August 7 2015 / 22 Av 5775 Volume 19 – Number 29 days to go, south african until the Absa Jewish Achiever Awards 2015. Jewish Report 16 www.sajr.co.za Teenager’s death mourned by a nation Photo: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 Yonatan Photo: Israelis are pictured mourning at a Jerusalem vigil for 16-year-old Shira Banki, who died last Sunday, three days after being stabbed at last Thursday’s Jerusalem Gay Pride Parade. Five others were injured in the stabbing. “It never crossed our mind that Shira would be murdered as a symbol,” her parents said in a eulogy on Monday. “An unnecessary death of a young girl, innocent and full of good intentions and deeds. A death that gives us and hundreds of other people sorrow and pain as deep as the sea, without end or benefit.” The alleged assailant, Yishai Schlissel, a haredi Orthodox man from Modiin Ilit in the West Bank, had been sent to prison for committing a similar stabbing at the same parade in 2005. Schlissel was freed from prison for that crime last month. He is now in custody. Israel’s leaders condemned the attack. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to “deal with the murderer to the fullest extent of the law”. The attack has prompted calls for legislation that would protect LGBT rights, as well as an end to denunciations of LGBT Israelis. Abuse at school: Jewish day Netanyahu’s focus Limmud 2015 sets the Israel trip opens minds Nuclear deal: What can Iran schools are proactive homeward benchmark very high – hide in 24 days? again Four participants in the recent Over the past 10 years schools Benjamin Netanyahu has suddenly “Young South African Leaders” US Congress has until mid- to late have lifted the lid on all kinds found himself facing down a Another highly successful visit to Israel and the Palestinian September to consider whether of inappropriate behaviour and terrorist threat – apparently from Limmud conference took place territories, shared their to reject the nuclear restrictions Jewish day schools are at the Jews. Netanyahu has fiercely over the weekend at the Indaba experiences and insights with for the sanctions rollback deal forefront of monitoring abuse on condemned a predawn arson Hotel and Conference Centre in Gauteng Jewish leaders and reached by Iran and six major the part of the teachers or other attack in the West Bank village of Johannesburg. This was the 10th community members at a report- powers on July 14. Some of the staff members. Duma, which killed an 18-month- Limmud conference and it is back evening last week Thursday. debate is over the meaning of old Palestinian boy. growing from strength to strength. certain provisions in the accord. Jewish terror draws 3 6 8 10 15 DIVERSIFY YOUR PORTFOLIO RESIDENTIAL APARTMENTS IN ISRAEL SHOWING UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH Buy an Apartment or Participate in a Property Syndication and Enjoy Excellent RETURNS ON YOUR INVESTMENT! Tradition of Trust 50% MORTGAGE AVAILABLE AT 0% INTEREST For more information www.firzt.co.za Solly Zaslansky 011 731 0300 | 083 327 2739 | solly@fi rzt.co.za Artist Impression 2 SA JEWISH REPORT Community 7 – 14 August 2015 A biblical injunction for Jews to take care of their pets SUZANNE BELLING to put down poison to kill rats. This was because killing was not a Jewish The Internet and newspaper classified act and should be avoided directly. sections are chock-a-block with adver- Rabbi Yechezel Landau (Yoreh tisements urging people to adopt pets Deah 10) prohibited hunting and - especially dogs and cats - but there Rabbi Ovadia Yosef (Yechave Da’at) are also horses, ducks, rabbits, budg- forbade watching traditional Spanish ies, monkeys, even Bearded Dragons bullfighting. In days of yore, even if and snakes. an ox had killed a person, it could Most pets are acceptable according only be put down on the decision of to South African law, except tortoises 23 dayanim (judges). and other indigenous animals, says The veterinarian said dogs should an observant Jewish veterinarian be kept inside unless suitable shelter who does not want to be named for was provided. professional reasons. “The unusual Regarding human consumption animals are bred in captivity and are of meat, he said the Noachide Laws, used to living this way - so there is no incumbent on all people, prohibited problem having a pet that is differ- meat to be cut off a living animal. ent,” he said. In keeping with the stringent The SPCA, among other animal laws prohibiting any benefit from protection organisations, invites a mixture of meat and milk “you people to visit its centres, stating cannot feed an animal milk and meat that “working hand-in-paw with our lifestyles. cruelty to animals, known as Tza’ar make another bracha on the bread. together - there should be separate animal behaviourists, they assess the But what of the Jewish community Ba’alei Chayim. It is manifest also in “Feeding one’s animals is an bowls for them - and, on Pesach a Jew temperament of each animal to see and its teachings regarding animals the fact that we are obliged to assist element of the meal and not an un- must ensure that there is no chometz what kind of owner will suit them and their care? an animal when we see it overbur- related superfluous issue,” Rabbi Fox in the animal food they provide to best”. “The Torah is replete with instances dened by the load it is carrying said. “The Mishne Halachos, Rabbi their pets”. Recently, there was a shocked and laws which highlight the extent (Exodus 23:5). These and others are a Menashe Klein (6:216), points out He added that the Torah prevented reaction to President Jacob Zuma’s to which we are concerned about reflection and implementation of the that not only may one not eat prior to us from castrating animals and a remark in the press that having a pet cruelty to animals. For example, the biblical prohibition against cruelty to one’s animals eating, the same is true rabbinical decree prevented an animal was white, not African, culture. He Torah prohibits using an ox and a animals.” also for fish as well.” from being spayed. said black South Africans who bought mule to jointly plough a field (Deva- Jews were so concerned with this Regarding the killing of Cecil, the Rabbi Fox added that it was a dog and took it for walks and to the rim 22:10), the logical reason being prohibition that the Shulchan Aruch famous lion by a tourist in Zimbabwe, permissible to visit a zoo “for even vet, were copying white culture. that the two are unequally matched,” (OC 167:6) instructed us not to eat Rabbi Fox referred to the teaching though the animals are in captivity, Speaking at a traditional ceremony Rabbi Gidon Fox, of the Pretoria unless we ensured that our animals by Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (Choshen it provides a person (with) an op- in KwaZulu-Natal, he stated that Hebrew Congregation, told the SA had eaten first, so much so that if a Mishpat 2:47) who advised against portunity to see and appreciate the people who loved dogs more than Jewish Report. person had already made a bracha physically killing insects, such as wonders of Hashem’s creations, their humans had a “lack of humanity”. “The Sefer Hachinuch in Mitzvah on the bread but had not yet eaten, flies. It was not a prohibition, but the diversity and majesty. He said there was a new generation 550 says that this prohibition is part he was allowed to instruct someone killing should be done in an indirect “Naturally, the zoo must ensure of Africans who tried to adopt other of the biblical prohibition against else to feed the animals and need not manner. In this instance, it was better that the animals are well cared for.” Parsha Cecil the Lion - in Zimbabwe and Jerusalem Lion was a killer. So why is everyone, myself and stab other people is beyond my imagina- While in the past the message of the 15th of Parshat Eikev included, saddened by the ruthless killing of a tion. To do so in the name of G-d is despicable. Av may have been a hidden holiday, today, yes ruthless killer? The tragic passing on Sunday of 16-year-old today, it is of vital importance - every day of the Rabbi Asher Deren Perhaps it’s because Cecil the Lion was a (ma- Shira Banki, has left a deep scar, not only in the year. The Shul of Blouberg - jestic) creature of G-d-given instinct. Cecil John hearts of her grieving parents, but the entire Let that Cecil within us be one of a human West Coast Rhodes, Walter Palmer, Yishai Shlissel and the nation who witnessed the horrific act. As a col- being, “rising like a lion” as the first halacha in rest of us are (potentially majestic) creatures of lective family we carry individual responsibility Jewish law teaches us, to serve Hashem, and Was Cecil the Lion that different from Cecil G-d-given conscience and purpose. for it - and to repair it. His creations - human, animal, and even the John Rhodes? Was Cecil’s status as king of the When a lion follows his instinct he’s a Right after Tisha B’Av, the 9th day of Av, we leaves on His trees - with strength, with joy and Hwange National Park attained in a manner all majestic reflection of G-d. When a human fol- celebrate the greatest holiday on the Jewish with love - in a Jerusalem of unity rebuilt by the too different than his namesake’s? lows his/her instinct (ignoring conscience and calendar - and you didn’t even know it existed.