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Please support the Chronicle! VOLUNTARY SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR 2021 NOW DUE R350 Help us continue to bring you news from the Cape Town Jewish Community PAYMENT OPTIONS ON PAGE 4 OR CLICK HERE! VOLUME 38 No 4 JUNE 2021 www.cjc.org.za And so, the rollout begins... Thursday 27 May was a milestone day at Highlands House is taking a cautious step-by-step Highlands House, as residents received the approach to loosening restrictions. first of their Pfizer vaccines. Earlier in the month, Highlands House and Cape Jewish three-step system was implemented, with residents Seniors Association staff were vaccinated, and many taken through registration, innoculation, and then members of the community took the initiative of going aA 15-minute waiting period, where they could be to sites that catered for walk-ins. (proof of registration monitored for any potential side-effects. was required) Staff and residents alike are looking forward to the For David and Hazel Cohen, this development means increased freedom that this will bring, although that they are that much closer to meeting their 5-week- old grandson in person for the first time. Cape Jewish Seniors Association’s Psychological Counsellor Hajiera Safiedien– Maloon and Director Diana Sochen proudly declare their status, after receiving their COVID vaccines. The CJSA team had their shots at Gatesville Mediclinic last month. Highlands House residents Carrol Schonberg and Mavis Lee receive the first of their Pfizer shots. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks, GroundUp Faltering hope on the Israel-Gaza border Path to Peace is a collaborative mosaic artwork, expressing a dream of hope and love. t is located on the border wall that divides the Gaza Strip and Israel, adjacent to the homesI of Moshav Netiv HaAsara. It can be seen from both sides of the gray security wall, completely transforming the environment. Artist Tsameret Zamir has lived on Moshav Netiv HaAsara for 20 years and is the creator of the project. Sadly, the recent war has had a devastating effect on the optimism that was created by this project. I am traumatised and scared of the hard experiences In an email to the Chronicle, Tsameret wrote, “The I went through, a powerful terror that repeatedly decoration on the border wall was meant to create an threatens my life. I have difficulty functioning, breathing atmosphere of hope. Each visitor wrote a wish on a and I’m crying all the time. I stopped working, I am David and Hazel Cohen received the first of their two Pfizer vaccines on 20 May at mosaic they chose and pasted it on the wall. It was a afraid to leave the house... Hoping for quieter and place that brought optimism for a safe life in the area. Lentegeur Psychiatric Hospital in Mitchells better days.” Plain. Inside this issue 25 Years of the Constitution The Jews of Okiep — Miasma is no myth We all need a laugh Two remarkable with Judges Albie Sachs a fascinating history — how to stop a — an important books by two and Dennis Davis pandemic reminder remarkable men Page 7 Page 9 Page 22 Page 25 Page 26 2 Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2021 CONTENTS VOLUME 33 No 5 JUNE 2016 VOLUME 38 No 4 JUNE 2021 Regular contributors Features Page 3 Des says... Page 22 Dr Gareth Kantor: Miasma is no myth — how Shabbat times to stop a pandemic Page 4 Subscriptions Page 24 Maiyan Karidi, The Samurai, the last tree and Family announcements a miracle Eliot Osrin Leadership Institute Page 26 Book reviews: two remarkable books by two Pages 6 - 10 Cape SA Jewish Board of Deputies remarkable men Page 11 United Herzlia Schools Pages 12-15 SA Zionist Federation (Cape Council) Page 16 Mensch Astra Centre Page 17 Telfed Mensch Thought-Leader of the month Page 18 Cape Jewish Seniors Association Page 19 Temple Israel Page 20 Jewish Community Services Page 21 Anton Katz: When local government becomes dysfunctional 9 Page 23 CSO Page 25 Craig Nudelman on the benefits of laughter Salisbury House Page 27 Chronic Ads Page 28 Sports News 25 28 CSO emergency CJC EDITORIAL BOARD Banking details: Chairman: Lester Hoffman. Ex-officio: Ben- SnapScan Standard Bank — Branch: Thibault Square; Zapper number for security and Zion Surdut. Committee: Daniel Bloch, Tzvi Branch code: 020 909; Acc no: 070 703 493; medical emergencies Brivik, Geoff Cohen, Barbara Flax, Myra Acc name: The Cape Jewish Chronicle Trust; Osrin, Helen Schneider, Jonathan Silke, Acc type: Current 24 hours Chaya Singer. Editor and layout: Desrae Saacks, Secretary: Tessa Epstein, Digital 086 18 911 18 coordinator: Lisa Shapiro DISCLAIMERS ERRORS, OMISSIONS AND CORRECTIONS The Cape Jewish Chronicle regrets any errors or omissions that may occur in the paper and, where possible, will attempt to rectify these in a subsequent issue, should such a measure be deemed appropriate. No repeat advertisement or credits will be given for small typographical errors which do not appreciably lessen the value of the advertisement. The appearance of an advertisement or photograph does not necessarily indicate approval or endorsement by the Editorial Board for the product or service advertised or photograph reproduced, and it takes no responsibility for any loss or damage suffered by any person as a result of the reliance upon the information contained therein. LETTERS AND OPINIONS Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board or its sponsoring bodies. Letters submitted anonymously will not be printed. However, by agreement, the writer’s name may be withheld in the publication. Letters are published subject to space being available. The Editor and the Editorial Board have the right to decide on the inclusion of any item submitted for publication. Letters may be edited for clarity, space and/or language. KASHRUT Unless otherwise stated, food and catering services advertised in this publication are not under the supervision of the Cape Beth Din. FINANCIAL You should always obtain independent expert advice prior to making any financial investment, commercial or other decisions. Do not enter into any transactions of the above nature, based partly or wholly on the content of any advertisements or articles published in the Cape Jewish Chronicle. Cape Jewish Chronicle Samson Centre 87 Hatfield Str Gardens 8001 PO Box 4176 Cape Town 8000 phone 021 464 6736 email [email protected] Acting editor Desrae Saacks Cape Jewish Chronicle June 2021 3 Des Says... By Desrae Saacks, acting editor Cape Jewish Chronicle Time to exhale I’ve been agonising over what situation will be by the time this is to write in this column. being read? The ceasefire is merely a chance to stop, rest, and exhale! Let’s artly because I’m not used to the hope the diplomacy being carried out Pdiscipline of having to share my in the background bears fruit, and thoughts publicly on a monthly basis. that all those who want peace, sanity (Will I ever be?) Another reason and dignity, prevail. that this month was particularly challenging is because there were Speaking of exhaling, it is tempting to two politically charged and fast- breath out a sigh of relief as we see moving stories, that were changing the vaccine rollout finally take off. But minute by minute, almost faster than a word of caution from Dr Gary Kantor I could type. on page 22 — make sure you exhale outdoors! Gary fills us in on important It was difficult to pin anything down information, only recently publicised this month as the news changed by the World Health Organisation so rapidly. No sooner had I written and the Centre for Disease Control, something than it was overtaken regarding a previously overlooked by new developments. But that way in which the virus spreads. It’s just reasserts the brief of the Cape both a fascinating story, and a critical Jewish Chronicle — it is a chronicle, update in the fight against COVID-19. an archive of the story of our community. A meeting place, where If all this is too stressful, and you we find each other and showcase our feel the need to escape to a tropical active and creative community, all island, turn to page 24. Maiyan Karidi the organisations and individuals of writes with humour and whimsey of which it comprises. her time living in Mauritius. The Cape Jewish Chronicle is not, Or if you prefer a more arid landscape and has never claimed to be, a and wide open skies, you’ll find these newspaper, in the sense of publishing on page 9. Gwynne Robins takes up-to-the-minute breaking news. But us to the beautiful and oh-so-quiet this month there was an elephant in Namaqualand town of Okiep, and the the room. story of the Jews who settled there, and left their mark on the region. For two weeks it rained missiles in Israel. Yet another round of death, This issue has plenty to occupy destruction and trauma for all who you as winter and the third wave live there. approach, keeping us indoors. (but with the windows open please) As I write this, there is a ceasefire in place. But who knows what the Let’s hope that this next wave is the lightest, and the last. Project TEN is looking for an Education and Social Activism Coordinator in Durban We want to hear from you! We welcome your news, opinions and stories. If you have anything to share with the community, please email [email protected] The Jewish Agency’s Project TEN is an International Development Volunteering and Educational program that operates Volunteer Centers in various Shabbat and Yom Tov Times countries. Date Portion Candle lighting Ends Latest The coordinator will Implement the work plan in the 4 June/24 Sivan Shelach L’cha 5.27pm 6.21pm field based on the project’s work model.