, my classmates and I learned her Neta Elkayam, A-WA, and Asher Shasho Levy for Moroccan, speakers of endangered languages. has emerged that pregnancy itself catchy tune, Ocho Kandelikas (Eight Little Candles) along Yemenite, and Syrian traditions. Even so, most American May the memories of Flory Jagoda and Joseph and represents a risk factor, and the with Hebrew and English Chanukah songs. As a teenager, Jews have never heard of Judeo-Arabic. Whenever a Kitty Sassoon be a blessing – and a wakeup call. We must WHO has changed its advice, I heard Jagoda perform at a Jewish Folk Life Festival, of speaker dies, we lose an opportunity to learn and teach act now to preserve their languages and cultures while though it still doesn’t advise the which she was a founder, and purchased a cassette of hers, more about the nuances of this rich language and culture. we still can. vaccine for all pregnant women and La Nona Kanta (The Grandmother Sings). I still listen to Joseph and Kitty Sassoon died of COVID-19 within 12 • Sarah Bunin Benor is a professor of Contemporary Jewish recommends that women speak to those songs and now share them – especially my favourite, hours of each other, months after their 76th anniversary. Studies and Linguistics at Hebrew Union College in Los their doctors. New Jersey includes Laz Tiyas (The Aunties) – with my students when I teach Both were children of Baghdadi parents who spoke Judeo- Angeles. She directs the Jewish Language Project and pregnancy in a list of conditions Jewish languages. My students read an article about Arabic natively. Growing up in Yangon (formerly Rangoon) edits the ‘Journal of Jewish Languages’. entitling people to early vaccines. New York just added it as well. 12 – 19 February 2021 SA JEWISH REPORT 15 Captain Kaela sails the Mediterranean TALI FEINBERG looking for its size compared to your ensuring everything is clean and standard super yacht”. shiny, even playing great music. t’s not often that you find a nice Jewish girl “It’s made entirely out of carbon “Ultimately it’s about making from Cape Town captaining a super yacht in fibre, and it’s got three Volvo engines, sure the guests are having a the Mediterranean, but for 28-year-old Kaela which is also unusual for a boat this great time from the minute IBermeister, it’s all in a day’s work. size. It goes very fast – up to 40 knots they arrive to the minute they As she prepares to set sail on a spontaneous – which is about 80km an hour. It leave, with top quality service. trip to Mexico, she told the SA Jewish Report cruises through the water because If anything goes wrong, or the how hard work, a cool head, and a sense of it’s so light – it weighs only 60 tons – other crew member makes adventure led her to this unusual and exciting which is also unusual for a boat this a mistake, it’s on me. I’m career. size. Tey usually weigh up to 150 responsible for everyone on “I went to Herzlia for most of my school tons to 200 tons. It just sits on top board as well as the boat.” career. I found out about yachting as a career of the water – we fly over the swell. She doesn’t think she is the one evening at the end of matric. Te company You never feel the weather. Similar first Jewish person in this kind was advertising yachting courses and gap-year boats may rock on the waves and of role, but there are definitely experiences working on super yachts, earning people feel queasy and things fly all fewer female captains than men. Euros tax free, and an expense-free lifestyle over the place. We don’t have any The Shockwave “I’m probably one of the very travelling the Mediterranean,” she says. “I kept of that.” few Jewish women doing this, it in mind as I studied a BCom in Financial Te yacht is owned by a family, but there are a growing number Management through Unisa [the University of and Bermeister hopes they will still be able corona[virus] over New Year. I was staying in of women stepping out on deck, South Africa], while working as a waitress at to travel in the months ahead in spite of my apartment, but as the only person working getting qualifications, and becoming captains,” Café Caprice in Camps Bay, which was lots of lockdowns around the world. “We will probably on the yacht, I still had to check it every three she says. fun and a good way to go to Monaco for days. You can’t just turn off a yacht – you need She plans to get more qualifications. “I would boost myself into the the Grand Prix, then to check the engine room, clean filters, check the love to end up at naval college in the United hospitality industry.” the South of France, air conditioners, look at the water tanks, check Kingdom at the end of the year and do its She saved up and and maybe Italy and for fire hazards. So every three days, I got into course in three months, which is possible as my paid for the basic Sardinia. It’s much the crew car and drove down, wearing my mask boss has agreed to invest in my courses going courses one needs more fun to be at and gloves, and had no contact with anyone.” forward. I want to continue to work with this to work on a yacht, sea, to navigate, and She says the experience of being captain family – they are wonderful. Tey may build covering skills like come up with a travel depends on the yacht you’re on. On this yacht, a bigger boat and if they do, they will take me survival, fire-fighting, plan than just to sit everything falls on her young shoulders. “I’m with them, and I’ll be qualified to work on it.” and security awareness stationary.” the only crew member, although I’ve just hired She loves what she does. “It’s a great way to out at sea. Te pandemic has another guy to help me. I manage and delegate save money and invest, and it’s been a lot of “My first job was on had a positive impact the work, drive the boat and berth it, plan the fun. It definitely beats having an office job.” a 40 metre yacht based on her. “I’m grateful itinerary, and I’m always checking weather And, in spite of the responsibility and workload in Ibiza. Te captain that it’s given me and sea state. I’m in charge of safety measures, she takes on, she says, “I can’t remember the took me under his the opportunity to getting us from A to B, and essentially, I’ve also last time I was stressed out because of my job.” wing, and taught me be on this yacht. At taken on the role of host, for example I make As she sets sail for her next adventure, the everything I know, and the beginning of the sure the fridges are full, manage housekeeping, world really is her oyster. then took me with him pandemic, I left my to work on a 50 metre previous boat and got yacht. I worked with stuck in Cape Town him for five years, and for six months. It Kaela Bermeister was the only girl on gave me time to think deck. He invested in about what I want to all my courses because I gave so much time to do, and to manifest a more ‘normal’ life, based them. I accumulated a ‘yacht master off shore’ in Mallorca with my apartment and friends, qualification which allows you to drive a boat and not be on the go all the time, which I have up to 26 metres.” been for the previous five years. Ten I got Te yacht she is now skippering is a 26 metre this job. It was the perfect situation for me – yacht named Shockwave, built by a company exactly what I wanted.” in Sweden called Delta. Full of enthusiasm and However, they have done a lot less travelling knowledge, Bermeister says it’s “very unusual because of the pandemic. “I actually contracted

Letters

LOSS CAN TEACH US HOW TO LIVE My name is Lisa. I work as a child and in loss and hold my own, this is some of adult psychologist in our community. what I have come to understand: It’s been almost eight years since my • Enjoy your children; husband and child passed away. I survived • Enjoy your life; and the car accident, but they didn’t. My • Teach yourselves how to take control of broken bones healed, but my broken heart your mind. has been the biggest challenge to live As a parent, I remember how busy life with. Last year, my beloved father passed can be. We take care of our children’s away. Like you, I’m no stranger to loss. physical needs. We provide, feed, clothe, I see our community reeling from loss educate, and stimulate them, but do we CLARITY. upon loss. I see how frightened many are make enough time to enjoy them? To join as the distance between death and life has a child in play is remarkable. Here we are ORDER. closed or narrowed for so many. able to delight in the joy they bring to our I have learned as a psychologist and world. How precious they are, and how DIRECTION. survivor that death is as much a part of precious it is to be alive! Our team of over 1 400 professionals, operating life as breath. I have learned that pain The more we are present in our lives, from 7 offices in South Africa, offers a unique is a natural response to death, and that the less we fear death. combination of local market knowledge coupled in life, pain is inevitable but suffering is Now, I take the time to turn inward, to with an international network, personal service and a professional approach. We shine a unique lens on optional. I understand that “suffering be still on a regular basis and ask: what clients’ businesses to see the people beyond the is what our mind does to us”. (David gives my life meaning? Then I prioritise numbers and establish where they are going. Kessler). it. www.bdo.co.za David Kessler is an American grief When you are deeply engaged in life, expert. He has repeatedly been called there isn’t too much space for fear and upon to help the nation understand the suffering. The pain will be there, but the psychological impact of COVID-19 and living will be larger. In this way, we, too, the loss on all levels it leaves in its wake. reduce our suffering. Kessler’s latest book is titled, Finding My prayer is simple: may we have the Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief. It’s our capacity to allow loss to teach us all how

TLG8062 © 2019 BDO South Africa Services (Pty) Ltd. destiny to make meaning, to learn from to live a more meaningful life. – Lisa life. As I sit with parents and children Michalson, Cape Town 16 SA JEWISH REPORT 12 – 19 February 2021 A column of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies Oxford/AstraZeneca not demisting COVID A tradition of friendship iz hundert un ews that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine isn’t effective against to register and receive tsvantsig (may you the “South African” variant came as a terrible blow. The frst the vaccine before live until 120), consignment had already arrived in the country amidst much frst responders. INNER VOICE Bas Jews like to say when ABOVE BOARD Npomp and circumstance, the president had lauded the work done in Unless they Howard Feldman wishing each other a long Shaun Zagnoev procuring the batch, and eager medical teams had their sleeves rolled up happen to be near life. The South African in anticipation of receiving the frst shot. Everything unfortunately came sighted. Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD), Foundation, Clive is taking to a grinding halt when it became clear that the virus was one step ahead. I argue further that founded in 1903 “to watch and take that campaign further. Among And that it had no intention of being curtailed by this vaccine. along with this suffering comes a higher risk of mortality. It’s not only the action with reference to all matters other things, he has designed In fairness to the government, it couldn’t have predicted this barrier, aged, the diabetics, the frail of heart, or the obese who are at risk from the affecting the welfare of Transvaal banners, each of which reveals a but dealt with it as best it could. It informed the nation, paused the rollout, disease but also spectacle wearers who now live in a constantly foggy and and Natal Jews” (the Cape Board was bit more information about the and went back to the drawing board. blurred world. And who could quite easily shuffe off this mortal coil as we established a year later), is today just campaign, which will appear on Which might make this the perfect time to challenge the conventional stumble and squint in front of an oncoming car, train or cyclist, as the case a couple of years short of reaching busy intersections in the Vaal area, wisdom on the vaccine rollout. We have blindly accepted what we have might be. that milestone. including on the Golden Highway we have been told, that the frst recipients need to be frontline workers. Mask blindness is no joke. And should be treated as one of the more Since one of the things most near the Vaal River. He hopes that Doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, and frst responders, in line with this serious co-morbidities. affecting the welfare of the those who see the banners will be limited view, will be the frst to receive the vaccine, when we eventually I am told there are solutions. Fancy cloths, sprays that promise all sorts community is anti-Jewish prejudice, curious enough to want to learn fnd one that works against the South African variant. And whereas there’s of things, and pieces of foam tied to the bridge of your nose. I have tried much of the SAJBD’s work during more. In addition, he has produced no doubt that they are defnitely worthy, they might not be the ones who them all and still, within moments of donning the mask and my minus- the past (almost) twelve decades has a number of one-minute videos need it most. fve-and-a-half-in-each-eye prescription goggles, I fnd myself either been geared towards confronting that talk about the Holocaust, its I believe spectacle wearers should stand at the front of the line when tripping into things or kissing someone else’s wife hello. that menace. Fortunately, we victims, and why it’s so important it comes to receiving the vaccine. Not that we could fnd the line if we are People have died for less. haven’t had to do so entirely on our that #WeRemember. The videos will being compliant and are wearing a mask and spectacles at the same time. The failure of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is hugely disappointing. own. Over the years, a number of be distributed among the various I haven’t had a visually clear moment since March 2020, and will never What should have been the start of the immunisation programme ended highly-principled and sympathetic pastors with whom Clive works, and really know the number of people I have either failed to greet, greeted in before it even began. It’s discouraging for all of us. But more so for those individuals from the broader will help to disseminate the message error, or handed my driver’s licence to. The suffering of those of us who are of us who now have to live for an additional few months wondering what community have joined us in the to broader communities. We visionally impaired is unquestionably the greatest and should qualify us it is that we’re not seeing. fght, including such distinguished commend and warmly thank Clive for fgures as Olive Schreiner, J C Smuts, all he is doing for our community. A column of WIZO South Africa and J H Hofmeyr. Happily, that tradition continues to this day, and COVID-19 Q&A series up and WIZO gift shop closes after 59 years one of those who has dedicated running he Elise WIZO Gift Shop sadly mounds of presents in his car. much effort to defending his Jewish Last week, the SAJBD launched its closed its doors at the end of 2020 Kaplan would like to thank the fellow citizens is Clive Motlake COVID-19 Q&A series, with experts after being a well-known feature of loyal customers for their support Mashishi. responding online to COVID-19- TJohannesburg Jewish life for many decades. over many years, saying that it Mashishi became aware of an related issues raised by community The shop was started in 1961 as a small was always a pleasure to welcome increase in antisemitism in his members. The series kicked off with project by the Johannesburg North Branch them, and they enjoyed the community through the punting clinical psychologist Dr Serenne of WIZO (the Women’s International Zionist personal assistance given to them of texts such as The Protocols of the Kaplan addressing mental-health Organisation), headed by Elise Kaplan and in choosing a gift. Elders of Zion and the frequency issues and offering coping strategies, Berjoulie Press. Sincere gratitude goes to the with which Jews were being blamed and Professor Barry Schoub From its humble beginnings in a garage many volunteers who gave their for COVID-19. Concerned about responding to a variety of questions storeroom to its last premises in Genesis time freely and worked under the The Elise WIZO Gift Shop staff and volunteers with the dissemination of such toxic pertaining to COVID-19 vaccines. To Fairmount, it was more than just a gift shop. guidance of the able and friendly Esther Mor (bottom right), world WIZO president misinformation, he decided to do assist us in responding directly to Before each yom tov, it became a hive permanent staff. going, and Andy Schwartz, who tried to take something about it. your concerns, I invite you to go to of activity, with extra volunteers helping The camaraderie in the shop was tangible, the business online. In last week’s column, I wrote https://www.facebook.com/SAJBD/ or to display, wrap, and deliver gifts all over and the new look décor, thanks to Cindy All those involved with Kaplan were proud about the global #WeRemember email us on [email protected]. Johannesburg. Polakow, gave the shop a stylish edge and to know that they were contributing to WIZO’s campaign that had been run Zelma Meinstein was the mainstay of brought in many new customers. important ongoing projects in Israel. for International Holocaust • Listen to Charisse Zeifert on Jewish the shop for many years, ordering gifts, Regrettably due to the COVID-19 Gifts may still be purchased online through Remembrance Day. Now, under Board Talk, 101.9 ChaiFM, every exacting a high standard of professionalism lockdowns, our wonderful shop had to close the WIZO offce, and a wide range of cards his banner of the Clive Mashishi Friday from 12:00 to 13:00. in presentation and service, and roping in her its doors in spite of the tremendous efforts of for every occasion, in lieu of gifts, is readily husband, Siggy, to sort and personally deliver Andrea and Kim Wainer, who tried to keep it available. Tis column is paid for by the SA Jewish Board of Deputies Tis column is paid for by WIZO SA

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