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VOLUME 32 No 4 MAY 2015 www.cjc.org.za www.pamgolding.co.za/on-main The importance of remembering Below is a speech by Michael Cohen that he delivered at Yom Hashoah Vehagevurah at Pinelands Cemetery on 16 April. Michael is head student at Herzlia.
ave you ever come across something returned home safely to loving families, actions. What struck me with devastating as young Jews in the knowledge and Hso horrific that it leaves you silent? after giving up five years of their lives. This impact is that the Holocaust did not start living proof that Hitler and the Nazis did All you feel is something you cannot was a privilege not shared by survivors with murder but with racist attitudes and not succeed in their mission — to murder explain…..total numbness. in Europe whose families, homes and prejudice. Attitudes became laws which the Jewish Nation. I felt a deep connection This time last year I participated in the livelihoods were broken and destroyed. led to concentration camps, and ultimately with everyone marching, an overwhelming March of the Living in Poland. As a regular My grandfathers were not much older to the final solution — death camps and sense of grief, but also of unity and pride 17 year old Capetonian, nothing could fully than I am now when they went to war in genocide. — of being Jewish. prepare me, absolutely nothing, for being 1940 and I realise with a sense of pride that Jews and many other groups of people We are the link between that generation at the sites of such inconceivable horror in they felt the responsibility to stand up and were murdered by the Nazis and it is our which experienced the horrors of the the history of our people. So unimaginable join the march against brutality. responsibility to stand up for all humanity. holocaust and the next generation when that it still haunts me to this day. Together In 2014 in Poland, while surveying the vast We must never stop speaking out against there will be no more survivors still with us. with my fellow South Africans and others compound of Majdanek and seeing the anti-Semitism, intolerance, prejudice and Our generation is responsible for of my age from all over the world — from lines of barracks preserved in their entirety all forms of discrimination. That is how we ensuring the continuity of the story of the Argentina, to Hungary and even Panama stretching into the distance — taking half can continue our march. Holocaust. It is part of our Jewish story as is — we began our march. an hour to walk the length of Auschwitz- Today a year ago I was at the Yom Pesach when we speak about the Exodus What I have realised is that the March Birkenau — only then did I get a true sense Hashoah service at Auschwitz. 10,000 so that it lives on from one generation to of the Living was not an end in itself, it of the scale of the killing operations and of us walked, some in silence, others the next. We must keep the memories of was the starting point of a much longer the Nazi effort to murder those who they singing and chanting, retracing the steps the Holocaust alive in a way that does not journey — of reflection, questioning, despised. of those who marched the 3 kilometres diminish their importance nor reduce the deeper understanding, realisations and I kept on asking myself how it was from Auschwitz to Birkenau to their deaths. impact it had on the victims, survivors and responsibility — the responsibility to speak possible that a nation like Germany used We remembered those who had been their families. out against anti-Semitism and all injustice, its resources and its educated minds murdered and those who had suffered It is impossible to fully comprehend the to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive to create a sophisticated infrastructure under the brutal hands of the Nazis and events that took place all those years ago, and to ensure the continuity of the story of specifically designed to murder millions survived. but I feel a step closer to understanding the Holocaust for the next generation. of people. So many ordinary citizens on We marched knowing our fate, but the what happened and an overwhelming My personal connection to this period every level of society collaborated with the victims did not know whether they were sense of responsibility not only to react, of history is through my grandfathers Nazi government to cause such pain and going to live or die. but to be proactive. Sonny Jaffe and Oscar Cohen. They both suffering — a phenomenon that occurred We are privileged to have survivors with As we, the youth, march into the future, join volunteered to serve in the South African not only in Germany but in many countries us here today — we are inspired by your us as we stand up against anti-Semitism, army in their effort to stop Hitler’s rampage across Europe. resilience and courage to overcome the injustice and prejudice, wherever it may across Europe and North Africa. My one If human beings can use their power for horrors that you faced as you continued be. I fear that if we remain silent, we could grandfather, Sonny Jaffe, was captured in evil, then surely, we can use our power for with your lives. allow evil to be perpetuated. North Africa and taken as a POW to Europe good. We marched under the flags of our Today on Yom Hashoah — 70 years later where he was held until he was liberated My generation cannot change history different countries but were united under — to remember and to act is as important by the Russians. Fortunately they both but we can change attitudes by our the banner of Am Yisrael. We were united as ever.
Lighting candles for victims. Taken at MotL 2015.
Magen David at Gensia Cemetery, Umschlagplatz Mila 18, Warsaw Ghetto. Taken at MotL 2015.
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We read — becoming the in horror of 147 students in Kenya educated future of our country. I quite liked murdered at the hands of brutal that reality. But it is much easier for me to terrorists, two icons have stepped not be offended by something that never down (one voluntarily, one not so affected me. So my final opinion has to be, much), and we remember the tragedy if it hurts you, it’s not alright with me. Leave it in of the Holocaust. And on to voluntary step-downs; Helen Zille dropped the bombshell that she our hands n 2 April Al-Shabaab gunmen would not be running for another term as Ostormed the Garissa University party leader of the Democratic Alliance. College in Kenya, killing 147 students and Following the advice that says, “the best injuring many more. The gunmen took time to go is when no-one wants you to”, over 700 people hostage, freeing Muslim she made her announcement which was students and killing those who identified immediately followed by excited debate as Christians. Social media lit up with on prospective replacements. Eight years responses to the tragedy. Many people of leadership have left their mark on the posted graphic images of the aftermath, political landscape, and opening the floor sparking debate on whether it is OK to up to fresh blood to lead the party leaves show such images, and if it is OK, whether us with a potentially exciting few years to social media is the place to do it. One of come. the social media awareness campaigns Lastly, we remember our Jewish history. that struck a chord with me came under We marked Yom HaShoah on 16 April. the hashtag #147notjustanumber. Images We commit ourselves to remembering the of the students in happier times, in casual atrocities of the past. We pledge to teach poses, laughing and enjoying the sorts them to the next generation, to educate of activities that young people enjoy — those around us and to honour those who these images show just how “normal” were removed too soon from our past. We the students were, as people rather than recall them in the present so that they may statistics of gruesome news content. This live on in our future. In a moving speech isn’t some far-removed horror story. These at the Yom HaShoah event at Pinelands Contact our offices: were a group of educated Kenyans who are Cemetery, Michael Cohen said, "What suddenly no longer a part of Africa’s future. struck me with devastating impact is that Tel: 021 419 2277 On to involuntary step-downs; in March, the Holocaust did not start with murder but Email: [email protected] / [email protected] the UCT Senate “voted overwhelmingly in with racist attitudes and prejudice. Attitudes favour of recommending to council that the became laws which led to concentration www.portfoliobureau.com statue of Rhodes be moved”. The council’s camps, and ultimately to the final solution decision came after much protest and — death camps and genocide." debate over the statue online and on-site. On the same day in Durban, a march Dr Max Price said of the decision “Rhodes was held to stand up against xenophobia Don’t let winter get you must fall. Out of his dust, may UCT rise.” and the horrific violence that was occurring The conversations around shabbat tables at the time. It behoves us to recognise following this action were lively. For many, discrimination and hatred of “the other”. the removal of the Rhodes statue felt like It is our duty to stand up and reject these a violent attack on white South African ideas. We need to ask ourselves if we are 100% history. Some questioned why colonialism making enough noise in support of the genuine down was seen as such a terrible thing. Others human rights of foreigners and "the other" DOWN felt it was a daily reminder of what the in our country — as we wish had been colonialist era did to African civilisation done for us 70 years ago. and that its removal was a necessary part of healing our country. I read one CJC Editorial Board view that resonated with me. There is Chairman: Lester Hoffman. no greater revenge than success, and Ex-officio: Ben-Zion Surdut. Committee: the ultimate gesture of defiance against Julie Berman, Geoff Cohen, Barbara Flax, colonialism and apartheid is the education David Jacobson, Ben Levitas, Barry Levitt, and graduation of black students out of Eric Marx, Myra Osrin, Jonathan Silke. UCT. Imagine Rhodes, eternally perched Editor: Lindy Diamond, Secretary: Tessa on his plinth, forced to watch generations Epstein, Advertising: Anita Shenker, of non-white students become doctors, Layout: Desrae Saacks
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Issued under the auspices of the SA Zionist Federation (Cape Council) and the SA Jewish Board of Deputies (Cape Council) 87 HATFIELD STREET CAPE TOWN 8001 P.O. BOX 4176 CAPE TOWN 8000 PHONE 021 464-6700 FAX 021 461-5804 e-mail: [email protected] EDITOR: LINDY DIAMOND 4 COMMUNITY & CULTURE Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015
A witness to history
By Tali Feinberg
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HOME VISITS BY APPOINTMENT “It is not often that the liberators are nearby – demonstrating that it could have asked to tell their stories, yet they are been possible for the Nazis to provide food C O N T A C T: key witnesses to the horrors of the and water at Bergen-Belsen. “Although it NATALIE JAFFE F.S.A.N.S. Holocaust,” said Richard Freedman was not a death camp, hundreds of people (Director of the South African died every day due to deliberate starvation, Street Level, Tulbagh Centre, Ryk Tulbagh Square, CT, 8001 Holocaust & Genocide Foundation) slave labour and allowing disease to run T E L: 021 425 2639 F A X: 021 425 3939 upon meeting Leonard Berney, one of rampant,” he said. the British officers who liberated the These nearby food stores were in barracks [email protected] www.citycoins.com Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in that also had dormitories, kitchen facilities Germany in April 1945. and a hospital; all these were converted into a Displaced Persons (DP) camp, of r Berney, who lives on the cruise ship which Berney was in charge. “In just six M‘The World’, which recently docked days the hospital was ready to receive its in Cape Town, spent time speaking to first patients from the concentration camp. members of the local press; sharing his Eventually the hospital had 15,000 beds story of being one of the first people to and patients – the largest hospital in the enter the camp 70 years ago. world, before or since!” It was in Bergen-Belsen that Anne Frank Mr Berney explained how after a few and her sister Margot perished just a few weeks with decent meals, separate beds, days before liberation. “She was one of 500 proper washing and sanitary facilities, people who died there every day,” said Mr “the physical recovery of the previously Berney. He explained that at the time, the emaciated and dehumanised inmates prisoners had had no water or food for four took place with remarkable speed. We or five days, and most were desperately ill started to receive gift parcels from many with typhus, dysentery and tuberculosis. countries, mostly food and clothing. One OBTAIN LITHUANIAN CITIZENSHIP He recalled: “I remember being crate we received contained hundreds completely shattered. There were dead of lipsticks! I remember remarking at the THROUGH IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS bodies lying beside the road, emaciated time, of all the essentials the camp inmates GARY EISENBERG & STEFANIE DE SAUDE prisoners still mostly behind barbed wire, need, lipstick isn’t one. I was wrong - those open mass graves containing hundreds of lipsticks probably did more to recover the • Unrestricted right to visit, live and work in European Union (including UK) corpses. The sights, the stench, the sheer self-esteem of the younger women than • Visa-free travel to US, Canada and Australia horror of the place, were indescribable. anything else could have done!” • Local tuition at European universities None of us who entered the camp that day The former Major told how “As the weeks had any warning of what we were about went on and it became clear that no to see or had ever experienced anything country would offer asylum. The inmates remotely like it before.” were asking, ‘What is to happen to us?’ In a written account of his experiences, Many became desperate and believed that he asked: “What should you do when their only salvation was to make their way faced with 60 000 dead, sick and dying to Palestine. Every day or two, groups of people? We had no knowledge of dealing between 20 to 50 people would leave for with a situation like this and we had been that 2,000 mile long and perilous journey. I Gary Eisenberg Stefanie de Saude all more or less traumatised by the sights would see to it that they were well supplied we had seen... Yet the major priority was to with food and water and that they knew the save lives.” locations of other DP camps along their There were several immediate tasks, route to the Mediterranean,” he said. including providing water and food; Mr Berney supervised the DP camp for burying the dead; evacuating the camp; a number of months, and after the war he hospitalising the sick; and rehabilitating returned to Britain. He started sharing his For more information, visit and repatriating the prisoners. “We wartime experiences about 10 years ago, managed to do this in the face of such when he noticed an increase in Holocaust 000878 www.embossdesigns.co.za www.edslaw.co.za/lithuania horrors because of our army discipline”, denialism. “How can they say it didn’t explained Mr Berney, who was a Staff happen? I was there!” Feel free to contact us at Officer in the Anti-Aircraft Artillery (rank of Mr Berney’s message is that “the same Major). “We had to put aside what we felt thing can happen again if you let it happen.” 021 421 7003 and get on with it.” He emphasised that we must be vigilant in [email protected] He described how the British Army was the face of dictatorships, and keep trying quickly able to establish a water supply, to prevent prejudice, oppression and the and that they discovered stores of food genocides that plague our world.
000878_EisenbergDeSaude_11x156_October_JewishChronicle.indd 1 2013/10/15 5:18 PM Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015 5 6 COMMUNITY & CULTURE Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015
CAPE SA JEWISH BOARD OF DEPUTIES
TALKING TACHLIS Prioritising Education Education is one of the pillars on which skills to participate Are we sounding the alarm Judaism stands. On 10 March, the MEC for in our increasingly Education in the Western Cape, Debbie technology-based unnecessarily? Schäfer, was hosted by the Cape Board as economy in the part of our ‘Drink and Think’ series. future.” By David Jacobson, Executive Director, As is the case Cape Jewish Board of Duputies inister Schäfer, a lawyer by profession, whenever education Mwas an MP in the previous Parliament. is raised, there were The incredible outpouring of sentiment, argument and However, a few days before the elections last many present anxious anguish around the ‘Rhodes must fall’ campaign and the community year, she received an unexpected call from to ask questions mobilisation from our own ‘Kippahs Against Hate’ campaign got me to Premier Helen Zille, asking her to be the MEC about the state of for Education. She said that she nearly fell off education in South thinking. Minister Schäfer her seat! Africa and the ow do we balance the memory of a traumatic past or a harrowing event with However, to date she has made her mark province. One of the Hthe need to always reflect the hope and light that is a legacy of our creator? on the Western Cape education system. questions was why there was not enough There is something spiritually powerful about holding up examples of positive Unlike other departments which have national accommodation for learners when they began achievement, of success and triumph, as vehicles for propelling an individual and counterparts, those of Health and Education the new school year. She replied that due to a society forward. We are more likely to want to do better, to be better, if we are are quite independent in their respective a massive influx of people from the Eastern surrounded by people and images and indeed memories that reflect this optimistic provinces. Those present at the event heard Cape, the province cannot deal with children reality. Simply put: positivity breeds positivity. some of the inroads which she has made in who are not registered in the system. She also It is far more inspirational to turn to the sports pages of the paper to be greeted the province, and one that certainly stuck mentioned that parents often do not register by the triumph of the human spirit (Cricket World Cup pain notwithstanding) than out was E-learning in our schools. After their children at schools until the first day of sink in the stories of crime and corruption that populate the front pages. Immersing years of planning, the Department now has the new term, which results in many children ourselves solely in ‘good news stories’, however, could create a false sense of the potential to make a major contribution being turned away. complacency and fill our brains with warm and woolly thoughts — which would towards improving the quality of teaching and However, she ended on a more positive then preclude us from averting real danger and facing a harsh but necessary reality. learning in the province. The Minister said that note. When asked about the Matric pass That is a dilemma facing us as a Jewish community in Cape Town and the same “E-learning will assist us in tackling some of rate, and that the Western Cape was ranked dilemma faced by Jewish communities around the globe. Do we paint a picture of the problems we face including increasing fourth out of the provinces. She said that the a community under threat, holding up examples of racism and hate, or do we shine access to quality education in disadvantaged results did not show that the province had the light on the incredible lives that most Jews continue to enjoy in our respective communities, providing support for struggling the highest retention rate of students in the countries of birth? learners, contributing toward teachers’ country, with less learners dropping out each We have just finished celebrating Pesach. Perhaps more than any other Jewish training and professional development and year. This shows the provinces commitment to festival, Pesach is very much about that delicate balance between past trauma and improving management and administration at its learners and the future of education in the present possibilities. At the Seder we look backwards, acknowledging the pain of schools. It will also provide learners with the country. slavery, the cruelty of Pharaoh, while at the same time celebrating the freedom that accompanied this dark period and the nation that was formed by our departure from Egypt. And we look forward to ‘next year in Jerusalem’ — a constant reminder that we carry our values forward with hope and do not let the baggage of our In the footsteps of ‘Mensches’ painful past slow us down. If we only ever bemoaned the trauma of our Jewish past, we would not have been able to contribute so powerfully to the present and the future. It is this balancing act that Jewish leaders must get right. If we focus too much on incidents of hate and anger, we run the risk of creating a picture that will paralyse any possibility of moving forward. There is necessary vigilance and then there is unhealthy hysteria. Our core responsibility has to be to enable our communal future by inspiring our community with the light that shines from so many of our Jewish individuals and Jewish organisations. That is without doubt our best protection against the forces of darkness. Record Jewish involvement in UCT
Mentorship Mensch member Danielle Ehrlich speaking to Herzlia High School learner The Peer2Peer Mentorship Following the enormous success of and what inspires them to do what they do. Programme at UCT is aimed the Mensch Network launch expo at Later the same day, Ben Getz from Urban at combating the extremely the South African Jewish Museum this Harvest Edible Gardens and Dalit Shekel from high drop-out rates of first year summer, it was decided that the expo Relate Bracelets addressed the Grade 11s students from disadvantaged should be displayed again – this time and spoke about their organisations and roles areas. installed in the Media Centre and Library and how working in the area of Social Change at Herzlia High School. was so important and satisfying for them. t is run in collaboration with the HCI The expo was on display for students to IFoundation which provides bursaries he Mensch Network collaborated with come and see and read about, in their own towards the tuition of these students, Tthe Jewish Life and Learning curriculum time, in the Media Centre, for three weeks at and the Cape SA Jewish Board of teachers Rabbi Sean Cannon and Debra Suiza the end of term one. The Mensch Network is Amy Kessler and Siwabongile Mandlevu Deputies. The Board assists in finding at the Middle School, to bring young, dynamic grateful for the warm welcome we received 3rd and 4th year students to take on Mensch Network members to speak to the from Herzlia and would like to say a special the responsibility of being a mentor for one academic year, to these first-year learners about their work and their personal thank you to Rabbi Sean for inviting us and mentees. journeys leading them to this area and sector. Head Librarian Lorraine Rabinowitz for her The mentors are given training and are supported in their first meeting with their Jason Woolf from Umbiyozo – a traditional assistance with setting up the physical expo. mentee. The group then meets three more times formally in the year for an exam African dance and song troupe co-ordinating preparation workshop, and inspirational speaker breakfast and a graduation organisation — and Kayli Levitan from The The Mensch Expo is available to be installed celebration to round off the year. In between, mentor-mentee pairs meet informally Street Store — a free pop-up clothing store for in other spaces. If you are interested at least once a month. We are delighted to have a large contingent of Jewish the homeless — spoke to the Middle School in inviting us to do so, please contact students in the mentor body in this, the 4th year of the Peer2Peer Programme. Grade 7s and 9s with stories of their initiatives [email protected] Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015 COMMUNITY & CULTURE 7 A crucial conversation: Cape Board of Deputies hosts Public Protector By Tali Feinberg In an unprecedented event, the Jewish values and traditions to effect Cape South African Jewish Board social change.” of Deputies recently hosted Public This was echoed by Gardens Synagogue Protector Thuli Madonsela and Tony Rabbi Osher Feldman, who said that the Leon in conversation. Part of the parsha of the week in fact dealt with Board’s ‘Straight Talking’ series, this accountability, describing how Moses event was entitled ‘Speaking Truth to ensured that a record was kept of all the Power.’ precious metals used to build the Mishkan. “Stories like these demonstrate how n a Gardens Shul filled with over 500 Judaism expects every person in power to Ipeople, these two leading South Africans behave beyond reproach,” he explained. spoke about the challenges, successes These ideas were emphasised by and aims of the Public Protector’s work in Advocate Madonsela herself, who said that the country today. one of her aims during her years in office While the discussion mainly focussed has been to encourage more people to be on national politics, it demonstrated the aware of corruption, engage government Jewish community’s commitment to and to expect accountability. In her humble engaging with South African society and manner, she said that “we [the office of the its challenges, and the esteem with which Public Protector] get more acclaim than it holds figures of authority, like Advocate we deserve. We are not the only problem- Tony Leon interviewing Adv Thuli Madonsela solvers — we are simply one of many.” Madonsela. come to her office, but these had not of conspiracy theories. She worried that Describing the limits and challenges of Indeed, the South African Jewish Board all been investigated to their ultimate her conversations could be tapped and her work, she told the audience that “we of Deputies “works for the betterment conclusions due to a lack of resources. that her independence and privacy could only have the power to make findings of human relations in South Africa and Getting down to ‘tachlis’ and the R246 be compromised if this was actually and recommendations,” yet she hoped debates issues of concern for all South million dollar question, in Tony Leon’s investigated. “A misuse of security can systems would be put in place to enforce Africans,” said Cape Board Chairman words; the two discussed her report on lead to a sinister agenda and outcome,” these. She said that since the fall of the Eric Marx. “We draw inspiration from our President Zuma’s Nkandla homestead. she said. Scorpions, more corruption cases had Perhaps to the disappointment Leon asked Advocate Madonsela why of the audience, Advocate she thinks she is so well-known, even being Madonsela refused to named one of TIME magazine’s ‘100 Most criticise the president directly, Influential People’, while her predecessors saying that she “tries not to were practically ‘invisible’. “They had to personalise things. We rather make simpler decisions, and had to build ask how best we can help this office from scratch. I stand on their the President regarding the shoulders, and therefore ‘higher ground’”, enforcement of ethics, and by she answered, modest and generous in extension how we can ensure her perspective. that the ethical codes of all “Justice Edwin Cameron recently said organisations are upheld.” that ‘the tide of corruption is coming higher She added that she thinks and higher, threatening democracy and all her report on Nkandla will be we hope to achieve,” said Mr Leon, asking resolved to her satisfaction, no the Public Protector if she thought this was matter how long it takes. true, and her view of the future. She agreed Turning to the recent that “we are engulfed by complaints and accusation that Madonsela do have a lack of resources,” but that “I am is a ‘CIA spy’, she said that 100% certain that things will get better.” although the claim was Questions from the audience included laughable, it was also serious asking if she had ever feared for her The Cape Board and Public Protector’s professional staff in that it leads to the dangers safety — she answered that “her family was concerned”; her plans for the future — she “has no interest in going into politics”; and why there was such a prevalence of corruption at present. To this she answered that “We are actually not the most corrupt country — we’re in fact one of the most transparent. Our Constitution is a sacrosanct agreement between citizens and those in power, and my aim is for everyone to know it, so that leaders can be held accountable.” “What I’m proud of is that South Africans are saying ‘no’ to maladministration, which is why we are hearing more about it,” she said. “There are many institutions that are successful in fighting these challenges, but this is not grounds for resting on our laurels. Every South African has to play their part.” The crowd gives a standing ovation for Adv Thuli Madonsela www.capebod.org.za 8 COMMUNITY & CULTURE Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015
View from the Chair 48th SAZF Conference 2015 By Ben Levitas, Chairman, SAZF Cape Council The 48th annual SAZF conference As Jews, we are imbued by our religion of mob justice in full view took place on 8 to value life above all else. of the public and even in March at the Sandton front of cameras. Convention Centre. e say a blessing every time we They seem to revel Wexperience something pleasant, in causing hurt and he theme of this thanking Hashem for allowing us to live suffering to their victims. Tyear’s conference to reach this special day. Our spirituality They parade their was: ‘Israel Nation instills in us a deep sense of human dignity dead and headless of Creation’. The and of human worth. Whilst we don’t deny victims as trophies to conference opened that evil exists, we are commanded to fight their frightened, bloodthirsty and baying on the preceding against it, as partners with Hashem, in the supporters. They generally show no evening with welcome process of redemption. remorse for abusing the weak and of messages from Mr. To be redeemed, we are guided by the raping women. Arthur Lenk, the Israeli words of the Baal Shem Tov, the founder All who value human rights and a caring Ambassador to South Advocate Jonathan Silke receiving an award for his outstanding contribution to the SAZF by Paula Slier of Hassidism, that ”Remembrance is the culture should be alarmed and outraged. Africa and by Mr. Secret of Redemption” and that forgetting Yet the United Human Rights Council sits Natan Sharansky, the SAZF. Mr. Silke said: “It is with much leads to exile. in silence, still obsessed with pinning the Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel. pleasure and pride that I am able to bring, “Through memory, we identify with what blame on Israel for human rights violations. Mr. Avrom Krengel, the chairman of the after serving a tumultuous term of eight happened so that it becomes part of us Its silence speaks volumes about its SAZF, then gave his official welcoming years as National President of the SAZF, and who we are. History is the story of a indifference to the real perpetrators of speech and said “that it has fallen upon a message of hope and fulfilment to the past that is dead. Memory is the story of crimes against humanity. us, as South African Jewry, to lead the fight SAZF Conference in Johannesburg.” Mr. a future. When we remember as Jews, we It is at times like these that our core against this modern day “blood libel” and Silke then continued by saying that: “we, do so for the sake of the future, so that Jewish values offer hope and illumination. to persuade the people of South Africa that together with the diaspora communities, those who died may live on in us.” (Rabbi The halachic response to these types Israel is a country worthy of their love and look forward to the time when there will be Jonathan Sacks) of tragedies and crimes is the act of support rather than hatred and enmity”. This peace between Israel and Palestine with the We are witnessing forces, drawing ‘remembering’ (Yizkor), which is an opening was then followed by two inspiring ultimate realisation of a two state solution, succor from an extremist interpretation of affirmation of life and of our respect for our speakers; Mr. Nir Barkat, the Mayor of which has been the primary objective of Islam, that are so vile and wicked, which collective consciousness. These crimes Jerusalem and Mr. Irwin Cotler, who is a successive Israeli governments since the contradict our values of humanity and of are perpetrated by barbarians who have no member of the Canadian Parliament and signing of the Oslo accords. We are keenly cherishing life. They also stand in stark memories. Rather they strive to eliminate Canada’s Minister of Justice and Attorney aware of the South African government’s contradiction to all the progress that memory and all signs of civilisations and General. Irwin Cotler has been described support for a two state solution and humanity has made. These forces are so of history. as being “at the forefront of the struggle for would like to see our government play an destructive and glorifying of death, that they The best way of fighting this scourge justice, peace and human rights.” important role in facilitating the advance of threaten the very fabric of civilisation. The of death worship is to cherish our values Advocate Jonathan Silke, the National the peace process, knowing full well that perpetrators see no shame in committing which offer a path of light and redemption President of the SAZF received an award South Africa achieved a miracle in attaining the most heinous acts of decapitation and in a world where there are few such sources. for his outstanding contribution to the a free and democratic society.” Palestinian and Greek Orthodox priest speak on Israel Monday 9 March marked the invited to meet with both beginning of what the supporters Father Naddaf and with of BDS and the PSF like to refer to Mr Eid. Father Naddaf as ‘Israel Apartheid week’. Those is an Israeli Christian who have visited Israel and are Greek Orthodox priest more informed refer to it as ‘Israel and a familiar face Awareness week’. in Israel who told the guests in attendance he various that Christianity Tevents marking would have the week were I love Israel just as never existed held on university much as the Jews without Judaism campuses across and that the South Africa. It love Israel and we Christian was an incredibly need to protect people and difficult and Israel together the Jewish emotional time for people have the Jewish students because we have same destiny and also for nowhere else to go and therefore Christian Zionists. we need to The South African support each Bassem Eid Father Gabriel Naddaf Union of Jewish Students (SAUJS) worked other. hard and were preparing long in advance Father Naddaf patriarchate spokesman, Father Naddaf is saying that things are now much worse to counter the anti-Israel stance of the BDS, continued by saying that this is his first the spiritual leader of the Christian Israeli in Gaza than they were when Gaza was PSF and the numerous other organisations visit to South Africa and that he is here IDF Recruitment Forum that encourages under Israeli sovereignty and that Gazans who would like to see the destruction of in order to inform people about the real the enlistment of Christians into the Israeli are suffering much more under their own Israel. Israel — the Israel that he knows and Defence Force. brutal regime than they are from any This year, the SAZF was very fortunate loves. “I am here to tell the truth and to After the strong words by Father Naddaf, supposed Israeli oppression. According to to host Father Gabriel Naddaf and Mr say that enough is enough, I love Israel the attendees listened to an inspiring him, it appears that the authorities in Gaza Bassem Eid who came all the way from just as much as the Jews love Israel and speech by Mr Eid who is a proud Palestinian are not interested in reaching any peace Israel in order to support the UCT students we need to protect Israel together because and who grew up in a Palestinian refugee agreement with Israel. during this hostile week. As part of the IAW we have nowhere else to go”. In addition camp. Mr Eid told us that the Palestinian After the press breakfast, Father Naddaf events, the SAZF Cape Council hosted a to being a judge of religious law for the people were the ones responsible for most and Mr. Eid conducted interviews with the press breakfast where the local press were Greek Orthodox Community and the of the damage in Gaza. He continued by SABC and journalists from Joy magazine.
www.facebook.com/pages/SA-Zionist-Federation-Cape-Council @SazfC Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015 9
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1193056_Sea Point_Announcement.indd 1 2015/04/13 9:47 AM 10 COMMUNITY & CULTURE Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015
Natan Sharansky in Cape Town Higher Education Expo
addresses Aliyah Expo he Israel Centre was proud to host numerous representatives The Israel Centre recently held an Aliyah Expo Tof Higher Education institutions and long-term MASA gap year which was informative and helpful for potential programmes in Israel. These included the IDC, Technion, Aardvark Olim. This exciting expo culminated with a Israel and Israel Experience Long-programmes amongst others spectacular address by Natan Sharansky, — there was even a current South African pupil taking part in the Chairman of the Executive of the Jewish Agency delegation. These delegates addressed an excited audience of Grade for Israel. Mr Sharansky is an ex-Soviet prisoner 11 and 12 pupils at Herzlia High School addressing their post-school and freedom fighter who discussed his harrowing options in Israel. but inspiring history.
hroughout the day people explored Israel and Tconsidered the land home, however Mr Sharansky also emphasised the importance of diaspora Jewish communities and their role in maintaining a strong Israel for the future. Mr Sharansky mentioned that assimilation is a threat to Jewish communities around the world with research showing that communities need one of two traits to maintaining Jewish continuity, strong religious observance or a strong connection to Israel. Mr Sharansky identified Cape Town as a Jewish community with admirably strong ties to Israel, warm hospitality, a caring community and the beauty of an incredible city. The enjoyable and informative day ended with a delicious wine tasting offered by a delegation from Mateh Yehuda in Israel (South Africa’s partner region in Israel within the Partnership2Gether programme) Giselle Rotman of the Technion meeting with Herzlia High school pupils at highlighting the exciting industries growing in Israel and the Higher Education Expo the strong relationships nurtured by the programme in Natan Sharansky addressing the Cape Town Jewish Community at the close of the Israel Centre South Africa. Aliyah Expo
Ex-Capetonian Mateh Yehuda vintner Paul Dubb Vintner Lin Gold with Veronica Belling at the showcasing his wine to Michael and Nicola The Knoetze family meeting with Dorron Kline of Telfed at the Aliyah Partnership2Gether Mateh Yehuda wine tasting. Ralph, at the wine tasting. Expo. To be free people in our land On the same evening as the Israeli parties — a philosophical level which • “…free…” — Questions of freedom, have mentioned, they emphasise security elections were taking place, the Israel deals with the definition of Zionism. Justice; what kind of civil society are we issues and border issues (“To be” and “in Centre and the SAZF Cape Council I would like to start with the assumption dreaming of? our land”), The Zionist Camp claim that the held a community event providing that a Zionist, in its most broad sense, is • “…People…” — Questions of nationality; focus should be on social issues, dealing some understanding around the someone who believes that Israel has the relation between State and Religion. with welfare, the economy and healthcare. foundation of the Israeli political the right to exist as a Jewish State and is • “…in our land”— Questions of borders; Both sides call themselves Zionist and system. Hagai Dagan reports back on constantly striving for a better future for what is our land? both sides have criticism toward the other this event. that state. side — and they use this to try to convince Using Makom (an educational unit of What are the right answers? What is the Israeli population to give them the e were fortunate to have the Deputy the Jewish Agency for Israel) as a tool the right priority to place within these mandate to lead the country WAmbassador of Israel, Mr Michael to examine Zionism we can translate questions? This is the debate amongst the To make it clear, the Right-wing do care Freeman, and the previous Shaliach, the aspiration of a Zionist that was just parties. about social issues and the Left-wing do Mr Yaniv Nachmias join us through mentioned above, to a sentence from Although there are many parties, the care about national security, but still have a video calls, as well as Ms Hila Zetler, the Hatikva, the Israeli National Anthem: “To political battle is between two main blocs: very different interpretation of the meaning SAZF Media Officer and I (as the current be a free people in our land”. Now, we can Right and Left. In order to try and offer an of these four questions. Community Shaliach) providing the voice break up that sentence into four different alternative to the Right-wing that has been The debate about what Zionism means is on the ground at the event. components, and ask questions about in power for the last few years, a Left-wing an important debate for the entire Jewish Prior to the elections, the different parties their meaning as follows: party and a Centrist party joined together people, although it is an insoluble dispute, had presented in their campaigns their under the name “The Zionist Camp”. it is one that is important to continue having different agendas, and argued their various • “To be…” — Questions of existence; how The Zionist Camp offered a different within a constructive and democratic standpoints. I am not going to discuss we can ensure Israel’s existence against interpretation of Zionism. While the Right- framework. Hopefully the new government the different stances, but rather point out literal threats, for example against the wing in general are more conservative, will take us a step forward along the path of a different level of debating between the Iranian threat? and regarding the four questions that we “being a free people within our land”.
www.facebook.com/pages/SA-Zionist-Federation-Cape-Council @SazfC Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015 COMMUNITY & CULTURE 11 South Africa visit for Lone Soldiers’ Luncheon in Telfed CEO memory of Aubrey Diamond (z”l) Telfed CEO Dorron Kline travelled to South Friday 20 March Africa in March for a two-week visit where he marked the first was a guest of the Israel Centre. biannual event to acknowledge e met with many community leaders, and thank lone Hbuilding bonds between the Southern African soldiers in Israel. communities in Israel and South Africa, raising awareness of Telfed’s fundamental role for South he idea was African Jewry and laying the groundwork for Tborn out of a fruitful collaborations. desire to remember Dorron was a guest at this year’s SAZF Aubrey Diamond Conference at the Sandton Conference Centre, Dorron Kline, Telfed CEO, with prospective olim Z”L, a South Johannesburg; the 48th event of its kind. The African man with a During the two days of the conference, Dorron demand for the conference was evident from the giant heart and a worked flat-out offering advice and direction to Dorron Kline and Susan Sharon (Telfed staff) greeting a 1500 strong crowd that attended on the opening love for soldiers in lone soldier – March 2015 many potential Olim. night. Even the vitriolic protests staged outside the the IDF. He also attended a number of professional venue by the BDS Movement and Anti-Jewish and His daughter Nicci Diamond-Levenstein, together with Susan Sharon, the meetings, addressed over 400 congregants at four anti-Israel activists were not enough to deter the Klita Counselor at Telfed, created a day in which Lone Soldiers from South Johannesburg synagogues and was interviewed crowd who wished to participate . Africa and Australia could be acknowledged and thanked for the vital and twice on the local Jewish radio station “Chai FM. courageous role they play in the IDF. The event was hosted Telfed Ethiopian Community Initiative at the Michael Levin Lone Soldier Centre in On Sunday 22 March, several representatives of Telfed attended a heart- Tel Aviv and attended warming Children’s Pesach Seder held in the Maksam Centre in Hadera. by the lone soldiers and Telfed volunteers. early 50 primary school children of Ethiopian origin enjoyed an hour singing “Thank you so much,” Ntraditional Pesach songs (including Echad Mi Yodea) with great enthusiasm, said Tanya, one of the asking the Four Questions and reading about the Four Sons. female lone soldiers. The gathering was partly funded by donations secured by TECI, the Telfed “Our families are so far Ethiopian Community Initiative. away. It means a lot to Dorron Kline, CEO of Telfed, held a lively interactive session with the children, us that we can turn to challenging them with questions and answers about Pesach and the importance Telfed to help care for of the concept of “Dayenu”. us here.” TECI has been involved in upgrading the computer centre at Maksam; It is our intention to sponsoring parent and child participation in a unique summer programme host such events in the focusing on relationships, learning about Zionism, Yiddishkeit, Jewish History future before Pesach and culture. The group visits the Kotel, Yad Vashem, Mt. Hertzl and other and Rosh Hashanah. Ethiopian children ready to enjoy their seder important sites.
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Elections for the 20th Knesset were held in Israel on 17 March 2015. The final voter turnout was 72.3% - 4.6% higher than in the previous election and the highest since the 1999 elections, which had seen a 78.7% turnout. The incumbent Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, confirmed a victory in the election for Likud. Initially, exit polls reported a virtual tie between the Likud and the Zionist Union — a coalition headed by Leader of the Opposition Isaac Herzog and former Justice Minister Tzipi Livni. The CJC asked two community members to reflect on the results and give their opinions on the ramifications for Israel in the near future.
enjamin Netanyahu’s victory in the any State of Palestine. Surely even the most sraeli Prime Minister Benjamin he has accused the Europeans of Brecent Israeli elections was a decisive blinkered among us can grasp that the Arab INetanyahu’s ruling Likud Party plotting to overthrow him — a clearly moment in safeguarding Israel’s future. It and Muslim world has changed. In this scored a resounding victory in the baseless charge. reflected an understanding deep within new ISIS world, Netanyahu will not commit country’s recent election. Pre-election Netanyahu has earned the distrust Israeli society of the realities facing their national suicide by abandoning Judea and opinion polls indicated that he was in and resentment of his critics. Anybody nation in these days. It demonstrated Samaria. He will not allow ‘Hamastan’ on trouble; chief rival Isaac Herzog of the who has followed Israeli politics courage to face those realities head on, his eastern border the way it is in Gaza. Zionist Union enjoyed a slight lead. knows that Netanyahu’s promises irrespective of the tide of international and It is crucial for the safekeeping not just of Exit polls then showed the two camps stand for nothing. Every Israeli has media opinion. Israel but also of the West that Islamists are deadlocked but once the final results been let down by Netanyahu on one Netanyahu’s crushing defeat of the denied any more territory. were in it was confirmed that Likud or other front: He says that tens of Hertzog/Livni duo shows how the pre- Herzog and Livni are fully committed to was the winner. thousands of apartments are being election media hype and exit polls were re-igniting the peace process and working Netanyahu’s victory took a number built but where are these affordable hopelessly wrong and completely out of towards a so-called two state solution, of Israelis by surprise. Many perceive apartments? He says we defeated touch with Israeli society as a whole. which in its essence is a land for peace Netanyahu as a man living in a bubble, Hamas in Operation Protective Edge One of the criticisms of Netanyahu’s agreement. Have they chosen to forget as a politician who is disconnected — but Hamas is visible from Kibbutz government has been its lack of attention the disaster that was the land for peace from the real issues faced by the Nahal Oz; Netanyahu says he is the to the dire state of housing and cost of disengagement from Gaza? Israel gave Israeli public and whose own life no victim of a worldwide plot — where living in Israel today. The Left-led Zionist the land but never got the peace. Instead, longer reflects reality. These Israelis and what is this plot? It’s as if his Union alliance wholeheartedly concerned the area has been transformed into one big were desperate for a change. sense of reality has become warped. itself with these issues. True, these social rocket launching pad. Is this what they want Netanyahu won the 2009 election Like many of his predecessors, he has problems must be addressed more closely for Judea, Samaria and even Jerusalem? with the slogan “Netanyahu strong reached a point in his career in which and Netanyahu has stated his commitment Netanyahu will not be pushed around or on Hamas”, which brought us to the personal vendettas, hatred and fear to do just that. forced to give away yet more longest continuous become his primary Like people the world over, Social and land to a ‘partner’ that seeks conflict in Israel’s Many perceive driving forces. That Israelis care about paying his nation’s destruction. If history since the War cannot be good news their rent and the price of economic the withdrawal from Gaza of Independence Netanyahu as for his upcoming term bread. However, in today’s issues are very is an advertisement for (Operation Protective a man living in as Prime Minister. climate, something else that important but for the land for peace mantra Edge which lasted a bubble, as a Netanyahu’s victory Israelis have to care about then it is clearly time to 50 days). He ignored in the election comes is whether or not they will be Israel there are start singing a new tune. many opportunities politician who on the back of his alive to eat that bread. even more crucial Any political party or leader to solve the conflict is disconnected supposed strength Benjamin Netanyahu is matters at stake. who persists with the same in a multilateral way from the real regarding security firmly committed to issues of failed, regressive policies of with other countries issues. The failures security and Israel’s survival. land for peace is doing so in the region. Instead, issues faced by of our prime minister Social and economic issues are very to Israel’s detriment. Thankfully, Netanyahu Israel left Gaza with no the Israeli public during his prolonged important but for Israel there are even more will not submit to such folly. clear achievements, and whose own term in office has crucial matters at stake. Even one of Israel’s veteran Arab Moslem no real change in life no longer caused significant But wait, according to the Left all this talk journalists, Khaled Abu Toameh, lambasted these conditions and damage to Israel’s of existential threat and security concerns the nature of the peace process. He said, with many people just reflects reality. security. are nothing but scare mongering and fear “Under the current circumstances, where waiting for the next An equally serious tactics. Really? some Palestinians continue to seek the round to start. I was not failing on the security Somebody’s got their head in the sand. destruction of Israel and others are unable against the mission — Hamas firing front has been his inability to see Netanyahu is a leader who discerns the to make any concessions for peace, any rockets left Israel with no other choice and seize the security and political very real threats facing his country and talk about the resumption of the peace but to fight back — but Netanyahu opportunities created by years of who is determined to defend and protect process is nothing but a silly joke.” missed every single opportunity to regional upheavals, which have his kinsmen. During the Second World War A healthy dose of reality, however solve the conflict and open a route for weakened most of Israel’s main rivals many could not bring themselves to believe unpleasant and inconvenient it may be, open dialogue with moderate forces in and created a common interest not that the evil rhetoric of Hitler would actually is needed for those who insist on giving the Middle East. just between those countries with translate into action. Benjamin Netanyahu is land away on a silver platter and engaging It feels like in this campaign as well which we have already signed peace a man who has learnt from history, whose with lunatics determined to build nuclear as in the past six years, Netanyahu accords — Jordan and Egypt — but head is not in the sand and who will do weapons — and use them. forgot the real things that matter to also governments from North Africa everything in his power to prevent a second Netanyahu has taken a resolute stand the majority of Israelis. He stated that to the Persian Gulf. A rare window of Holocaust against his people. against those seeking to compromise Iran is the biggest threat to Israel’s opportunity was opened up for a new Israel, like every country, has a long list of Israel’s security. Disrespectful Obama security. There are many more issues dynamic in the region — a dynamic of problems ranging from the cost of living to and hateful Europe cannot be allowed that are as important as dealing with dialogue, calm, political agreements minority rights to deal with. It’s not that the to call the shots when it comes to Israel’s Iran — the relationship between the and security pacts. Netanyahu missed domestic, internal struggles of Israeli society identity, safety and future. If the American US and Israel, for example. Speaking this opportunity with his aggressive do not matter or are somehow irrelevant to administration wants to punish and isolate at the American Congress, behind foreign policy actions. the greater struggles that Likud is focusing Netanyahu for actually leading his own Obama’s back and against his will, Netanyahu hasn’t done much to deal on. They do matter. Netanyahu has country and not bowing down to Obama’s isn’t the way to deal with the situation. with the criticism Israel has received acknowledged that. However, unlike most wishes then healthy diplomacy has suffered Due to Netanyahu’s speech and his in the international community. There other countries, Israel also has genocidal a tragic blow. refusal to follow protocol regarding are more and more countries calling neighbours like Hamas, Hezbollah and At the end of the day Netanyahu has proven this visit, Obama stated that the US will Israel an apartheid state. Israelis who Iran breathing down her neck. How could himself to be the leader that the majority of rethink the automatic protection Israel have witnessed the occupation first security not be a primary issue? Israelis feel they need. Their alternative was has in the UN. Iran is an important hand know we are not at that point yet, Regarding creating a Palestinian a prime ministerial duumvirate that would issue — but we cannot disregard but without a major change, it could state under the current circumstances, submit to Obama and continue forward with other important issues, such as the deteriorate into some problematic Netanyahu has a clear understanding a flawed and dangerous ‘peace’ process relationship with Israel’s biggest ally. situations. It is unlikely that these of the bigger picture. Who could really full of short-sighted strategies. And if that is not enough, he has changes will occur in Netanyahu’s doubt that a state of Palestine today would By voting for Netanyahu the majority of undermined the international entities next term. unavoidably become yet another proxy of Israelis have voiced their agreement that that are working tirelessly to thwart The centre-left camp woke up to the Iran and others? For a number of years it Israel’s security concerns are legitimate Iran’s nuclear aspirations, and similarly results on 18 March realising that their has been easy to see that if Israel left Judea and paramount. They have expressed their has eroded their support of his anti- hope for a better future in Israel had and Samaria, Mahmoud Abbas would never desire to preserve their ancient, Jewish Hamas stance. His behaviour over not come to pass, and we can only have been able to withstand Hamas. Today, homeland and they have chosen a leader the past two years is endangering the hope for a better tomorrow in internal Hamas is but one in a queue of increasingly who will lead with bravery, courage and very fabric of our strategic relationship and external affairs. Right now, Israel’s more barbaric groups poised to take over conviction. with the United States; and, recently future looks uncertain. Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015 13 14 COMMUNITY & CULTURE Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015 Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015 15
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RE/MAX Living Sea Point | Camps Bay | City Bowl Office 021 423 4488 | ww.remaxliving.co.za Each office independantly owned & operated 16 COMMUNITY & CULTURE Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015 Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015 COMMUNITY & CULTURE 17 18 COMMUNITY & CULTURE Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015 Likud SA: Growing and Protecting South African Zionism “Israel must always choose strength” — Menachem Begin The people Jewish people. exiled, we are enslaved, we rebel, we honor. These, of Israel have Fifth, stand united in the face of the liberate ourselves, we are oppressed I believe, are spoken and enemy. We Jews love life, for life is holy. once more, we rebuild, and again we the underlying thankfully But there are things in life more precious suffer destruction, climaxing in our own lessons to Benyamin than life itself. There are times when one lifetime in the calamity of calamities, the be learned Netanyahu must risk life for the sake of rescuing Holocaust, followed by the rebirth of the from the prevailed in the Israel elections. the lives of others. And when the few Jewish State. unspeakable tragedy of the Holocaust.” risk their own lives for the sake of the So, yes, we have come full circle, Menachem Begin rightfully said what riting in Arutz Sheva, Ronn Torossian many, then they, too, stand the chance of and with G-d’s help, with the rebirth of needed to be said. And no matter what W(CEO of 5WPR, one of the largest PR saving themselves. sovereign Israel we have finally broken the President Barack Obama says, Israel agencies in the USA) declared that “despite Sixth, there is a pattern to Jewish historic cycle: no more destruction and no must continue to do what is needed to the US Government relentlessly going after history. In our long annals as a nation, more defeats, and no more oppression protect the Jewish nation. Netanyahu in the aftermath of his victory, we rise, we fall, we return, we are — only Jewish liberty, with dignity and Israel must always choose strength” – quoting the words of the great Jewish leader, Menachem Begin, who as Prime Minister in 1981 spoke the following words: US-Israel cooperation defies “I believe the lessons of the Holocaust are these. Obama-Netanyahu confrontation First, if an enemy of our people says he By Ambassador (ret.) Yoram Ettinger 27 March 2015 seeks to destroy us, believe him. Don’t doubt him for a moment. Don’t make light of it. Do efense, scientific and commercial battle experience. Joint US-Israel air in all areas — has been a systematic all in your power to deny him the means of Dco-operation between the US force exercises are conducted regularly. supporter of enhanced US-Israel co- carrying out his satanic intent. and Israel is surging unprecedentedly, US Army units on their way to Afghanistan operation. The US political system Second, when a Jew anywhere in the world in defiance of the unbridgeable gap are trained by Israeli experts in urban provides Congress with the muscle to is threatened or under attack, do all in your between the worldviews of President warfare, car bombs, suicide bombers initiate policy and change, suspend, power to come to his aid. Never pause to Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu. and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). de-fund rollback and abort presidential wonder what the world will think or say. The For example, 250 major US high- Contrary to the one-way-street type domestic, foreign policy and national world will never pity slaughtered Jews. The tech companies maintain research and of relationship of 40 years ago (the US security initiatives. world may not necessarily like the fighting development centres in Israel, which has gave and Israel received), current US- Unlike US ties with most other Jew, but the world will have to take account become a major source of cutting-edge Israel ties have been transformed into countries, US special ties with the of him. innovative technologies, improving US a mutually-beneficial two-way-street, Jewish State reflect the sentiments of Third, a Jew must learn to defend himself. competitiveness, increasing US exports expanding cooperation — especially at most constituents, independent and He must forever be prepared for whenever and expanding US employment. a time of drastic cuts in the US defense irrespective of presidential policies. They threat that looms. In 2014, Israeli startups raised an all- budget and the US withdrawal from Iraq, are based on Judeo-Christian values, Fourth, Jewish dignity and honor must time record of $3.4bn, mostly from US Afghanistan and Yemen — irrespective of dating back to the 17th century Pilgrims. be protected in all circumstances. The investors. Israel operates hundreds of US the intensified tension between Obama Today, there are statues of Moses in the seeds of Jewish destruction lie in passively military and homeland security systems, and Netanyahu. US House of Representatives (facing the enabling the enemy to humiliate us. Only providing the US defense industries with While President Obama harshly Speaker) and the US Supreme Court when the enemy succeeds in turning the critical lessons of operation, maintenance criticises Prime Minister Netanyahu's (above the desk of the Justices), and Ten spirit of the Jew into dust and ashes in life, and repairs, which dramatically upgrade attitude toward the Palestinian issue, Commandments monuments stand on can he turn the Jew into dust and ashes in the quality of those systems. US national security and commercial the grounds of the Texas and Oklahoma death. During the Holocaust it was after the US-Israel co-operation in the areas of interests, as well as US-Israel relations state capitols. enemy had humiliated the Jews, trampled cyber, nano and space technologies is and Obama's legacy transcend, by far, For Netanyahu to embrace Obama's them underfoot, divided them, deceived rising sharply. Israel provides the US with the Palestinian issue. policies on Iran and the Palestinian issue them, afflicted them, drove brother against intelligence, exceeding the intelligence While Obama and Netanyahu are on would spare him the wrath of the White brother, only then could he lead them, almost provided to the US by all NATO countries a collision course, the US Congress — House, but would distance him from without resistance, to the gates of Auschwitz. combined. The formulation of US battle the most authentic representative of the Middle East reality, dooming the Jewish Therefore, at all times and whatever the tactics, in general — and urban warfare, American constituent and a co-equal, State to destruction. cost, safeguard the dignity and honor of the in particular, is based largely on Israel's co-determining branch of government "Congratulations to Likud!" In a "Special have been receiving emails, Facebook Rev Kenneth Meshoe you all, and thanking God for Celebration Message" Imessages and phone calls — many emailed, “Even though I will answered prayer. Bless you all.” on the morning of informing me that they and many of their sadly not be with you during Luigi Bonfig (former Wednesday 18 March, members were praying and fasting for the celebration in Cape Chairman, SAUJS Cape David Abel (National Likud's success in the elections. Town, please know that Region) said, “I wish all Vice-Chairman of When one considers that US my family, ACDP members Likudniks a hearty mazel LikudSA & Chairman, President, Barak Obama; the and DEISI International are tov and chazak to the new LikudSA Cape) overwhelming majority of the world's rejoicing with Likud SA over Netanyahu-led government. e-mailed Likudniks as politicians and media; as well as many the stunning victory that May Israel prosper, grow under To join Likud SA worldwide Jewish and other Leftists — Prime Minister Benjamin his leadership and may Am follows: Reverend Kenneth (Cape Region) all demonised Netanyahu and wanted Netanyahu and Likud Israel stand in unity.” contact David Abel: Meshoe hat a good day david@sazionism. him replaced as Prime Minister (with have achieved against Rev Albert Mabenga wrote, “Wit is today! The co.za or 0823496018 the chant “anyone but Netanyahu”) — all odds. VIVA PRIME “G-d has spoken clearly sun is shining, the birds Likud's achievement in turning around MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU and He answered the prayers of all are singing in the trees the significantly negative position in VIVA!!! VIVA LIKUD VIVA!!! Wishing you those praying for a strong right wing and Likudniks the world over are celebrating the pre-election polls into a remarkable a very successful celebration and G-d’s government in His nation a landslide election victory in Israel. And victory, brings to mind what Menachem richest blessings.” “He is the One who raises Israeli Jabotinsky must be smiling in heaven! Likud's Begin used to say: “Man proposes; Typical of many such messages, Beryl leaders up and He removes them. massive victory is so much sweeter as it comes and God disposes! Israel Likud's and Don Loram of Belville emailed, Yes miracles are still happening in against all the odds! Many, many people were inspiring victory truly exhilarates and “We have been praying and fasting for Israel. Congratulations to Likud for the praying and fasting — and eventually Divine motivates LikudSA to continue carrying Israel and for Netanyahu in particular outcome of what may amount to be Providence was revealed in all its glory this the Jabotinsky legacy forward into the — we are so thrilled for the victory; we the most strategically important Israeli morning. future. Am Yisrael Chai!” have been celebrating in our hearts with election.” Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015 COMMUNITY & CULTURE 19 ORT SA CAPE hosts successful annual fundraiser Eric and Sheila magic show performance by renowned magician Jacques ORT SA CAPE is an accredited B-BBEE organisation Samson hosted the le Seuer. (Level2) and you will receive a Section 18A Certificate for ORT SA CAPE annual Berg Rivier Secondary School in Wellington is one of your donation. fundraiser event the beneficiaries of ORT SA CAPE’s Constructive After www.ortsacape.org.za. at their beautiful School Programme for EnRichment (CASPER). This farm, Klein Cabriere, CASPER drama group performed a poem, ‘Dream in Franschhoek on Chaser’ to the 200 adults and 100 children. They were Sunday 15 March. well-rehearsed, confident and their message was well thought out and communicated. Their performance uests arrived to the brought tears to the eyes of many guests. Gbeautiful sounds of Ariella Kuper conducted a successful auction in her Two Flutes and enjoyed inimitable style, raising funds for the ORT SA CAPE delicious starters under CASPER programme. The function ended on a sweet the oak trees. After Dr note while guests enjoyed dessert. Lydia Abel, Director A special thank you to the Samson family for their of ORT SA CAPE, generosity and to all our friends for their ongoing welcomed all to enjoy commitment to ORT SA CAPE. a wonderful day, Merle ORT SA CAPE prides itself on development for social Rubin served a splendid change; opening minds, getting children off the street lunch and guests into enriching learning experiences and balancing this Dr Lydia Abel, Director of ORT enjoyed the humorous with helping teachers engage with their challenges. SA CAPE Guests enjoying the luncheon catered by Merle Rubin
Berg Rivier Secondary drama group, part of ORT SA CAPE’s Constructive After School Programme for EnRichment in Wellington Children at the robotics station — one of the many activities provided on the day
Deloitte Western Cape and ORT JET invite you to a Women’s Work–Life Integration Breakfast
Work-life integration … Myth or Anthea Scholtz – Deloitte Partner Anthea is the chairperson of Deloitte Women in Leadership in the Western Cape and serves reality? Come and join our panel on the boards of Deloitte Southern Africa and Deloitte Africa. She is the leader of the of successful business women for national Tax Oil and Gas Industry team for South Africa and heads up the Global Employer a lively and robust discussion on Services unit for Deloitte in the Western Cape. this complex, yet very important Lara Rosmarin – Co-Founder and CEO: Seed Academy | Executive Director: topic which impacts our lives daily. Seed Engine Business Accelerator With a passion for philanthropy and a background in behaviour risk management, Lara has Our panel will also share their advised some of SA’s top companies on their CSI strategies. Through Seed Academy, she experiences and practical tips on educates and empowers entrepreneurs to take control of their destinies. She is the author of the best-selling children’s book, A Magical Day for Dreaming, of which all proceeds go to how they are striving to attain charity. integration in their lives. Vanessa Borchers – Deloitte Partner Vanessa has worked for Deloitte in the United States, The Netherlands and South Africa, where she has served large multinationals in various industries and capacities, including as Date: 5 June 2015 an audit partner and lead client service partner. She is also the Global Diversity Leader for Time: 07h30 for 08h00 until 10h00 Deloitte worldwide. Venue: Deloitte, First Floor, The Cape Quarter, 27 Somerset Road, Green Point Nina le Riche – Deloitte Partner RSVP: [email protected] Nina is the leader of the Risk Advisory practice of Deloitte in the Western Cape and leader or 021 448 8516 by Friday, 29 May 2015 of the Governance service line for Deloitte Africa. She specialises in financial services, with a particular focus on market conduct.
© 2015 Deloitte & Touche. All rights reserved. Member of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.
Ortjet Advertorial.indd 1 2015/04/02 9:00 AM 20 COMMUNITY & CULTURE Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015 Family Announcements People ask the Darndest Things By Gwynne Robins – Deputy Director of the Cape SA Jewish Board of Deputies
CONDOLENCES — THANK YOU The Jewish Board of Deputies is known for monitoring Anti-Semitism, networking with government and building bridges with other faith communities. CECIL LEVITT HAZEL WINER lesser known role is that of providing an information resource on Jewish life and Berenice, Janis, Dalida, Justin I cannot find sufficient words to A history. One way it does that is through its annual Guide to Jewish Southern Africa and families sincerely thank Rabbi express my gratitude and deepest and through the recently launched Map to Jewish Cape Town produced with the help of Wineberg, Rabbi Liebenberg, Rabbi and sincere appreciation for the Marco van Embden and Philip Todres. Knof, Basil Sacks, family and friends unbelievable kindness and support The Board receives numerous queries from Jews and non-Jews. Here are some of the for the love and support on the received on the sudden passing of my more unusual ones. passing of our beloved husband, beloved wife on the 22 February. Where can I buy a shofar? Our church in Can you answer the following questions? father and grandfather. Our two daughters Belinda and Alison Elsie’s River is having trouble with the My 8 year old granddaughter’s class is and our four grandchildren share my Council over building permits. We want studying religions and she got Judaism. Cecil will always be remembered message of appreciation. to blow a shofar at the four corners of our Ask your granddaughter to phone me. It is with love for his positive loving Special thanks to all those who property like the Holy Book says, in case it her project. caring nature and the lessons which provided us with so much sustenance will help. Reply: She is far too busy with ballet. we have learnt from him. at this very difficult and painful time. I gave them the name of shops. They never We also extend grateful thanks to phoned back to tell me if it worked I have a very difficult neighbour. Temple Israel for their wonderful Would it be anti-Semitic if I complain? support, and extra special thanks to Can you lend me a Jewish scarf so that I You see she is Jewish and I am German. To place a family announcement, Rabbis Richard Newman and Greg can dress like Jesus at Easter? You get good and bad Jews just as you get email: [email protected] or phone Alexander who were both outstanding. (after referring to a rabbi). Unfortunately good and bad Germans and good and bad Tessa 021 464 6736 (9am — 1pm) Selwyn Winer as it will be Passover at the same time, people. If she were my neighbour, I would taleisim will be in use. also complain. I am being victimized by a neo-Nazi Quick, I am doing a crossword — what cult who can hear every word I say is a small Israeli coin in six letters, the through the electric wires in my house first and third letters are “a”? and the television. Agarot I got her rabbi to contact her family to tell them she needed treatment Do Jewish people anoint themselves with Important information: oil? I will be visiting South Africa from No. America. My parents were German Jewish All donations to Glendale are tax refugees who lived in Sea Point. My deductible Hi. I am Muhammed and I am giving a mother died when I was small and my talk on divorce in Islam, Christianity and father remarried. His wife divorced him Thank you most sincerely for your continued support. Judaism. Could you give me information moving to Johannesburg with my half- Our residents are most grateful on Jewish divorce? sister. I was sent to my uncle in London. Certainly, just give me your e-mail address I am now 80 and I would like to find my and good luck with your talk.(and then I half-sister. With the help of Charisse Zeifert of SAJBD, Our well-known Shabbat, miniature Shabbat and Yartzeit candles and googled the answer, which he could have done himself) notices in community newspapers, and Shabbat glass candle holders are now available from all supermarkets an amateur genealogist who spotted the and at our office. (two years later), Where can one buy notice, we were able to find his half-sister anointing oil? who knew nothing about him or her father Getting married overseas? Ask your guests to donate to Glendale I am afraid you have stumped me there. I and there was an emotional reunion in Home in lieu of wedding gifts. An appropriate letter will be sent to the do not know. Pretoria. bride and groom advising them of your donation. No amount will be Who says life at the Board is not interesting? disclosed. For further details contact the office. Glendale Greeting Service: Letters can be sent to loved ones for birthdays, wedding anniversaries and chaggim or any special occasion. BIRZH – BIRZAI, LITHUANIA Make use of this service, which is available worldwide. Did your ancestors come from Birzh, a small town in the northeast of Lithuania? If so please advise who they are and provide contact details. We hope to have a memorial with the names of the murdered Jews created at the killing site just Tins: If your tin needs collecting, please phone the office outside the town - as has been done in other Lithuanian towns such as Plungian tel: (021) 712 0270 fax: (021) 712 0873 and Keidan. 10 Galway Road Heathfield PO Box 40 Bergvliet 7864 The Lithuanians in Birzai, who have created a Tolerance Centre in their local high www.glendalehome.co.za email: [email protected] school, are also keen to have a panel about the Jews in their local museum in Glendale activities now on YouTube — search ‘Glendale Cape Town’ which Jews are currently not represented. Do you have any photos of Birzai in the period before the Nazi Holocaust? If so could you please scan them (300 dpi) and send them to us. Please let us hear from you on both queries. You can contact us at [email protected] or [email protected]
Rubi and Anne With Compliments With compliments Chaitman FREDDY AND from Ben Rabinowitz in Foundation AGGIE HIRSCH memory of Shirley
THE CAPE JEWISH COMMUNITY RECORDS ITS GR ATITUDE AND APPRECIATION TO OUR PATRONS FOR THEIR GENEROUS SPONSORSHIP OF THE ‘CAPE JEWISH CHRONICLE’
Meyer Hirsch THE HAROLD AND Paul Arieli Goldschmidt BEATRICE KRAMER Goldschmidt Foundation FOUNDATION Family Trust Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015 opinion 21 Is ‘Mein Kampf’ a learning tool, or too offensive and dangerous to reissue? By Robert Gluck/JNS.org
Given the current climate of rising anti- based on the current research knowledge the most definitive books on the subject Semitism in Europe and elsewhere, on the origins of National Socialism and the is “Hitler: A Biography,” by Ian Kershaw, is it too offensive and dangerous to Third Reich, to deconstruct the ideological a modern history professor emeritus at reissue Adolph Hitler’s “Mein Kampf” theories of the book and its racist agenda the United Kingdom-based University of autobiographical manifesto? Critics of to prevent further misinformation.” Sheffield who was given the German award the book’s planned republication say Some Jewish leaders have expressed of the Federal Cross of Merit in 1994. yes. But others believe that with the concern about the reissuing of “Mein Kershaw believes “Mein Kampf” provides proper annotation and commentary, Kampf” amid the uptick in global anti- important insights into Hitler’s thinking in the book can be an important learning Semitism. Levi Salomon, a spokesman the mid-1920s. tool. for the Berlin-based Jewish Forum for “By then,” Kershaw wrote, “he had Democracy and Against Anti-Semitism, developed a philosophy that afforded him hen “Mein Kampf” (translated in told The Washington Post, “I am absolutely a complete interpretation of history, of the WEnglish as “My Struggle”) was first against the publication of ‘Mein Kampf,’ ills of the world, and how to overcome published in 1925, it sold poorly. Next year, even with annotations. Can you annotate them. Tersely summarized, it boiled a new edition will go on sale in bookstores the Devil? Can you annotate a person down to a simplistic, Manichean view in Germany for the first time in 75 years. The like Hitler? This book is outside of human of history as racial struggle, in which the state of Bavaria has owned the German logic.” highest racial entity, the Aryan, was being The first edition of Adolf Hitler's book, Mein Kampf, on exhibition at the German copyright to the book and has legally Ronald S. Lauder, president of the World undermined and destroyed by the lowest, Historical Museum in Berlin. Credit: Anton blocked attempts to print it. The copyright Jewish Congress, wrote in a letter to The the parasitic Jew.” Huttenlocher via Wikimedia expires this December, and the Munich- New York Times, “Because of Germany’s Many of Hitler’s contemporaries “made Holocaust.” based Institute for Contemporary History history, publishing it there again at a time a mistake in treating ‘Mein Kampf’ with Asked to address criticism of the book’s (IfZ) plans on reissuing an annotated of rising anti-Semitism would be a travesty. ridicule and not taking the ideas Hitler reissuing, Brechtken told JNS.org, “We version of “Mein Kampf” full of criticism Only recently, Germany elected a neo- expressed there extremely seriously,” understand and respect the feelings and analysis that will stretch its original size Nazi deputy to the European Parliament, Kershaw explained. and views of those who have suffered from 700 pages to nearly 2,000. showing that the Hitler virus has yet to be “However base and repellent they as victims of National Socialism, and we IfZ is regarded as the world’s leading stamped out.” were, they amounted to a set of clearly respect their feelings of uneasiness and institute for the research of National “What would the Holocaust survivors established and rigidly upheld political concern at the thought of seeing the text Socialism — also known as Nazism. and their relatives think if they visit a principles,” he wrote. being republished.” Founded after World War II, the institute German bookstore and see Hitler’s book Kershaw actually started his career as a “The text is a historical source which has the goals of examining how National on the shelves?” added Lauder. “We historian at IfZ. Known as a “structuralist” must be analyzed to understand the link Socialism took root in Germany and must do everything we can to prevent the — in line with the theory of humankind between the formulation of anti-Semitism understanding the reasons behind the pre- publication and mass distribution of ‘Mein in which all elements of human culture, before 1933 and Hitler failure of German democracy. Kampf.’ We owe it to Hitler’s victims.” including literature, anti-Semitic political As far as “Mein But Dr. Jürgen are thought to be “Like any other document actions after 1933,” he Kampf” goes, its text Matthäus — director parts of a system of said. is widely available “This book is most evil; of applied research signs — Kershaw sees that pertains to this “It is important to even without IfZ’s new at the United States the structures of the it is the worst anti- piece of history, there is analyze this historical edition. Holocaust Memorial Nazi state as far more Semitic pamphlet and a need for [‘Mein Kampf’] text to deconstruct “The book was Museum’s Jack, important than the the myths which printed in its German a guidebook for the Joseph and Morton personality of Hitler (or to be out there, to be produced anti- version in more than Holocaust.” Mandel Center for any other individual) in researched, and to be Semitism at the time, 12 million copies,” Advanced Holocaust explaining the way Nazi acknowledged.” to deconstruct racist Magnus Brechtken, Studies — agrees Germany developed. worldviews in general, deputy director of IfZ, told JNS.org. with IfZ’s Brechtken. Speaking as an In particular, Kershaw and to prevent racist “Many hundred thousands of these expert on Nazi propaganda and not as a subscribes to the view adopted by the ideologies from ever coming close to copies have survived the Third Reich and representative of the museum, Matthäus German historian Hans Mommsen that political power again. With a critical edition are available in academic libraries and told JNS.org that the reissuing of “Mein Nazi Germany was a chaotic collection as the IfZ currently works on we assume antiquarian bookshops. The German text Kampf” might have a fairly minimal impact of rival bureaucracies in perpetual power to aim for the same overall objective — to is also available through the Internet. The on readership. struggles with each other. In Kershaw’s fight racism and anti-Semitism.” copyright of the English translation was “Those who have a right-wing philosophy estimation, the Nazi dictatorship was not a Matthäus argued, “Like any other sold in the 1930s and the book has been have access to ‘Mein Kampf’ anyway,” totalitarian monolith, but rather an unstable document that pertains to this piece of in print ever since. The English version Matthäus said. “My hope would be, and coalition of several blocs in a “power history, there is a need for [‘Mein Kampf’] has been constantly available all over the I hope also the hope of those putting the cartel” comprising the Nazi Party, big to be out there, to be researched, and to be world.” new edition together in Germany, that business, the German state bureaucracy, acknowledged.” Though the copyright expiring at the end the general public would be aware of the the army, and the SS police. Each of the “What is missing is the critical of this year prevents the republication of additional context that would be taken into “power blocs,” according to this view, were engagement of [‘Mein Kampf’] by scholars “Mein Kampf,” it has “no influence on the account. The general readership would divided into several factions. who know the history and can put that in given availability of the text,” according to benefit from this [new] critical edition by But for some whose primary concern the right context,” said Matthäus. “The Brechtken. finding out more about the context in is contemporary anti-Semitism, such worst thing that can happen is to put “It is an open question whether or not the which this document emerged, and also historical details are not the point in any this into the poison cabinet and make it end of copyright will make any difference to the context that is needed to understand discussion of “Mein Kampf.” Charlotte inaccessible and prohibit the use of it, and the availability of the text,” he said. “Should it properly.” Knobloch, head of the Jewish community thus create, or enhance, the myth that this there be re-publications of the original text To understand “Mein Kampf,” experts in Munich, told Time magazine, “This is something that the establishment, or without any comments, it is even more say, it is important to understand its author. book is most evil; it is the worst anti- these evil powers or conspiratorial forces, urgent to have a critical edition which is Matthäus and Brechtken agree that one of Semitic pamphlet and a guidebook for the don’t want the general public to see.”
With compliments The Susman With compliments The Jack & Ethel Charitable Inge Marks and family Goldin Foundation Foundation in memory of Solly THE CAPE JEWISH COMMUNITY RECORDS ITS GR ATITUDE AND APPRECIATION TO OUR PATRONS FOR THEIR GENEROUS SPONSORSHIP OF THE ‘CAPE JEWISH CHRONICLE’
With compliments With compliments Stanley and Zea With Compliments The Henry Van Embden Lewis Kalman, Esther and Family Foundation Foundation www.stonehage.com Michael Maisel Trust 22 COMMUNITY & CULTURE Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015
Members of The Union of Jewish Women are committed to investing in the people of South Africa and endeavour to create a better life for all South Africans. Cape Town
Blankets knitted for Glendale Therapies at Herzlia Cookie Icing with Tikva Donation in lieu of a gift Launch of the 33rd Women's Jewish Community Fund
Our three ideals are: • Tzedakah - to embrace material and spiritual generosity and thereby promote righteousness and justice • Feminism and the promotion of women’s rights • A broad humanity - undenominational, educational and philanthropic. With your help, we can continue to provide support for: • The Malacha Fund Emergency assistance for individual members of the Jewish community • Oranjia • Glendale • Highlands House • Kosher Meals on Wheels • Tikvah - supplementary food parcels for Jewish families in need • Friendship Club - once a month lunches for Jewish seniors • Adult Education • Therapies at Herzlia • Bobba’s Trip • Bursaries at the Board of Deputies • Jewish Community Services • Cape Jewish Seniors • Operation Jonathan • The Israel Parasitology Laboratory.
Join us in making a difference 7 Albany Road, Sea Point, Cape Town, 8005, South Africa P.O. Box 339, Sea Point, 8060, 021 434 9555 [email protected] www.ujw.co.za NPO 000777 PRO 93001544 A project of the Union of Jewish Women Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015 COMMUNITY & CULTURE 23 JCS @ WORK Confronting poverty Poverty is a complex, dynamic and Multiple studies have shown that living The olden day Jewish sages viewed assist the Jewish community to the extent multifaceted condition which may be in poverty has a devastating effect on poverty as a great affliction and said that, that it does. chronic or temporary. psychological well-being. Abraham “he who is crushed by poverty is as if he The most revered response is considered Maslow, the renowned psychologist, were subject to all the afflictions of the to be that which facilitates the fullest t reflects gross violations of human himself born into a poor Jewish family, world.” (Midrash Rabbah, Exodus, 31; 12). expression of the dignity of the needy by Idignity through the inability to access constructed a hierarchy of needs. At the core of Jewish values is enabling them to become self-sufficient. choices and opportunities. Its narrative The daily worry and stress caused by tzedakah which means righteousness. Confronted with the ever-rising cost is one of insecurity, powerlessness and existing in a state of survival-mode Righteousness translates into compassion of living, decaying socio-economic exclusion. Poverty comes as the harsh acts against positive psychological where a person cannot assist financially. conditions and reduced funding, JCS blow of insufficient income to feed and development and contributes to an array This feeds into the mandate of JCS mobilises various intervention strategies clothe one’s family and the of psychopathologies. which not only in order to combat and inability to get to school In Maslow’s hierarchy, provides material alleviate the stress and or to a job to earn a living. Suffering from a lack poverty gives a perfect relief but supportive The most revered instability of poverty. It is a insidious network of fulfillment and demonstration of counselling and other response is considered to This is facilitated by of harm — economic, enrichment paves a how needs that go community projects be that which facilitates using a combination of psychological, social, unmet disable us from simultaneously. social work intervention; emotional and spiritual. steep life-trajectory continuing to ascend to Our responsibility the fullest expression of general, supportive, Absolute poverty or of struggle. higher aspirations. to the poor is an the dignity of the needy preventative and destitution refers to the Suffering from a lack of expression of solidarity educative counselling deprivation of basic human fulfillment and enrichment and in the wider South services; material relief needs — the starkness and desolation paves a steep life-trajectory of struggle. African cultural perspective translates into and community projects in a courageous of which is portrayed in the media as An account of poverty within the context Ubuntu. mission to facilitate optimum levels of self- the extremes of malnourishment and of the Jewish community would be The mitzvah of giving tzedakah is the reliance and independence in our clients. kwashiorkor. Relative poverty is defined incomplete without including Halacha; most central of the mitzvot that define Tabled below are approximate figures contextually as economic inequality in the and the signpost of relative poverty in a Jewish communal life. It is this philosophy outlining the JCS’s monthly response to society in which people live. predominantly affluent context. that enables the Jewish Welfare sector to assist with poverty alleviation:
COMPONENT NO OF RECIPIENTS COST PER MONTH TIKVAH (fruit and vegetable hampers) 80 families/individuals R25 000 MOW (meals on wheels) In partnership with kosher 46 families/individuals R35 000 MOW. (In partnership with kosher MOW) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE 150 families/individuals R300 000 PSYCHIATRIC CARE (nursing home) 8 individuals R100 000 BARGAINS GALORE (clothing, furniture and Available to all qualifying clients for basic needs. household items) 24 COMMUNITY AND CULTURE Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015 A new lease on life for Purim @ Astra Jewish seniors
Joan Sarembok, Nan Scholij, Barbara Nakin and Cecile Becker at the garden party CJSA members really do benefit from Suppers are an opportunity to sit around a belonging to a caring organisation. table and chat with friends instead of being Rabbi David Benchlouch with some of the workers alone at home. hatever your reason for joining the Our social workers are highly trained and he Cape Town Sephardi Wassociation, there are numerous they perceptively use their skills to assist THebrew Congregation’s Achievements @ Astra benefits. You can become an integral any member who might need support in Rabbi David Benchlouch raduates of iLearn, Daniel Isaacson and Bradlee part of a caring group and you can be any way. Individual counselling sessions or visited Astra Centre to deliver Gruss, proudly show their certificates after as involved as you wish. Some of our home visits allow members to feel cared for G mishloach manot to the completing beginners courses in Word and Excel. The members attend functions every day of the confidentially and in a professional manner. Workers, ensuring a chag courses were generously donated by Richard Rayne of week, but you are also welcome to be more The myth behind membership is that purim sameach for everyone. iLearn Training. selective, choosing activities that take your most senior citizens feel that they are “too fancy. Whether you wish to be stimulated young” to belong to a senior’s organisation by guest speaker presentations, unleash which is so far from the truth! Existing your creativity in our art classes, go on great members will attest to the fact that CJSA outings or keep fit in our exercise or yoga has given them a new lease on life and classes; there is certainly something for new friends and a reason to get up in everyone. Transport is provided for those the morning and most importantly the who no longer drive and members are also opportunity to give back to the community able to make use of our driving service to should you wish to volunteer in your area do their weekly shopping. Monthly Twilight of expertise.
Rabbi David Benchlouch with Paul Rawraway. Picnic @ Astra
On right: Jonathan Hirschberg, Loren Weiner and Ian Sank enjoy the day.
Below: Astra’s annual picnic for the Workers and their families was once again a huge success. Thank you to the Astra Committee for the wonderful braaiing. Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015 COMMUNITY & CULTURE 25 TEMPLE ISRAEL CAPE TOWN PROGRESSIVE JEWISH CONGREGATION
Consider This By Rabbi Malcolm Matitiani Purim and Star Trek The carnival atmosphere Trek. Nimoy never hid the fact The Destruction of Cult Objects — at Temple Israel Wynberg that the iconic Vulcan hand filled the shul and the salute that he created for the Still a Torah Imperative? whole campus. character was remixed from an The anniversary of the giving of the Ten Utterances (Aseret ancient Jewish blessing ritual, haDibrot) at Mount Sinai is celebrated near the end of the t all started with the the birkat kohanim. In some month. Iinteractive megillah reading, non-Progressive synagogues with all three rabbis in action, on the festivals, Kohanim are he first two utterances demand exclusive loyalty to G-d who and the chapters translated by called up to the front of the Tbrought our ancestors out of Egypt and that no images be different congregants. Then, shul to bless the congregation made for worship. Any likeness of anything contained in the after a parade of costumes, with “May G!d bless you and universe is forbidden to be an object of veneration. The Torah everyone headed out to the keep you...” (B’midbar 6:23– goes further in commanding that when the Israelites settle in the stalls, booths and food stands 27). The Kohanim traditionally Land of Israel they must destroy all the cultic high places, sacred pillars, altars and and an instant street party erupted. On the cover their heads and arms with their tallit images of Canaanite worship (Exodus 34:13-14, Deuteronomy 7:5, Deuteronomy more serious side of Purim, coming just as the and hold their hands palms-down, touching 12:2-3). The context of this instruction was that the Israelites who had spent forty Southern Peninsula fires began to be brought at the thumbs, with the first two fingers of years in isolation (apart from a few skirmishes with the Amalekites, Moabites and under control, we set up a spontaneous each hand separated from the other two, in Ammorites) were about to enter and settle in the Land of Canaan to be surrounded collection for the Volunteer Fire Services a shape resembling the letter Shin. When the by the local populace. The fear was that the new inhabitants would be vulnerable to which brought in more than R2000 for these producers of Star Trek were looking for an the temptations of the Canaanite religious cults and be lured away from the worship heroes of the City. The themes of rescue and appropriate Vulcan salute, Nimoy suggested of the God of Israel. being saved took on a very real feeling. the gesture of the Birkat Kohanim and added They only way to prevent this from happening was to deliberately destroy all So many of the costumes were outstanding, the words, “Live Long and Prosper.” As we sacred objects and spaces of the indigenous gods. Indeed a reading of the books but one needs mentioning – just before are sure you will agree, Rabbi Greg was a of Judges and Kings reveals that the Israelites were attracted to the veneration of Purim, the actor Leonard Nimoy died, most pretty convincing tribute to Leonard Nimoy Canaanite gods, especially El, Ba’al and Asherah because they failed to demolish famous for his portrayal of Mr Spock in Star z”l! the altars, sacred posts and images of these gods. Archaeological finds have proven that many Israelites counted statuettes of El, Ba’al and Asherah among their possessions. TIMEOut (Temple Israel Machaneh The Mishnah and Talmud (both the Babylonian and the Jerusalem) dedicate an entire tractate (Avodah Zarah) to the discussion of how Jews should relate to the non-Jewish world. The restrictions on socialising with the then mostly pagan world Experience Outdoors) — What a Blast and the ban on entering their places of worship were motivated by the fear of being The weekend of 6-8 March saw the first brought us to the communal lunch and lured away from Judaism. ever TIMEOut weekend take place at the afternoon activities like machanayim, shiurim The question is whether this fear of idolatry is still relevant today. It is highly unlikely beautiful Langdam Farm near Montague. and hikes in the mountain, by which time that an observant Jew would be tempted to abandon Judaism simply because he Havdallah brought Shabbat to a close. We or she has friends, acquaintances or colleagues that profess another religion (be ore than 70 people drove from Cape all then got together for a communal braai at it Abrahamic or Eastern). Neither would such an occurrence occur if an observant MTown and either pitched their tents or the campsite which was followed by another Jew entered a church, mosque, temple or shrine. unpacked their bags in the luxury chalets and song session around the campfire in true I believe that the vast majority of us condemn the fanaticism that led members then joined up for the service and dinner, with machaneh style. of Islamic State to destroy archaeological artefacts and sites in Syria and Iran, some gusto-filled singing afterwards bringing Sunday morning saw continued frolicking claiming them to be idolatrous. In March 2001 the Taliban in Afghanistan blew Erev Shabbat to a close . in the dam and general relaxing before we up two 1,700-year-old sandstone statues on the same pretext. This unwarranted With some activities such as an early had to begin the trip home as our weekend disregard for the sacred sites and objects of other cultures and faiths, not to morning run as well as a yoga session bringing sadly came to an end. We would like to thank mention the wanton destruction of the archaeological history of humankind is rightly in Shabbat morning, the awe-inspiring Torah everybody who contributed to this wonderful condemned by all enlightened people. Yet the perpetrators of these crimes cite the service led by Rabbis Greg and Malcolm with weekend and look forward to planning the Quran as justification of their destructive behaviour. musical accompaniment from Nina Hoffman next TIMEOut experience. As pointed out above the Torah also explicitly Mazeltov to those demands the obliteration of all manifestations of who celebrated B’nei Canaanite religion. Yet none of us would enter Mitzvah with us in a Hindu temple and take a sledge hammer to the statues of Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu, Shakti or the last month: any other deity. The historic circumstances have drastically changed since biblical times and we all acknowledge that it is possible, and indeed of paramount importance, to live as Jews in harmony with and alongside those of other faiths We are blessed in Cape Town in that we have a very strong interfaith initiative and I have been privileged to be asked to participate in many Alexander Ackerman interfaith services held in various places of worship 11 April including Temple Israel. It is only through dialogue and sharing knowledge of each other’s traditions Torah service — creative and beautiful and beliefs that we can combat prejudices and intolerance. The world has changed since biblical and Talmudic times and there are no longer grounds to fear the religion of others. There is, however, the very real threat of religious fanaticism that expresses Thomas Ackerman 11 April hatred towards those who do not subscribe to a particular faith or to a specific interpretation of that faith. A fanaticism that leads its adherents to destroy the heritage and sacred objects of another culture, a fanaticism that drives its follows to gruesomely murder anyone who does not conform to their world view. It is these religious expressions that we must target for obliteration, not statues and artefacts that Aliyah Joseph are revered by peaceful devotees of the various 18 April faiths of the world. Temple Israel goes camping 26 COMMUNITY AND CULTURE Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015 Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015 COMMUNITY AND CULTURE 27 28 COMMUNITY AND CULTURE Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015 Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015 COMMUNITY & CULTURE 29 Waiting to exhale Nechama Compassion Pack By Dr Brad Beira, Chief Executive Officer of Jewish Care Cape or many years Nechama has been providing the Cape Town Jewish Fcommunity with Compassion Packs. Packed by the volunteers at Astra Everyone at Glendale is reflecting and distributed by the Chevra Kadisha and the rabbi’s in each community, on our recent period of tremendous the Compassion Pack has been positively accepted in the community as activity. a source of comfort at a great time of distress.
ne of our frequent visitors described Othe past year (in a fashion) “as if The pack comprises: the strong south Easter blew through • 1 Yahrzeit candle, matches and two shabbat candles Glendale.” • A tzedakah box that people can donate to the charity of their choice in the name of the Well, here is hoping — just like the departed. change in season — that the wind is past • A handbook for mourners supplied by the UOS and calm will prevail. • A Nechama pamphlet entitled "When Comfort Is Needed" We welcome a host of new talent to • A Nechama shiva pamphlet explaining the shiva process. Friends sharing matza on the outing Glendale. Rehana, our new occupational • Conduct in a shiva home therapist is settling in. Charmian, our new Where to from here? Hopefully a calm • Tehillim booklet to use at the cemetery social worker will have begun her role by period of reflection; the beginnings of our the time this article is in print. Five new renovation project, a period of laughter If you would like to honour the memory of your loved one by making Compassion Packs carers are experiencing life at Glendale and joy and activities and even the odd available to those that need them, a dedication label will be placed on the container. and adding their passion to the existing game of pool and karaoke” Please contact Shana on 021 465 9390/021 462 5520 or email [email protected] team. Packs may be sponsored at R240.00 each. Banking Details: Nechama, Nedbank, In our effort to provide the best possible Gardens Centre. Branch Code: 106939. Account No: 1069278939. Reference: Name/ care and support, on advice from Compassion Pack Highlands House we have added two new outsourced partners to Glendale’s Please take this opportunity to do a mitzvah in the name of your loved ones support team: Korserv has taken over our daily cleaning tasks and Feedem/Pitseng are managing our kitchen and catering THE HORROR & HUMOUR OF WILLS services. This frees up our full time staff to do what they do best — care for our AND ESTATES residents. A thank you must go out to Solly and Gita Date: Tuesday 12th May 2015 Lison, Paula Baskir and all the support persons from Glendale for running an Venue: Coffee Time @ Astra, 20 Breda Street, Gardens excellent second-night seder. Our hall Time: 09H00 – 11H00 was filled with residents, their families and friends. Presented by Barry Pogrund. Ari, Dale and Megan enjoying the view R.S.V.P. The Office on 021-462 5520 or [email protected] KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
Residents and staff having a picnic on the Sea Point Promenade
Getting ready to go home after the Pesach picnic 30 COMMUNITY AND CULTURE Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015 JACOB GITLIN LIBRARY ALBOW CENTRE PHONE: 021 462-5088 FAX: 021 465-8670 email: [email protected] FABULOUS FICTION AZRIELI, Avraham. The Jerusalem Assassin. This fast paced sequel to Book of the month the Jerusalem Inception will keep you engrossed till the end. In the wake of the 1995 Oslo Peace Accords, a wave of Palestinian terror hits Jewish targets in Europe and Tel Aviv. When a Mossad agent is critically wounded The Girl from Human Street in Amsterdam, the master spy, Jerusalem Gerster, follows the attackers back to Israel. He uncovers a conspiracy to carry out the assassination of By Roger Cohen Prime Minister Rabin. Brims with gritty authenticity. ohen, an award-winning New York Times columnist, is BLOOM, Joe. RIDLEY ROAD. The book takes us into 1960’s London Ca wonderful storyteller. Linked to Lithuania through his capturing the music, clubs and vibrant fashions of the time. Vivien Epstein ancestors, he places the Zagare genocide at the centre of leaves Manchester after her father’s death to start a life as a hairdresser in his three-generational history of a Jewish family that chose London and to search for Jack, a man who captured her heart. When she different homelands — South Africa, USA, England and locates him he appears to be part of a Nazi-style fascist group operating in Israel — in which to bury or confront their past. His parents the heart of the Jewish East End. Blending facts with fiction Bloom creates left for England in 1957 and at the heart of the book is his a fast paced story and reveals the chilling hatred and bigotry of the time. mother’s dreadful struggle with bipolar disorder. The title of this luminous book refers to the actual street where his DIAMANT, Anita. THE BOSTON GIRL. An unforgettable novel about the mother once lived. daughter of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe coming of age in the United States. It portrays her complicated life in Boston and looks at a generation of women finding their places in a changing world. 85 year ROSENSAFT, Menachem Z. (Ed.) GOD, FAITH AND IDENTITY old Addie tells the story to her 22 year old granddaughter. Written with the FROM THE ASHES: Reflections of Children and Grandchildren of same attention to historical details and emotional resonance that has made Holocaust Survivors. Well-known contributors, from 16 countries and 6 Diamant a best-selling author. continents, respond to the question of how the experiences of their parents and grandparents have shaped their identity and attitude towards God, RELIGIOUS INTEREST faith, Judaism and the world. These moving and compelling accounts allow us to glimpse how much the world has lost and will have a profound effect BOGACZ, Yoram (Rabbi). FACETS OF ETERNITY: An Exploration of on the way future generations understand the Holocaust. Seven Intriguing Topics in Jewish Thought. What did our forefathers observe before the Torah was given? Are we rewarded in this world for WINTON, Barbara. IF IT’S NOT IMPOSSIBLE…THE LIFE OF SIR mitzvoth? What should our attitude be towards the suffering of wicked NICHOLAS WINTON. This book, written by his daughter, is a testimony people? Do our Sages have the authority to forbid that which the Torah to his remarkable rescue of 669 children from Czechoslovakia at the age explicitly permits? These are a few of the intriguing questions posed by of 29. He worked from Prague and persuaded the German authorities to Rabbi Bogacz in an exciting new book, valuable to lay people and advanced let children leave by identifying British foster families who would open their Torah scholars alike . homes to them. For half a century Winton knew nothing about the nearly 700 people who call themselves “Nicky’s children.” PEREZ, Laurence (Rabbi). LEADING THE WAY: Collected Writings on Some of Life’s Most Important Matters. In his capacity as the Rabbi of Mizrachi South Africa and Head of the Yeshiva College Schools, he MEMORABLE MEMOIRS made an enormous and transformative impact on the South African Jewish CARNESON, Ruth. GIRL ON THE EDGE. Ruth’s life was turned upside community with his inspired, creative and visionary leadership. Israel, down at age of 4 when her father was arrested for high treason. Thereafter education, virtues and vices, the Days of Awe, leadership, life and death are she lived in constant fear of the Special Branch Policemen, moving from all covered in this outstanding, easy-to-read book. family to friends. At 14 she moved to England and struggled to reconstruct her life. She shares her stays in asylums, her ‘Hippie’ days in London and NOTEWORTHY NON-FICTION then her journey back to a changing South Africa. Written with honesty and heartbreakingly sad at times, Ruth allows the reader to look deep into her EIDELBERG, Joseph. THE JAPANESE AND THE TEN LOST TRIBES life. OF ISRAEL. The mysterious origins and past of the Japanese people are revealed in this fascinating story. Eidelberg analyses ancient Japanese FEDLER, Dov. OUT OF LINE. Fedler describes himself as a true product of writings, religion, traditions, names and folk songs and discovers similarities Johannesburg. He was born in 1940 and the third child of a family struggling between ancient Hebrew and Japanese language and culture. A possibility to exist. Although he always enjoyed drawing the last thing on his wish list is suggested that the Japanese are descendants of the Ten Lost Tribes who was to be a political cartoonist and yet he has been South Africa’s leading were exiled 27 centuries ago. one for 50 years. His memoir is personal, honest, humorous and filled with emotion. OREN, Ram and KFIR, Moti. SYLVIA RAFAEL: The Life and Death of a Mossad Spy. Rafael, born in Graaff-Reinet, became a young dedicated FRY, Stephen. MORE FOOL ME. A heady tale of the late Eighties and Mossad agent. The book details her rise to fame within the organisation early Nineties. The book paints a picture of Fry’s extremely busy but often and her ultimate arrest for murder and espionage as a result of a fatal lonely life and reveals some wonderful celebrity encounters. He partied with misidentification of a targeted terrorist mastermind. The book is written by his many famous and infamous friends regardless of the consequences Moti Kfir, the man who trained her and Ram Oren, an author and journalist. and admits to having spent “an enormous amount of time and money on A thrilling and engrossing story of espionage and the Israeli-Arab conflict. cocaine”. If you enjoyed “ Moab is my Washpot” and “The Fry Chronicles” then this eloquent third autobiography is for you. ROSENBERG, David. BATTLE FOR THE EAST END: Jewish Responses to Fascism in the 1930’s. Charts the rise of Sir Oswald Mosley, founder HALBREICH, Betty. I’ll drink to that: New York’s Legendary Personal of the British Blackshirts. Mosley, an avid anti-Semite, styled himself on Shopper and Her Life in Style – With a Twist. Halbreich has dressed the Mussolini and Hitler. The shocking anti-Semitism in Britain during the 1930’s rich and powerful for 40 years at Bergdorf Goodman and her clients have culminated in an attempted march through the streets of London’s Jewish ranged from Candice Bergen to Betty Ford to Meryl Streep. Interwoven is her East End. As the campaigns became more intimidating, Jewish groups childhood, her marriage to a wealthy hotel owner and her life in the dressing debated how to deal with the fascist threat. room and beyond. This 86 year old grand dame is delightfully funny, honest and inspirational. “Dressing someone well is as divine as helping someone to walk, to see, to smile or to bake a tall, light angel food cake.” Book launch by Cecile Levin COOKERY A delightful & humorous novel about facing change, while remembering the past. MELAMED, Caron. A PINCH OF… Her inventive and inspiring recipes are detailed and will reach the table of the most inexperienced cook. She Date: Monday 4th May 2015 guarantees stress-free entertaining. The book is beautifully designed and Time:10:00a.m. features traditional Jewish food, exotic Asian fare, Italian and much more. Place: 88 Hatfield Street, Whatever your culinary taste you should find this book as appetising as Gardens each mouth-watering delight. LINKSFIELD Senderwood Hebrew Congregation. TANTALIZE WITH Refreshments will be served. SALADS. This beautifully laid out cookery book is filled with recipes For catering please RSVP to nourish your body and soul. It is a collection of the best dishes of by 28th April 2015 a group of ladies from the Linksfield Shul kitchen. Each contributor is passionate about sharing the joy of cooking and food. This will offer the RSVP: 021 462 5088 accomplished hostess fresh and innovative ideas on how to prepare soups, Email: [email protected] salads and pasta.
Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015 COMMUNITY & CULTURE 31 32 community connections Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015 Simcha Snaps
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Sitting at the Seder table the other moves ultimately lead the White Fragile to challenge to beliefs white people hold Israel is a country of eight million people, night I found myself struggling to claim that they are being attacked and about themselves is at the heart of their an externality, while race, gender and restrain an angry and emotional victimised. reactions. Four of these challenges — sexual orientation are internal qualities that reaction to something that was said. Fragility undoubtedly occurs in many to objectivity, solidarity, liberalism and form our identity. I would argue though that groups that have power and privilege. Male meritocracy — can be reframed to apply we see Israel as our family home and a he statement, about me, was Fragility would be the state in which even to Jewish Fragility. Objectivity relates to particular version of its story as our family Tundeniably, incontrovertibly true. mild references to misogyny in society are the challenge that our view comes from a story — one which we have internalised. However, the person who said it was unbearable to men, often causing them Jewish frame of reference. Jews who break DiAngelo says that white people don’t my mother. As an adult, there are few to point out that, in fact, they are the real with the Jewish consensus challenge the think complexly about racism which leads experiences more universal victims (of feminisation or solidarity of the group. The them to trivialise their than being reduced by the burden of being the accusation that Israel's history of brutalisation of a parent to a crotchety, provider, for example). actions have a racist impact (We) not only other races and to confuse explosive, teenage version The state in which Or Hetero Fragility where or that access is unequal wield significant discomfort for fear and of yourself. My friends will even muted the mere suggestion that between Jewish and non- lack of safety. This is true tell you that I can sometimes homophobia remains Jewish Israelis, challenges power as a of Jewish Fragility too. In have a masochistic fetish for criticism of Israel evident is greeted with the perception that we are nation but can my experience, Jewish critique of my personality, is intolerable to claims of attack on liberal, unprejudiced and also commit communities around the the illumination of my blind marriage, the family and meritocratic. world operate varying Jews is what I call discrimination, spots. Unless, the source is Jewish Fragility religious institutions. In The most well-worn degrees of — decentralised, my mother. Or, in the terms White, Male and Hetero response to the triggers human rights usually disorganised, of a 2010 paper by the Fragility it is the discomfort of Jewish Fragility is abuses and even often rancorous — Zionist American academic, Robin from the loss of some the accusation of anti- narrative lock-down which DiAngelo, I have very low psychosocial degree of privilege (largely only in statute) Semitism. This is backed atrocities reduces our capacity for stamina for even minimal critique of myself that leads to feelings of victimhood and up by arguments about empathic and complex when it comes from my mother. fear. disproportionate focus, thinking about Palestinians DiAngelo, though, looks at how some The state in which even muted criticism historic treatment of Jews by Arab states, and Israel. Many of us are unable to white people in North America angrily of Israel is intolerable to Jews is what I Israel’s right to self-defence and that admit that we, a people who suffered and emotionally react to being told that call Jewish Fragility. Consider how the Palestinians are responsible for Israel’s the holocaust and who have been so they have all sorts of privileges accruing following familiar statements (triggers) occupation and behaviour because they thoroughly persecuted for thousands of to them from the colour of their skin. make you feel. cannot be trusted or do not have leaders years, today not only wield significant She introduces the term White Fragility - Israel's response to attacks by Palestinians to represent them. These defensive power as a nation but can also commit to describe the “state in which even a is sometimes disproportionate manoeuvres prevent nuanced thinking discrimination, human rights abuses and minimum amount of racial stress becomes - Israel illegally occupies the West Bank about the morality of Israel’s behaviour even atrocities. intolerable, triggering a range of defensive - Palestinians suffer discrimination in Israel and how it is experienced by Palestinians. moves. These moves include the outward - The Israeli army sometimes mistreats While White, Male and Hetero Fragility Ayal Belling is a tech entrepreneur working display of emotions such as anger, Palestinians at checkpoints are caused by the fear induced by in Cape Town. He previously worked in fear, and guilt, and behaviors such as the reduction in privilege and power, finance in the UK. He studied mathematics DiAngelo tries to get at the source of argumentation, silence, and leaving the Jewish Fragility derives from the loss of at UCT and real estate investment in the offence caused by the triggers stress-inducing situation.” These defensive victimhood and discomfort with Jewish London. He returned to Cape Town in 2012 of White Fragility. She says that the power and privilege in Israel. Of course, after spending 13 years in London.
We are happy to announce that Endee Panel Shop (since 1969) has amalgamated their goodwill and customer base of 46 years with Dent Magic Cape Town (address: l20 Buitengracht Street, Cape Town, entrance in Helliger Lane) under the name of Dent Magic, in association with Endee Panel Shop.
Dent Magic, in association with Endee Panel Shop, will continue to strive to provide Endee clients with the same standard of integrity, quality and service to which they have been accustomed over the last 46 years.
Our telephone numbers and email addresses will remain the same. Looking forward to welcoming our long-standing customers and friends. Milton Berger Phone: 021-4224201/2/3 ; Fax 021-4224749 Email : [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] 36 COMMUNITY & CULTURE Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015 ‘There was once a home…’
Every month in this Chronicle series, Veronica Belling shares aspects of her trip to Lithuania. Text and photographs by Veronica Belling Kovno The final destination on our trip was The Sugahara Museum is also located Kovno. in Kovno. It is named in memory of the Japanese diplomat, Chiune Sugahara ovno, (Kaunus in Lithuanian) is the who was responsible for issuing 6000 Ksecond largest city in Lithuania after visas for Jews to leave Lithuania during Vilnius, with a current population of just the Holocaust. The director of the over 300 000. museum, Simon Davidovich, was our During the interwar years when Vilnius guide for this leg of the trip. was annexed to Poland, it was the capital In the Vilijampole district, known to city of independent Lithuania. During the Jews as Slobodka, a simple stone this period it accommodated a Jewish memorial marks the entrance to what population of 38 000. The city was a hub of was the Kovno ghetto where 29 000 Jewish culture with schools, synagogues Jews were incarcerated on 15 August and the headquarters of the Jewish 1941. Another stone marks the spot People’s Bank. Kovno University had where the ghetto hospital once stood. a thousand Jewish students and many It was burnt down by the Nazis with the attended the Hebrew Teaching Seminary patients and medical staff inside. including future South African Jewish The Bet Midrash of the famous The Ninth Fort Soviet memorial to victims at The Ninth Fort educationalist, Moshe Natas. Yeshiva of Slobodka still stands in that area today. Just over 200 Jews remain in Kovno today, including our guide, Simon Davidovich, whose parents and grandparents survived the Holocaust. Kovno’s darkest side is the Ninth Fort on the northwest outskirts of the city where approximately 30 000 Jews amongst people of many other nationalities were executed by the Nazis. Its stark walls house a chilling museum to the dead. It is built along the contours of a hill, overlooked by a brooding Soviet statue to the victims, built in 1983. Sugahara Museum
Memorial at entrance to the Slobodka Yeshiva Kovno Ghetto The difference you deserve... A truly fantastic line-up for Limmud Conference 2015 Limmud Conferences around the world have come to be associated with a phenomenal variety of Jewish thinkers, movers and shakers from across the globe. This year, Limmud Cape Town (7-9 August 2015) is no different in this regard, as we look forward to welcoming stellar Jewish minds to our shores. We are thrilled to announce a taste of our international presenters for this year’s Conference, each of whom is sure to add to our programme content that is as fascinating and exciting as their resumes:
nnika Hernroth-Rothstein, a political advisor and writer from Sweden, made Ainternational headlines in 2012 when she filed for asylum in her own country on the basis of religious persecution, in order to force her government to protect the Jewish minority and acknowledge the growing Anti-Semitism in the country.
air Dalal, an Israeli musician of Iraqi-Jewish descent, is an oud- and violin-player, as Ywell as a singer and composer. He has won several Israeli music awards and has also been nominated for a Grammy and BBC World Music Award due to his interwoven influences of Arab, Jewish, Indian and European music.
ttay Flescher is a Jewish educator, born in Israel and currently teaching at Mount Scopus IMemorial College in Australia. His courses there and elsewhere include Religion and Society, Israeli Society through Film and Music, and teaching Tanach in a Pluralist setting.
Behind the scenes of our conference’s riveting line-up is a team of dedicated volunteers, working to make Limmud Cape Town a weekend of stimulating and fulfilling experiences: Gabi Nudelman and Heidi-Jane Esakov-Jacobson are our Programme Co-Chairs; Melissa Marcus and Lauren Kessler are heading up our Logistics Team; Sofi Zway and Nina Hoffman are planning the children’s portion of conference, Young Limmud; Jackie Maris is taking care of Marketing, and Nancy Krisch is our National representative. Overseeing this executive team are Craig Nudelman and Maxine Boyd – a duo whose Julia Lieman extensive, passionate experience with Limmud in the past is sure to make this year’s conference one of the best yet. 083 303 1002 Office: 021 434 8755 Diarise the dates now (7-9 August) and don’t forget to register for this amazing event, [email protected] so that you can be a part of a weekend which takes you one step further on your Jewish www.ChasEveritt.co.za journey. Go to www.limmud.org.za/limmud-cape-town now to get the Early-bird special. Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015 COMMUNITY & CULTURE 37 ‘mensch of the month’
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Jason Woolf is a twenty-one year old social entrepreneur, cultural activist, musician and university student. Raised in the U.S. by South African parents, Jason was one of 17 inaugural members of the social enterprise accelerator, Watson University, shop and will graduate from New York University‘s Gallatin School of Individualized Study in May 2016. He is a dual citizen, with both his mother and grandparents banting residing in Cape Town. snacks, staples Jason is the Founding Director of Umbiyozo a youth-focused social & more venture uniting the traditional-song and -dance troupes of Cape Town’s townships. Umbiyozo’s mission is to incentivise youth participation within their communities’ troupes so as to prevent gangsterism, drug usage, teenage pregnancy, social helping you live life well isolation, and disempowerment. Umbiyozo aims to empower individuals and showcase these independent troupes through the creation an Umbiyozo Hub based in Khayelitsha, as well as helping the troupes to help themselves through assistance and training in fundraising, self-promotion and event organising. Umbiyozo are urgently in need of financial support to continue to shop wellnesswarehouse.com grow and build on their success thus far. Please contact Jason if you are wellness warehouse wellnews interested in assisting Umbiyozo: [email protected] 0761862245 ® www.mensch.org.za
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Shop 3 Mimosa, Cnr Church & Regent Roads, Sea Point 021 439 3903 www.sothebysrealty.co.za 38 COMMUNITY & CULTURE Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015 HABONIM DROR NETZER The future is bright for Habonim Dror’s upcoming leaders The past few weeks have seen highly successful Mini Machanot run in both of Habonim’s main kenim of Johannesburg and Cape Town.
e also saw excellent visits to the Wsmaller centres of Durban and Port Elizabeth. This has made it a very exciting time for Habonim channichim and madrichim across the country. Furthermore, these events have allowed for a fantastic opportunity to foster a future generation of leaders in the movement. The Mini Machanot Madrichim bonding at Kirstenbosch Gardens in both cities were privileged to have We cannot believe that the first quarter they learn skills on how to run successful many young and upcoming leaders of the year is over. peulot and other leadership skills which will in Habonim take on leadership roles, be useful in all spheres of life. Channichot pose for the camera at some for the first time. Our madrichim Johannesburg Mini Machaneh t feels like just yesterday camp ended, but In the second term of the year we might who have recently returned from our Iyou know what they say, ‘time flies when be holding a Netzer Cape Town sleepover year-long gap year programme in for many years to come. But of course, mini you’re having fun’ and Netzer Cape Town for all the channichim. Other events that Israel, Shnat Hachshara, were able to use machanot would not be worthwhile were has definitely been having tons of fun! we will be involved with during this time these experiences to put what they learned it not for the dozens of smiling, laughing In March we celebrated Purim at Wynberg include some Lag Ba’omer festivals, Yom into practice and make these weekends channichim spending a weekend away; Temple Israel Synagogue, where different Ha’azmaut at Ratanga Junction and our unforgettable for our newest chaverim. learning, making new friends, playing games and stalls were set up for the very first big camp meeting where we will Alongside them were recent matriculants sport, doing arts and crafts and generally children and parents to enjoy. There was start to plan what is sure to be one of the having their first experience in Habonim having a remarkable Habonim experience. face-painting, a jumping castle and several most amazing December camps yet! Dror leadership roles as well as matrics We were delighted to have had this, in games where many sweet prizes were won. If you are interested in finding out more and grade 11s taking part in a journey of numbers, in both cities and are looking We also had a bonding day for our about Netzer and what we represent, feel leadership preparation that will hopefully forward to the next few months of channich Madrichim in Kirstenbosch. We discussed free to look up our website, which has just see them actively involved, both on our events, Shorashim, leadership tours and all our exciting plans for the year and had a very modern make-over; www.netzer. December machanot and during the year, much more. our new initiatives, while exploring the org.za. You will find articles about our most botanical garden. We left our bonding recent events, photos, information about session brimming with ideas and new ways our mazkirut as well as Netzer’s ideology. SA Union of Jewish Students to improve the movement. Some other events from March include a Nilmad vena’aseh Hadracha Seminar for our madrichim. Here Kalia Barkai BNEI AKIVA The Shlichot’s report At the beginning of the year we told ourselves that 2015 would be an extraordinary year for Bnei and we were completely right!
fter an unbelievable Acamp we kicked off the school year by doing visits to all the schools around Cape Town with SAUJS peace tent at UCT a programme including SAUJS has been incredibly busy for the right balance of materials and personal music and fun and past three months with Orientation support to get our message across to the games during breaks. Week, Israel Apartheid Week, campus student body. We were also grateful to see Every week, when the braais, Pesach seders and many other the support of the greater community who Shlichot are in Sea Point, events. attended our lunchtime talks and enforced they run a program at our sentiments that the students are not Morasha Shul called Channies outside in the sunshine e recorded our highest number of fighting this battle alone. We are already ‘Snif’ which includes For the younger Gurim kids (grade 3-6) sign-ups ever with nearly 200 new strategising for next year and would fun activities in a safe environment that W we had a Mini Machaneh in Villiersdorp at members. We have a full leadership appreciate any input from the community. enriches the kids that participate. the SOS Campsite. It was only a weekend committee of 13 people who have put We are now looking forward to our Yom The first event of the year was for but the kids got a taste of what Winter together even more great plans for the year. Yerushalayim party. It promises to be even Ktantanim (Grades 3 and 4) we made Camp in July will be like. Israel Apartheid Week was highly bigger and better than the one we hosted yummy pizza with over 30 primary school Bnei Akiva South Africa launched a successful for all at UCT with UWC and last year at Salt Vodka Bar. The event kids. The first event of the year for Chevre campaign for “World Chessed Day” to take Stellenbosch being fairly quiet. Our Israeli should be up on Facebook soon and we (Grades 7-10) got great reviews and we place nationally. Chessed is one of our delegation from Stand With Us and IDC as invite all Jewish young adults and tertiary have subsequently turned it into a biweekly fundamental pillars and we wrote letters to well as support from the Israel Centre, Bnei students of Cape Town to attend! event called Mifgash. We started off with IDF solders and made sandwiches for an Akiva, Netzer, Habonim and the Jewish We would like to assure the community sushi making and every second week underprivileged nursery school. Board of Deputies helped to make this that we are still dedicated to building the there is supper with amazing activities, This is just a handful of the many things week possible. Jewish student community at universities discussions and chilling. we have done this year and we are looking The biggest thanks need to go the SA across the Western Cape and we would At Purim we made Mishloach Manot. forward to the many more amazing Zionist Federation Cape Council for all like to wish all students good luck for the Many people ordered from us and we were activities to come! their support and advice before and during second semester. happy to help them fulfill the Mitzvah! We this tough week. Our campaign would not had over 500 Mishloach Manot orders, Bevirkat Torah Ve’Avoda, have even got off the ground if it weren’t Jonathan Levi which was amazing and we thank everyone Tamar Sa’ar and Lee-el Shoshtari for the assistance of the SAZF. We had the Western Cape Chairperson 2015 who supported the movement. (Bnei Akiva Shlichot) Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015 sport 39 Reflections on the ICC World Cup Cricket Afghan fielding coach, Ryan Maron, shares his experiences Five minutes with Ryan Ryan Maron, a parent at Herzlia Kerem, visited Herzlia ur boys, who are cricket enthusiasts, followed the World Cup Constantia for their weekly assembly to share his Ocricket very closely. Ryan shared the experiences he had with experience as field coach for the Afghanistan Cricket Team the Afghanistan Team and many of the matches they played. in their first ICC Cricket World Cup. The fascinating complexity of the lives of the cricketers, so foreign to our children, added a new dimension to the presentation. Ryan shared that as a Jewish man he was fully accepted by the Muslim cricketers who were very religious and who prayed 5 times a day. He spoke about the training that had to take place in Dubai as it was too dangerous to be in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. He described the lifestyle of the cricketers whereby up to 40 family members all live together in one home and contribute to their shared income. The questions that the children asked were intelligent and thought-provoking and created added value to the discussion. Ryan kindly dished out World Cup paraphernalia to children who could answer cricket questions. Herzlia Constantia received an Afghanistan cricket shirt from Ryan which we will frame for our hall. How did you find the atmosphere at the ICC? he atmosphere was massive. Being Texposed to the highest level of one- day cricket and meeting top coaches and players was a priceless experience. I often had to pinch myself to remind myself where I was and the level of cricket I was involved in. It has been an honour and privilege working with the Afghanistan players. I tried to see as much of Australia and New Zealand as I could and was fortunate enough to have my wife with me to share the experience. Are you happy with your team’s performance? he team played well in stages, but I still Isabella Sherman, Hannah Cohen, Rebecca Chin and Emma Tfeel that they could have performed Herzlia cricket fans pose with Ryan Maron after the talk Rabinowitz with Ryan Maron better, especially with the bat. I have been very satisfied with the level of the fielding. It was an all-round great experience for the Game, set, match for Icy water doesn’t players, this being their first Cricket World Cup. Cape Town star stop Michael What is your plan for after ICC? am going to spend some time with my Aaron Marks is currently Michael Levitt Ifamily and catch up with outstanding ranked Number 1 in Western is 11 years old admin at my Cricket School of Excellence. Province and Number 5 in and has already I am looking to get more involved with the South Africa for tennis, in his completed his Afghanistan side and also to improve my age group — U14. His match second relay coaching through international coaching in record for 2015 is 9 matches, 8 Freedom Swim the future. After meeting with the Australian wins and 1 loss. from Robben fielding coach, Mike Young, I am hoping Island to Big Bay. to work closely with him to improve as a e competes in all the local (Last year his coach and also broaden my horizons. HWestern Province and Boland relay team won tournaments — some of which he the event) Michael with his medal plays in the U16 age group. He also plays in the National tournaments his year the water temperatures made it extremely Keeping it in the around South Africa. Tdifficult to swim, but he still did his part in a speedo. Aaron trains at The Anthony The team, called Three Suits and a Polar Bear, comprised Harris Tennis Academy in Sea four swimmers — two 16 year-olds, a 15 year-old and family Point. He is very committed, Michael. They came 14th overall and 7th in the wetsuit rothers Adam Gradner (Grade 6) and focussed and dedicated. relay competition. BJason Gradner (Grade 4) broke two records each at the recent Herzlia inter- Aaron has also started to play in ITF schools sports day held in Green Point. (International Tennis Federation) Adam also won the Victor Ludorum at the Tournaments which is the 18 and Weizmann Sports Day the previous week. Under International Junior Tour played around the world. To date he has played ITF Aaron gives his all on the court. Tournaments in Zimbabwe and Kenya, and two in South Africa, in Stellenbosch and Potchefstroom. Players from all over the world including Russia, Spain, Britain, USA, Netherlands, France and Italy play in these tournaments. He will be playing in Botswana and Namibia in April/ May.
In the past year Aaron played and won several tournaments, including: Winner Western Province Summer — Doubles Winner Boland Sportsman’s Warehouse Mini 1 — U14 Singles Winner Boland Sportsman’s Warehouse U16 — Singles and doubles Winner Boland Civvio Winter — Boys singles Runner up Boland Masters invitational U14 for top 8 performers of 2014 Runner up Western Province Masters Invitational U14 for top 8 performers of 2014 Winner Boland Sportsman’s Warehouse Mini in U16 age group. Adam and Jason pose with a trophy at the Swimming far out at sea Weizmann Sports Day. 40 Cape Jewish Chronicle May 2015
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