How Hitler manipulated athletes of Jewish descent for the Berlin Olympics / 12

www.sajewishreport.co.za Friday, 27 January 2012 / 3 Shevat, 5772 Volume 16 Number 2 ‘I thought I was going to die’ Page 7

At the end of last year, Habonim’s biggest machaneh in 20 years featured many highlights, including a visit of Western Cape GUESS WHO VISITED Premier Helen Zille who addressed channichim and madrichim about her vision for the future of , considering the role of former Habonim channichim in the anti-apartheid struggle. Pictured is Zille engaging with some boys from HABONIM’S MACHANEH? Shtilim (grades 5 and 6): Zac Berman; Benji Neuburger and Greg Diamond. (PHOTOGRAPH BY NATHAN BURSTEIN) PAGE 12 - IN THIS EDITION -

3 The 6 Bryan Silke’s 8 ‘Somewhere on the Border’still shocks 4 South 6 SAKS: 9 BOOKS - ‘The Jewish BusinessBrief Africans Trying to dagger of Report ‘Innovate, explore escape revenge lies looks don’t the an all- unused... no to the stagnate!’ Jewish pervasive body into future Baltics impurity which to plunge it’ 2 SA JEWISH REPORT 27 January - 03 February 2012 SHABBAT TIMES SPONSORED BY: PARSHA OF THE WEEK More Theodor Herzl High School (PE) Taking control matric NINE DISTINCTIONS SEVEN DISTINCTIONS of one’s life 2011 PARSHAT BO shining Rabbi Malcolm Matitiani Progressive Jewish stars Congregation Although we received THIS WEEK’S parsha includes a description of some results late, the Lauren Kahn: Romy Cohen: the first Pesach. Before G-d enacts the last English, Afrikaans Add English Home plague against the Egyptians - the slaying of the stars still shine Lang, LO, Maths, Maths 3, Language, Afrikaans firstborn of Egypt - every Israelite household is bright, as can be seen Physical Science, Add Lang, LO, Mathes, commanded to choose an unblemished lamb on Accounting, Business Life Sciences, CAT, the tenth of the month of Nissan. from the results Studies, French History This lamb was to be slaughtered on the four- teenth day of the month between sunset and nightfall and was to be roasted and eaten in SIX DISTINCTIONS FIVE DISTINCTIONS FOUR DISTINCTIONS haste and its blood was to be painted on the doorposts and lintels of the Israelites’ houses. According to the Torah this ritual was a prophy- lactic rite to prevent the death of the Israelite firstborn. January 27/3 Shevat The blood on the doorposts and lintels enabled January 28 / 4 Shevat the Destroyer to distinguish the Israelite homes Parshat Bo from the Egyptian homes. The sages, however, 18:15 19:35 Johannesburg were troubled by this notion, because surely the 18:29 20:31 Cape Town Omniscient G-d did not need the Israelites to mark their houses in order to determine which 18:15 19:31 Durban homes were Israelite and which were Egyptian. Ryan Miltz: Sonja Woolff: 18:20 19:49 Bloemfontein What then was the purpose of smearing the Jason Mechali: 18:00 20:03 Port Elizabeth blood of the Pesach lamb on the doorposts? LO, Maths, Maths paper LO, Maths, Maths paper 3, LO, Maths Literacy, 18:15 19:51 East London According to the Torah the blood was a symbol 3, Physical Science, Life Physical Science, Life Business Studies, for the inhabitants of the houses, not for G-d: Sciences, Geography Sciences Dramatic Arts “And the blood on the houses where you are staying shall be a sign for you: when I see the blood I will pass over you, so that no plague will Sha’arei Torah St John’s College destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.” (Ex Published by S A Jewish Report (Pty) Ltd, FIVE DISTINCTIONS THREE DISTINCTION - IEB PO Box 84650, Greenside, 2034 12:13) Tel: (011) 023-8160 | Fax: (086) 634-7935 Rashi interprets this to mean that G-d will Isaac Tobias: FOUR DISTINCTIONS Printed by Caxton Ltd verify whether the Israelites were occupying Physical Science, LO, EDITOR - Geoff Sifrin themselves with G-d’s precepts before sparing [email protected] them. Although G-d did not need the Israelites’ Computer Application COMMERCIAL MANAGER assistance to distinguish between the abodes of Technology Sue Morris - [email protected] the Israelites and those of the Egyptians, G-d did Yonatan Levin: Hebrew, Sub-Editor - Paul Maree require the Israelites to be proactive and take LO, Computer Ed Co-ordinator - Sharon Akum their destiny into their own hands. [email protected] While they relied on G-d to free them from Application Technology Sports Editor - Jack Milner Egyptian bondage, the Israelites also con- [email protected] tributed to their own redemption by following Books Editor - Gwen Podbrey G-d’s instructions. Yehuda Slasky: Maths, This is one of the basic ideas of Judaism. Our Arts Editor - Robyn Sassen Physical Science, [email protected] tradition does not teach blind faith and total Accounting, LO, Computer Simon Trisk: English, Cape Town correspondent reliance on G-d, but that we should take action Moira Schneider: 021-794-4206 ourselves and not wait passively for divine inter- Application Technology Maths, French, LO Pretoria correspondent vention. Diane Wolfson: 082-707-9471 It is for this reason that Judaism demands Advertising - (011) 023-8160 obedience to G-d’s commandments and not King David High Linksfield * Matric 2011 [email protected] adherence to doctrine. Judaism requires belief THREE DISTINCTIONS results are now Britt Landsman: 082-292-9520 “in” G-d, and not belief “that” certain state- [email protected] ments are true. Jarren Collet: Business Studies, LO, Maths closed. Manuela Bernstein: 082-951-3838 Belief “in” G-d means trust in G-d. By sacrific- [email protected] ing the Pesach lamb and thereby risking reli- Freelance Advertising Executives gious persecution, the Israelites demonstrated KASHRUT ALERT Marlene Bilewitz: 083-475-0288 their trust that G-d will redeem them from their [email protected] enslavement. This commitment to the Covenant Adi Lew: 083-407-8034 was what G-d required, and still demands. SOME BOKOMO PRODUCTS ARE KOSHER CERTIFIED [email protected] A corollary of Judaism’s emphasis on action Classified Sales and trust in G-d, rather than unquestioning The kashrut department of the Union of Orthodox Synagogues advises Charissa Newman - [email protected] acceptance of dogma, is the concept that we take that the following Bokomo products are kosher certified as parev with Manager: Distribution full responsibility for what happens to us. or without the Beth Din logo: Sunny Bisk; Sunny Bisk Lite; Weet-Bix; Britt Landsman Because G-d gives us freedom of choice, we have Weet-Bix Lite; Weet-Bix with Bran; Weet-Bix with Muesli; Weet-Bix Bites; Design and layout a say in our fate. Weet-Bix Bites Chocolate; Weet-Bix Bites Forest Berry; Weet-Bix Bites Frankie Matthysen | Nicole Cook Thus it was incumbent upon the Israelites to Honey. Website free themselves from intellectual and spiritual Pick n Pay tuna (shredded and chunks in salt water) is parev, kosher for www.sajewishreport.co.za slavery. Once they showed trust in G-d’s Passover and Bishul Yisrael when bearing the Beth Din logo (not the OU) Ilan Ossendryver - [email protected] redemption by following his orders, G-d freed and the production date 01/2011. Subscription enquiries Avusa Publishing (Pty) Ltd. Tel: 0860-13-2652 them from physical bondage by unleashing death among the firstborn of Egypt. The updated packaging of Robertsons' spices, although not bearing the BOARD OF DIRECTORS This proactive attitude was summed by the Howard Feldman (Chairman), Issie Kirsh (Deputy Beth Din logo, and certified to date, are still kosher certified. In the near great Jewish thinker and rabbi, Abraham Chairman), Marlene Bethlehem, Norman future the packaging will bear the Beth Din Logo once Lowenthal, Bertie Lubner, Benjy Porter, Joshua Heschel: “Prayer cannot bring water to more. Herby Rosenberg, Howard Sackstein, Jason parched fields, nor mend a broken bridge, nor Valkin, Elton Bondi, Michael Sieff, Steven n. Danone Toppers range of yoghurts erroneously bears the Beth Din logo. rebuild a ruined city; but prayer can water an Krawitz and Denese Bloch. These products are not kosher certified. Danone apologises for the error. arid soul, mend a broken , and rebuild a Advertisements and editorial copy from outside sources do weakened will.” not neccessarily reflect the views of the editors and staff. 27 January - 03 February 2012 SA JEWISH REPORT 3 Trevor Stamelman: 082-608-0168 Tel: (011) 885-3742 [email protected] www.stamelmanproperties.co.za

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Henry Goldscmidt to view 082-347-8044 to the pressures of the difficult financial fusing era – a rich mixture indeed! This times we live in. Nor are we immune means facing up to the difficult ques- HAPPY 2012 STILL TIME TO SELL OR BUY WITH STAMELMAN PROPERTIES AND WIN AN ISLAND to the particularly difficult times all tions that come with such an era, always HOLIDAY AND OTHER GREAT PRIZES SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS AND CALL TREVOR TODAY TO JOIN! newspapers - ranging from giants like with fairness and balance. Community the New York Times to smaller local members have come to respect - and papers - are experiencing. Print media in expect - this. general has become vulnerable in the Any good newspaper sometimes ruf- Internet age. Newspapers face the test of fles feathers, especially with such a var- how to integrate - financially and jour- ied readership. This is as it should be, nalistically - with the new electronic when critical thinking and vibrant com- reality. munity is the aim. We cannot please The Jewish Report has to cut its coat everyone, nor should we try to. Aside according to its cloth. Our readers will from a plethora of news, features and have noticed that we have been a “lean- information, we provide an open forum er” paper of late. Articles are shorter for robust debate on our opinion pages, and crisper and space constraints mean letters pages and elsewhere. We also we cannot cover as much as we would enthusiastically espouse the well-being like to. But we still mirror the Jewish of Israel and the Zionist cause. world’s diversity well. We have a board of directors which We will, in the coming months, be includes eminent members of South restructuring the paper and refining our African Jewry who are fully committed content even more, to appeal to a greater to the paper’s viability, future growth extent to our younger readers - without and relevance, and willingly give of their neglecting our loyal older readers. time, energy and insights. The outcome, which we are excited The irony is that because the Jewish about, will be a re-energised, dynamic Report has become such an integral part paper well integrated with the Internet, of the fabric of South African Jewish adding to our existing, popular e-paper life, many people accept it as a “given”, and website. This will particularly without realising what producing a good appeal to overseas readers and to those paper week after week entails. It living far away from our home base, requires skilled, hard-working staff Johannesburg. It also reinforces our role passionate about maintaining high as a national - indeed, international - standards, operating under the unforgiv- paper for South African Jewry in all its ing deadlines any newspaper environ- different aspects. ment imposes. And it needs the money to 2011 was our barmitzvah year. We look pay printers, distributors, website back with pride at the 13 years of build- designers, the taxman and other ele- ing a product of quality and integrity. ments. Our readers include many outside the A paper can only be as good as its Jewish community, including decision- readers allow it to be and are willing to makers in government and members of sustain. The Jewish Report is distrib- other faiths. Beyond our role in the uted free and depends entirely on adver- Jewish world, we are a bridge to broader tising for its revenue - in other words, for society. its existence. We therefore appeal to our SA Jewry needs and deserves a good readers and advertisers to support newspaper which connects its parts, is “their newspaper”. We, in turn, assure thought-provoking and helps to build them of a quality product. healthy Jewish community. Growing a Challenges can bring out the best in newspaper hinges on solid journalistic people and institutions. We at the Jewish principles and jealously guarding its Report look to the future with confi- credibility and its independence. The dence and excitement. The paper Jewish Report is not dictated to by any- belongs to all of South African Jewry, one, nor is it the “mouthpiece” of, or and we intend to continue serving it. beholden to any individual or organisa- tion. Our concern is the well-being of Geoff Sifrin South African Jewry as a whole in all Editor 4 SA JEWISH REPORT 27 January - 03 February 2012

it was finally time to be home- COMMUNITY BUZZ ward bound and we decided to LIONEL SLIER head home via White Visit to Baltics may be ‘just for you’ 082-444-9832, fax: 011-440-0448, River/Nelspruit. On arrival and MOIRA SCHNEIDER through White River, one notices CAPE TOWN [email protected] a fair amount of bustling develop- ments; we decided not to stop FANCY EXPLORING centuries of MPUMALANGA (LITERAL- here, though. Jewish life in the Baltics while LY MEANING “THE SUN “The trusty Beth Hatefutsoth experiencing its renewal through COMES OUT”). volume does indicate one Sue interaction with the local commu- Hart, being a Jewish individual nity? If so, the South African Marc Kopman continues: still resident in White River.” Young Jewish Executives Mission To be continued. to the Baltics might be just the “Hoedspruit: Having already ticket. arrived at the Ekhuleni Lodge, PORT ELIZABETH Led by former South African which is an amazing destination, educator Solly Kaplinski, execu- we were advised that the closest Brian Shear (1936 - 2011) remem- tive director of Overseas Joint entertainment, dining, game view- bered by Rollo Berman: Ventures of the American Jewish ing would be via either Hoedspruit Joint Distribution Committee (closest to Ekhuleni) or alterna- “Brian Shear was born in Port (JDC) in Jerusalem, this comes in tively Phalaborwa (somewhat fur- Elizabeth in 1936 and passed away the wake of the Lithuanian dele- Youngsters at the Olameinu Jewish summer camp held in Lithuania ther in the opposite direction) last month. He matriculated at gation he brought to this country in July 2011, part of the JDC’s Jewish renewal activities in the Baltics. and we then ventured into Grey High School in 1952. Shaer early last year that saw students (PHOTO: SUPPLIED) Hoedspruit. achieved some sort of fame from the Vilnius Jewish Day “I remember that when I was in because he resembled and could School as well as a young leader taking a group of young execu- the few locals to escape the Ghetto National Service and Citizen impersonate the film comedian, from the Jewish community tives to Latvia and Lithuania from and join the Jewish partisans. Force in the ‘70s/’80s, a major Air Jerry Lewis. He performed in addressing audiences around the March 18-22. The first of a num- There will also be opportunities Force base existed there and, yes, many shows as Jerry Lewis with country. ber of similar initiatives, it will to network with local Jewish busi- it still operates for sure. another Port Elizabeth star, The JDC is the world’s largest showcase the investment that has nessmen and foreign diplomats, “Also quite a developed town Hylton Isaacson. Jewish humanitarian and welfare gone into reviving these Jewish as well as a private briefing with a with all the main amenities one “If there was nothing going on organisation, dedicated to helping communities, as well as the exten- legal expert on Lithuanian citi- would look for, however, the usual in PE, he would say: ‘Let’s go for a Jews in Israel and elsewhere. It sive welfare programmes in place zenship. On the agenda is a visit to questioning revealed absolutely beer and a paw-paw’ at the Marine also assists other victims of disas- to assist the elderly and children the Shalom Aleichem Jewish Day no signs of any Jewish presence Hotel. Who can forget the sight of ters in distressed regions like at risk. School. there either. Brian, at the start of the summer Haiti, Japan and Rwanda. Participants will visit the old The mission will be limited to 15 “The Beth Hatefutsoth’s vol- season, hanging from the Prom- To further develop the bond towns of Riga, (Kovno) participants and spouses are wel- ume on this area (perfect to use as enade and then jumping down between the two communities, as and Vilnius (Vilna). They will see come to apply. a guide for Jewish life in outlying onto the sand? This feat was well as investigate the deep con- the Ponar forest, site of mass exe- For further information, you areas) does mention a Susser fam- always applauded by visitors. nections between South African cutions of Jews during the Second may email Solly Kaplinski on ily who own a game farm in the “However, his great love and Jewry and the Baltics, the JDC is World War, accompanied by one of [email protected] area, but we unfortunately did not talent was for painting and he did manage to make contact with a fine arts degree at the them. University of Cape Town. He own referring GPs and neurologists. “As it happens, there was a became well known for his por- Two Leaders in forefront The Leaders’ pioneering Susser family in my current me- traits of religious personalities. approach to the management of dina of Krugersdorp and one of “He had an art gallery at the top the illness and their unique inves- them married a Kopman! An of Donkin Reserve which was a of Parkinson’s research tigative work into their patients’ excellent animal rehabilitation very steep road. One day he cellular conditions (underpinned centre is open there, truly a parked his car outside his shop STORY AND PHOTOGRAPH BY fession, the Leaders left South by specialised laboratory tests) has worthwhile experience and when but forgot to pull up the hand- RITA LEWIS Africa for London where their med- earned them highly prized awards, we were there a number of stu- brake, with the result that the car ical focus shifted in another field both in the United States and the dent rangers were on duty and I began to career downwards THE SOUTH African medical fra- and they are now both involved in United Kingdom. picked up the odd American towards the main street. Through ternity was honoured this week the multi-disciplinary management Lucille Leader was a speaker at accent and immediately won- a miracle the car suffered no dam- with the visit of Dr Geoffrey of the debilitating Parkinson’s dis- the last Second World Parkinson’s dered if any were Jews. However, age, nor was anyone hurt. Leader and his South African-born ease. Congress in Scotland, where she the opportunity did not present “These fond memories of Brian wife Lucille. Leader is medical director of the presented four papers. itself to enquire. Shear will never be forgotten. As Some 44 years ago, Leader – a London Pain Relief and Nutritional The couple, who have written “Phalaborwa: We headed in this the saying goes: ‘Once a PE oke, graduate of the University of Cape Support Clinic at Highgate Hospital, five books on Parkinson’s disease, direction to enter the Kruger Park always a PE oke.’ Town - was a houseman of Dr which has become internationally recalled their lives in South Africa (65 km from Ekhuleni). The last “Shear lived in Johannesburg Chris Barnard, the acclaimed sur- recognised for its Parkinson’s dis- at the time of the first heart trans- time we had been in the town was for the last 17 years and at one geon whose medical team under- ease management department. plant and the heartache felt by for a Jewish wedding at the time had an art shop in Bree took the world’s first heart trans- His wife is the nutrition director at everyone when, although the actu- Country Golf Club there in 1992 Street. He painted many African plant at in the clinic and the two work in associ- al heart transplant operation itself when a friend (ex-Queenstown) scenes. He also did some excellent Cape Town. ation with their multi-disciplinary – into Louis Washkansky – was a arranged a chuppah, chazzan; rov portraits of Nelson Mandela Although still in the medical pro- team, collaborating with patients’ resounding success and created and all the amenities that go with which will certainly become his worldwide fame and acknowledge- it! legacy.” Geoffrey and ment for those involved. Regrettably, Washkansky died, “In all probability it was the Lucille first and last Jewish wedding JOHANNESBURG not of the operation but of an infec- Leader, there (no mention of this in the tion, some days later. fine volume). Rufke Mann was sitting in the award win- The Leaders, in South Africa to “Again local Jews used the famous and popular Florian ners for their visit friends and families, in Cape facilities of the Pietersburg (now Restaurant in Hillbrow, now sadly pioneering, Town visited the museum which is Polokwane) community for their gone but fondly remembered. A comprehen- (now) the “old hospital”. needs. No Jews lived there when girl walked in and said to him in a sive approach After completing a tour of the grounds, Leader said it was mind we enquired last in 1992 and the state of shock: “Rufke, you are to the treat- current situation, I’m afraid, is no boggling to see how the hospital wearing one brown shoe and one ment of different. black shoe!” Quick as a flash, and its environs had expanded “White River/Nelspruit: Well, Rufke answered: “Yes, and I have Parkinson’s since the time he had qualified all good things come to an end and another pair like that at home.” disease. there in 1957. 27 January - 03 February 2012 SA JEWISH REPORT 5 Three women, passionate about Israeli folk dancing STORY AND PHOTOGRAPH BY MOIRA SCHNEIDER CAPE TOWN

BRENDA MARAIS, Tillie Wust and Celia le Celia le Roux are so passionate about Roux; Israeli dancing that Marais, accom- Brenda panied by her friends, has been giv- Marais; and ing weekly classes for the past 10 Tillie Wust, years. Early last year, they brought who have a out 29-year-old Marcelo Marianoff, an internationally renowned South passion American Israeli folk dance instruc- for Israeli tor, to run a two-day workshop here dancing. at their own expense. They have invited him on a return week,” Marais says of the event held assisting with the tea at last year’s visit in March and hope to make under the auspices of the London- workshop, asked if she could join in. Machol Cape Town an annual occur- based Israeli Dance Institute. Since then, Wust has been teaching a rence. The fact that, as non-Jews, they group of her friends regularly. Marais explains: “The moment I are in the distinct minority is “part Aside from R10 for refreshments, started going (to classes) with Tillie, of the attraction” for Marais, who the women don’t charge for the two- I just knew this is what I wanted to relishes meeting people from other hour weekly class. Proceeds from do – I love it. It’s far better than going cultures as well as Jews from all the sale of their CDs goes “back into to the gym and the music also just over the world. “It broadens your the kitty” to support the dancing. grows on you.” horizons,” she says. Israeli dancing comprises partner Says Wust: “It’s something differ- Referring to the choice of dances as well as circle dances, but ent - it’s the dance form that includes Marianoff to lead the two-day pro- singles should not be put off attend- the most other dance forms.” gramme, Marais says he’s “a bril- ing. “We have made a decision to just Marais teaches on a Thursday liant dancer and a brilliant teacher - do the circle dances here because we night at the Hatfield Campus or at plus he’s nice to look at! We really don’t have enough men dancing,” Herzlia School, offering beginners’ want to attract more young people.” says Marais. and advanced classes, as well as on a They plan to include an absolute While the three are not card-car- Friday to non-Jewish women in beginners’ class, “easy dances” for rying Christian Zionists, they share Durbanville. She says they would those who know “a little bit” and the movement’s philosophy. Marais “love it” if more Jewish people, advanced classes catering to former says she contributes to Christian “men and women, young and old”, ballet dancers, as well as for praise Zionist organisation Bridges for joined in. dancers. A novelty this year will be a Peace “because I feel so strongly “It is for everybody,” she says. “If session on folk dance choreography. about Israel”. you can put one foot in front of the Israeli folk dancing is presently Machol Cape Town will take other, you can dance.” experiencing unprecedented growth place on March 17 and 18. For fur- Since 2001, the trio has been worldwide, she notes. “I think it’s ther information see Facebook attending Israeli Folk Dance teach- the first time that such a workshop page Machol C.T. 2012, e-mail ers’ workshops in London, at their has been held at this level in South [email protected] or phone own expense, to learn new dances. Africa.” Brenda Marais during office hours “You know, it is such an uplifting Wust’s domestic worker, who was at 083-292-5437. 6 SA JEWISH REPORT 27 January - 03 February 2012 AROUND OPINION AND ANALYSIS - FORUM FOR DIVERSE VIEWS THE WORLD NEWS IN BRIEF Your brand: Innovate, don’t stagnate! ISRAEL TO OPEN CRIMINAL PROBE OF JERUSALEM WHEN HOPING to either retain existing con- invariably no! In the ‘90s and even the noughties, sumers or capture new ones, business owners MUFTI if I was to run the same ad campaign on two dif- need to be conscious of what their brand repre- Bryan Silke’s ferent radio or television stations, I would JERUSALEM - Israel's attor- sents. The challenge is immense, with multi- patiently wait and calculate the respective call ney general has ordered police million rand contracts up for grabs annually to BusinessBrief responses, tabulate them, and compare them. to launch an investigation of the agency that best pitches “the way forward” Problematically, without research focus Jerusalem's top Muslim cleric to a nervous boardroom. Know your business groups, I would be unable to assess whether the after the mufti quoted a tradi- response was based on an ad from the past five tional text that called for Is coffee really just coffee? days, five weeks, or even five months! killing Jews. Slogans and logos – inherently critical to 1987, the impetus had been provided to tell the Branding to specific target audiences can be Attorney General Yehuda brand-shaping - drive an awareness as to what story from a collective Southern-African/ most rewarding and cost-effective, in particular Weinstein on Tuesday asked “traits” the brand takes on. Whether a brand, European perspective - something South the niche, but illusive LSM14+ category (the the Israel police in a letter to for instance Apple, is considered innovative, Africans would clearly identify with. wealthiest segment of society). Research by open a criminal investigation informal, or smart is dependent not only on Freshly Ground Insights on four or five star golf into a speech last week by product performance and capacity, but also on Marketing the brand in recessionary times courses profiles this individual: 53 per cent are Mohammed Hussein at an the slogan and how the product/service is com- Once you have established your brand, the next between ages 35-49, 42 per cent earn in excess of event celebrating the 47th mercially marketed. critical step is marketing and distribution - it is R60 000pm, 86 per cent own a vehicle of over anniversary of Palestinian According to Harsha Prag, a strategic plan- of paramount importance to market to the cor- R200 000 and 63 per cent are private bank clients Authority President ner at JWT, the more compelling a brand’s rect audience as opposed to blind advertising. - a lucrative marketing opportunity. Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah move- story, the more desirable the brand. Prag Prior to the advent of social networking media According to Pieter Groenewald, MD of mar- ment. The mufti will be inves- argues that before Starbucks, coffee was just (in business terms this translates to an entirely keting agency Golf Unlimited, gaining access to tigated on suspicion of incite- coffee, but then came along Starbucks and free platform to market your product/service), this “severely time strapped and selective” ment to violence and racism. “offered not only coffee but a fascinating story the buzzword among creative teams/agencies audience is based on “striking the right chord” In his speech, the mufti cited as well”. was “return on investment”. ROI, says Richard during their leisure time when they are most a traditional text attributed to Locally, Robbie Brozin’s Nandos was born Lord, Associate Media Director at The receptive to information. the Prophet Muhammad that from a single grilled chicken outlet (named at MediaShop, is very much prevalent today, but Groenewald’s team was successful in initiat- says: "The hour of judgment the time Chickenland) in the south of with one caveat… ing the digital advertising sector on GPS will not come until you fight Johannesburg, that provided a healthier (some When trying to assess the effectiveness of an screens in golf carts - a strategy that has proven the Jews. The Jew will hide might add tastier) alternative to the dominant advertising campaign, says Lord, one needs to to be very successful for the brands he repre- behind the stone and behind fried chicken takeaway restaurants in SA. take into account: the strength of the offer, the sents. During a relaxing round, top business the tree. The stone and the The genius of Brozin’s brand strategy was to media used to convey the message and the actu- decision-makers can be alerted to products and tree will cry, 'Oh Muslim, Oh associate the brand with a story - the evolution al campaign objectives - to drive sales or increase services most suitable to them, that they might Servant of G-d, this is a Jew of peri peri from its Portuguese roots, together brand awareness (two entirely different goals)? immediately brush off were they to be exposed behind me, come and kill with its subsequent cultural influence in Each of these criteria will in some way have an to them in a more traditional medium. him'." Mozambique. With the growing Portuguese impact on ROI. The reality facing marketing staff A video of the mufti's speech community having established itself in South from expectant executives is how to gauge the For more information, and to read more from the was posted on YouTube by Africa around the time of the brand’s birth in effectiveness of our campaign. The answer is above authors, visit www.bbrief.co.za Palestinian Media Watch; the group's account was frozen for several days over the content. The video also shows a man Trying to escape an all-pervasive impurity introducing the mufti saying: "Our war with the descen- LONG HERALDED as an enthralling time of holiness. It is that very holiness, however, dants of the apes and pigs is a cultural innovation, free thinking and individ- BARBARIC that creates a corresponding potential for it war of religion and faith. Long ual self-actualisation, the 1960s can now be to become a source of the utmost degrada- live Fatah!" seen as ushering in an unprecedented break- tion, in which human beings created Israeli Prime Minister down in traditional sexual mores throughout YAWP B’tzelem Elokim - in the “Image of G-d”, Benjamin Netanyahu on the Western world. David Saks meaning pure and spiritually elevated in Sunday called on the attorney One sees this manifesting particularly their very essence - bring themselves down to general to order the opening of strongly in Europe and the United States, well below the level of animals. The latter an investigation, saying: where most Jews outside of Israel now live. In may be driven by little more than an instinc- "These are grave words that retrospect, the decade also marked the birth of ture continually reinforces the notion that no tive desire to gratify their procreative urges, the world needs to condemn." post-Christian society. restraints should be placed on gratifying but they do not engage in the kind of obscene Hussein told Israel Radio on The two phenomena were, of course, closely one’s sexual desires. Pornography of the most acts that human beings are capable of, acts Sunday that he had just been linked. When Judeo-Christian values were loathsome kind, once a clandestine phenome- that are now effectively endorsed by assorted quoting the religious text, not broadly assumed to be the bedrock principles non confined to the more unsavoury fringes of intellectual psychologists, sexologists and calling for the murder of Jews. on which the relevant countries based them- society, has entered the mainstream and those other “experts” as being perfectly healthy Americans for Peace Now selves, it was axiomatic that modes of behav- who disseminate it are depicted as champi- explorations of human sexuality. blasted what it called incite- iour contrary to such values would be rejected oning freedom of expression. I remark on all this not to excuse the ment. by the majority of the population. Not surprisingly the institution of mar- appalling behaviour by certain haredi ele- “We are appalled by these Once Christianity had been relegated to the riage, that most solemn and idealistic of ments in Israel towards those adjudged to be comments, coming from the status of, at best, just another lifestyle choice, human partnerships, is now in profound cri- maintaining an insufficient standard of mod- most senior Muslim cleric on and even more so when it came to be scorned sis and it is today almost the norm for chil- esty, but to at least put in some sort of context the Palestinian Authority’s within the prevailing artistic and intellectual dren to be deprived of a traditional two-parent why religiously observant Jews feel the way payroll,” said Debra DeLee, currents of the day as a benighted, outdated upbringing. they do about the rampant permissiveness of APN’s president. and repressive system of social control, it was In part, the feminist movement has become their host societies. The physical dangers to “What we find particularly inevitable that accepted restraints would fall a victim of its own success in helping to bring which our ancestors were exposed under hos- disturbing is that these vile by the wayside. all this about. It has for some time been com- tile Christian and Muslim rule is negligible comments were broadcast on No longer could overt deviations from tradi- pletely taboo to consider men and women to when compared with the spiritual perils that the Palestinian Authority’s tional standards of sexual behaviour be con- differ from one another in anything but the face us and our children today. The impurity official television channel, demned as intrinsically wrong. Rather, this physical realm, resulting in the demise of is all-pervasive and all but impossible to amplifying their inciting too was accorded the legitimacy of a lifestyle what had been a culture of respect for woman- escape, given the extraordinary advances in affect." choice that was no less valid than once ly modesty. communications technology that are now No Palestinian leader has marked by a degree of abstinence and denial. Women-degrading pornography and an inextricably part of everyday life for all but condemned his words. (JTA) Indeed, the intelligentsia went further than unwillingness of men to commit themselves the most cloistered of Jews. that, asserting that deviancy and promiscuity in relationships now that sexual gratification The answer, I believe, lies not in seeking to ISRAELI PLANES ATTACK should be regarded as a healthy expression of is so easily obtained, are just two of the own impose added stringencies like segregated GAZA SITES individual autonomy, while scorning the lat- goals that feminism has brought upon those it bussing, nor ultimately in introducing such ter approach as a relic of repressiveness that sought to liberate. safe-guards as Internet filters to counter the JERUSALEM - Israel's Air was both psychologically unhealthy and an From the very beginning, the Jewish reli- worst manifestations of the scourge. There Force has attacked terrorist affront to human rights. gion has been distinguished by its emphasis rather has to be a whole-hearted embrace of sites in the Gaza Strip. It is hard to overstate the extent of the on maintaining the highest standards of mod- the lofty purity of what it means to live as a The targets hit on Monday degradation that has resulted from all of this. esty and restraint in sexual matters. This true “Am Kadosh” - a Holy Nation. Perhaps it night after midnight, included Parents are no longer able to tell their chil- came to be spread widely to humanity as a is only through committing oneself to Torah, a weapons manufacturing site dren why promiscuous behaviour is in fact whole through the teachings of its daughter not with resigned dutifulness but with joy in central Gaza, two tunnels in damaging and demeaning since they no longer religions, Christianity and Islam. and gratitude, will the foul degeneracy of northern Gaza, and a third have a yardstick of accepted Judeo-Christian The act of bringing a new neshama into the Western society come to be regarded not as a tunnel in southern Gaza, values on which to base this. world, in which Hashem Himself, as it were, temptation but as a sickness to be avoided at according to the Israel Defence On the contrary, educators and popular cul- participates, is redolent with the most intense all costs. Forces. The attacks were in response to several rockets fired at southern Israeli com- munities in recent days, the IDF said. Six rockets have been fired into southern Israel from Gaza in the last week. Two Palestinians were injured in the attacks, the Ma'an Palestinian news agency reported. (JTA) 27 January - 03 February 2012 SA JEWISH REPORT 7

rocks and bottles and I didn’t know what was COMMUNITY COLUMNS in them.” The victim of haredi attack She only later found out the bottles con- tained bleach. thought she was going to die “I was sure that they were going to set the car on fire while I am in it. I thought I was ABOVE JERUSALEM – Three haredi Orthodox men Mashiah has filed a complaint with the police. going to die. I slipped out of the car and hid have been arrested for assaulting a woman in Beit Shemesh has been the scene of tension behind the door while crouching with my BOARD Beit Shemesh. between haredi Orthodox and city residents hands over my head, but it still didn’t stop.” Mary Kluk, On Tuesday, Beit Shemesh resident Natalie as well as visitors, over the exclusion of Mashiah said a man came near her and National Chairman Mashiah (27), was assaulted by haredim women in the public sphere. threw a stone on her legs. She then escaped to while hanging posters of Mifal Hapayis “I didn’t even have time to pull down the a nearby building, but one of the assailants A column of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies (Israel’s national lottery) in a synagogue. The hand brake, and they already surrounded was inside. “He called me a ‘whore’ and a posters did not contain any photos of women. me,” Mashiah recalled. “They shattered all ‘shikse’, while I stood there shaking and cry- She says she begged her assailants to leave the windshields and threw stones at me. I ing.” her alone, but they wouldn’t. “Some 50 people begged them to stop, I promised to leave, but Minutes later, police arrived and the hared- Help needed stood by and watched. Nobody said or did they wouldn’t let me go. im began to disperse. anything,” she recounts. “Meanwhile, some 50 people stood by and Mashiah said she had come to the neigh- The men reportedly surrounded her car, did nothing - men, women and children. No bourhood modestly dressed. “I am an obser- slashed her tyres and took her car keys. A one said anything or did anything. I thought vant woman, and I respect them. But I won’t to grow our stone thrown at the car hit her in the head. they would set my car on fire.” come near Ramat Beit Shemesh again. Police helped her and arrested three sus- She added: “I saw death right in front of Something has to change. It’s inconceivable pects. Other attackers reportedly fled the me. I thought I was going to die. I saw dozens that I will be afraid to walk on the streets of bursary fund scene and are being sought by police. of haredim appearing from all corners with my own city.”

OVER THE decades, the Board’s Cape Town and Durban branches and the national office in Johannesburg have been entrusted with administering siz- able bursary portfolios on behalf of needy and/or academically deserving Jewish students. Several of the bursaries are also open to similarly qualified students from the broader community. The various branch- es have now all finalised the bursary allo- cations for the current academic year. Most of the funding has come from far- sighted and generous members of our community who, either during their life- times or as bequests, made significant donations in support of higher education. Specific funds within the larger portfolios bear the names of these benefactors. Through this crucial support, innu- merable young members of our commu- nity have been able to realise their pro- fessional and academic dreams, and in turn they have contributed in no small measure to the community and to society in general. One of the key reasons for the success of the Jewish people over the ages has been the emphasis we have traditionally placed on education. To this end, we have always been prepared to make consider- able sacrifices, whether as individuals or as communities. South African Jewry has certainly dis- tinguished itself when it comes to educat- ing their youth, both in terms of Jewish and secular education, but it has not been achieved without a considerable struggle. As every Jewish parent knows, as does anyone involved in the arduous task of fundraising, the costs of private and post- matric education are enormous, particu- larly during these difficult economic times. For a great many people, it would simp- ly be unachievable without assistance. It is a testimony to the generosity of the broader Jewish community that such assistance has largely been forthcoming up until now, but such support needs to be ongoing and cannot simply be taken for granted. While we were glad to be in a position to extend at least some much-needed assis- tance to this year’s applicants, we were also all too aware of the limitations of what we could do. Inevitably, not every application was successful, and even with those that were, the assistance provided could go only part of the way towards meeting the applicants’ needs. We clearly need to grow our current bursary funds to meet the ever-rising costs of higher education. Among other things, what were once very substantial grants provided by certain funds when they were first established, have since become exceedingly modest as a result of inflation. Here, I would like to appeal to our com- munity to assist, in particular those who have received financial assistance from the Board in the past. Any donation to the Board’s bursary fund, however small, will be of lasting benefit since it will be added to the capital base and thereby help pro- vide a permanent source of funding. All those interested in making a contri- bution are invited to contact one of the relevant branches: [email protected] (national), [email protected] (Durban) and [email protected] (Cape Town).

This column is paid for by the SAJBD 8 SA JEWISH REPORT 27 January - 03 February 2012 TAPESTRY

ART, BOOKS, DANCE, FILM, THEATRE

ARTS MATTERS Compiled by Robyn Sassen | 084-319-7844 or [email protected] at least one week prior to publication

Fugard Theatre, District Six: “Statements Johannesburg International Mozart Mncedisi Shabangu and Hamilton Dlamini, dunnit, “The Mousetrap” directed by Alan After an Arrest Under the Immorality Act”, Festival, directed by Florian Uhlig, at this written by Barney Simon, Percy Mtwa Swerdlow, until February 26, (011) 511- by Athol Fugard, with Bo Peterson and and related venues, January 27 - February and Mbongeni Ngema, until February 5, 1988. Malefane Mosuhli, January 27 - February 19. See http: //www.join-mozart- (011) 832-1641. 11, (021) 461-4554. festival.org/ for details, (011) 447-9264. Old Mutual Theatre on the Square, Maynardville Theatre, Cape Town: Sandton: “Body Language”, with Gaëtan Johannesburg Art Gallery, Joubert Park: Market Theatre, Newtown: In the Laager, Shakespeare’s “Comedy of Errors”, direct- Schmidt until February 4, (011) 883-8606. “A Fragile Archive”, work by pioneer painter “Yellow Man” with Mwenya Kabwe and ed by Matthew Wild, until February 18, Gladys Mgudlandlu, curated by Nontobeko David Johnson until February 5; in the Main (021) 421-7595. Stevenson Gallery, Cape Town: “The Ntombela, until April 8, (011) 725-3130. Theatre, Anthony Akerman’s “Somewhere Unspoken” by Nandipha Mntambo and on the Border” until February 12; in the Montecasino, Fourways: In the Pieter “Parasomnia” by Viviane Sassen, until Linder Auditorium, Parktown: The 4th Barney Simon, “Woza Albert”, with Toerien Theatre, Agatha Christie’s who- February 25, (021) 462-1500.

Visser, will perform a recital on February 4 at 19:30 in the Chamber music remains Marian’s great love Presbyterian Church in Pastorie Street, Darling, Cape West Coast. MARIAN LEWIN, ‘cellist extraor- ed the first chamber music classes leader in many orchestras, but also an Orchestra, plus music festivals with Programme includes Bach, Bloch, dinaire, will be performing at the in the country in 1947 as well as inspiring explorer of chamber music. overseas tutors. Encouragingly Mendelssohn, Saint-Saëns. Admis- Darling Music Experience, in the being one of the founders of the Which do you prefer? there are also a lot of excellent out- sion: R100. For more information on small, Western Cape Town of National Youth Orchestra. She reach projects. 2012’s Darling Music Experience, Darling, from February 3. Paul was a ‘cellist of repute and decid- Lewin: I enjoy the orchestral play- Marian Lewin, with pianist Tertia you can visit www.darlingmusic.org Boekkooi interviewed her on her ed that the ‘cello was what I would ing very much, but my passion and dedication to her art. study. No arguments. first love is chamber music, having As a very young child I remem- played in the Alma Musica Piano Boekkooi: Did you know from an ber crying and saying I didn’t Trio for 34 years, Rosamunde String early age that the ‘cello would be want to play the ‘cello, I want to be Quartet for 14 years and Trio your musical voice by which you a mommy or a nursery school Hemanay for 12 years. A friend would reach the ear, heart and soul teacher. Over the years I came to described chamber music as the of your listeners? love the ‘cello, and playing became most intimate thing you can do with- my life. I can honestly say I have out actually becoming intimate. Lewin: Not at all. I was brought never “worked” a day in my life - up in a home of four musicians, only “played”! Boekkooi: How do you see the future the famous Pack sisters. The dom- of classical music in South Africa? inant sister was Betty who initiat- Boekkooi: You’ve been a section Lewin: I am optimistic as we still have a number of excellent music teachers, with many children learn- ing music, symphony orchestras ’Cellist Marian Lewin (left), known also for her 12-year collaboration still going strong, many music so- in Trio Hemenay, pictured here alongside pianist Malcolm Nay and cieties, the National Youth flautist Helene Vosloo. (PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY WWW.SANYO.ORG.ZA) After all these years it still gets you in the guts Show: Somewhere on the Border riences of any kind, Somewhere It’s not only about South Where: Market Theatre, Newtown, on the Border may resurrect your African border wars, however; it’s (011) 832-1641 ghosts. This uncompromising a scary portrayal of the flaws in When: until February 12 play, written by Anthony Aker- the idea of war that promote it as man in 1983 and banned at its macho and necessary. REVIEWED BY ROBYN SASSEN stage debut three years later, Pivotal is Jewish character, focusing on the 1980s Angolan David Levitt, played ably by Glen BE WARNED: if you had war expe- wars, is riveting. Biderman-Pam, in his profession- al debut. He’s the one youngster of Breaking down the the five white troopies, who comes troopies: the bom- of a nurturing background; he is bardier (Charles the one historically capable of offering insight into a secondary Bouguenon ) gets echo of hatred espoused by army to grips with dynamics, lending the work bal- Doug Campbell ance. (Dylan Horley) Poetically evolved, his character (PHOTOGRAPH offers a sensitive and fatally bru- BY SUZY tal prism into the dynamics of BERNSTEIN) South African racism. The crushingly direct racist and sexually crass language is de- signed to offend. This starkly con- structed piece of theatre, with a denouement that is brilliant and bruisingly unpredictable, is diffi- cult to watch, but even more diffi- cult to look away from.

career. But, behind closed doors, he Richard Nixon. The story seems to FELDMAN held secrets that would have be a combination of established facts destroyed his career and life, had blended with gossip and rumour. ON FILM they emerged. It deals with Hoover’s early days, Peter Feldman Eastwood’s production puts all his attacks on “Communist radi- these aspects under the microscope cals”, destruction of Prohibition era and reveals, to a degree, the “scared, outlaws, and investigation of the J Edgar heartless and horrible little man” Lindbergh baby kidnapping. (to loosely quote his close man This is all told through flashbacks Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio; Armie friend Clyde Tolson) the world as Hoover recounts his story to an Hammer; Judi Dench; Naomi Watts never knew. official biographer. The “present” Director: Clint Eastwood In essence, there was nothing timeline encapsulates the 10-year spectacular about Hoover’s life period from 1962 to 1972, with Hoover Celebrated director Clint Eastwood and tedious moments do arise dur- using his “secret files” to blackmail has a style and texture all his own ing the telling. Counterbalancing the Kennedys and then pursuing a and he brings this to bear on anoth- this, however, are the striking per- vendetta against Martin Luther er potent subject – J Edgar Hoover. formances from a stellar cast, King. He does a sterling job, even though I impeccable period detail, and a Leonardo DiCaprio is superb in harbour reservations. number of genuinely compelling the title role; and his good looks dis- J Edgar Hoover was without a scenes. appear behind layers of make-up. doubt one of the most powerful, con- The script, by Dustin Lance This makes his resemblance to the troversial and enigmatic figures of Black, chronicles the life of the real person positively spooky. the 20th century. He was the face of FBI’s first director who rose rapidly Though the film is extremely well- law enforcement in America for from toiling in the field during the made, it doesn’t allow one to become almost half a century and was Hoover administration to his final passionately involved with the sub- reviled and revered throughout his year when he crossed swords with ject matter. 27 January - 03 February 2012 SA JEWISH REPORT 9

TAPESTRY - ART, BOOKS, DANCE, FILM, THEATRE

(ladders, avian flights, clouds), become con- Despite flaws, extraordinary achievement trived and irritating. Still, as a debut novel, the work is undeni- The History of History by Ida Hattemer- Jewish woman who, with her hus- bundled into the head of a pin, in ably an extraordinary achievement. Higgins (Faber and Faber, R160) band, gassed themselves and their the brain of a human, in the sun Hattemer-Higgins’ reach is vast and her three little daughters in a Berlin apart- and in its microcosmic imitation gaze almost preternaturally detailed. More REVIEWED BY GWEN PODBREY ment rather than face deportation in of the universe… Design flows than this, her writing is often lyrical - almost 1943. This spectre, while elusive, into design, every thing perceives melodic - and capable of scintillating beauty. EARLY ON a September morning in 2002, makes visitations to Margaret’s home and mirrors every other thing, Best of all, it is retentive, leaving a Margaret Taub - a young, American-born long enough to play cards with her. and becomes more like it.” groundbed of truth long after its imagery tour guide who has lived in Germany for And it, too, requests understanding. Ultimately, there can be no post- has ebbed and darkened. years - wakes up in a forest outside Berlin. But what understanding can there script to the monstrous outrages She has no idea how or why she arrived be for filicide, even in extremis? of Berlin’s past. The only recourse there; she recalls her name, her address and Magda Goebbels, stepdaughter of a is acceptance and submission to a what she does, but nothing of her past. Jewish businessman, who had had a history which offers no explana- Instead, her mind is filled with near-deliri- passionate affair with Haim tions or apologies, but simply flows ous visions, presentiments and echoes: not of Arlosoroff, a prominent Zionist leader, dur- on, indifferent to the need for retribution. her own history, but of the city’s. Of a sud- ing her youth, did a complete volte-face, pros- “One of the unstillable horrors of the den, it has undergone an ominous - indeed, trating herself at Hitler’s altar. Holocaust is that no vengeance is to be had. malevolent - transformation. Its streets seem Her children, she wrote just before her sui- Millions killed by millions more - there is no to bristle with an unnamed menace; its cide, were “too good for the world”. Strauss, justice there. There will be no restitution. The sounds are sibilant, its colours otherworldly. for her part, chose not to entrust her children victims are too many; the perpetrators are By the following morning, all of Berlin has to her non-Jewish husband’s family, but to legion… The dagger of revenge lies unused in transformed into human flesh and bone. end their lives with her own, expressing eeri- the drawer. There is no body into which to Instead of plaster, its walls are covered in ly similar sentiments to those of Goebbels. plunge it.” skin. Buildings and bridges are connected These ghosts, Margaret realises, are Hattemer-Higgins’ sprawling work is not so not by steel and brick, but by sinews, veins imbedded in the DNA of the city. They are much a novel as an epistemological enquiry. and muscle. persistent because they have a right to be. Although Margaret Taub’s unhinged state is “She put out her hand to touch the wall of “A ghost is the resonance of a life,” she eventually linked back to events in her real- Number 88 and found the house soft, like a tells herself. “A ghost is the intense and pro- time life, one gets the feeling that these are woman’s cheek.” longed sympathetic vibration for the dead in merely appendages, devised to give the book a Thus begins Margaret’s descent into a pro- the world of the living. A ghost is something chronological anchor. Her interludes of lucid- longed delusional state. Yet, while it is in which everyone can and must believe.” ity are neither as tenderly related, nor as well undoubtedly a form of madness (induced by Obsessed by the details of both women’s constructed, as her lengthy surreal adven- personal tragedy), its insights are eminently final moments, Margaret begins seeking out tures. sane. surviving witnesses (including a former Where the book fails is in its intensity: Hallucinations follow: first, the ghost of bodyguard of Hitler’s who was present in the there is only so much one can take at one sit- Magda Goebbels (trophy wife of Nazi bunker during the final days of the Reich). ting of Margaret Taub’s vice-like, febrile grip Propaganda Minister Josef Goebbels, who Meanwhile, her deranged mind - heightening on one’s throat: her demands on one’s atten- poisoned her six children before committing her receptivity and her desperation - contin- tion and energies are almost insatiable, and suicide in Hitler’s bunker as the Russian ues seeking a point of gravity: any meaning one longs for a dilu- army entered Berlin in May 1945). at all that might exculpate, if not exorcise, the ent to relieve the ten- Now a wraith, still bearing the features city’s blood-drenched history. sion she generates. that made her a society beauty, now a What she finds, instead, are patterns and Also, the tortuous grotesque, heavily feathered bird, the phan- synergies which offer metaphysical clarity, twists and turns of tom maintains a vigil outside Margaret’s but blur - rather than reveal - a way back to her journeys, which window, occasionally chatting to her and normal living. take her through all requesting understanding. “In each thing, she thought, all things are to manner of heavily Then there is the ghost of Regina Strauss, a be found, and this is innocence - the world symbolic detours

KING DAVID HIGH SCHOOL VICTORY PARK

HEBREW TEACHING POST – GRADE 8-10

CRITERIA • Fluency in Hebrew • Academic qualification • Ability to work with teenagers • Commitment to Jewish and Zionist values

Availability: Immediate

A letter of application, Curriculum Vitae and contact information with referees, should be e-mailed to: [email protected]

The school reserves the right not to make an appointment. Only shortlisted candidates will be interviewed. 10 SA JEWISH REPORT 27 January - 03 February 2012 CROSSWORD NO 2 WHAT’S ON Sharon Akum [email protected] BY LEAH SIMON DEADLINE PLEASE NOTE: Deadline for all entries is 12:00 on the Friday prior to publication, without exception.

ACROSS: for sheep-minder (8) Today Friday (January 27) journalist, editor, TV personality and author, who will 1. Oh, return to good man – and entertain 15. Hidden in her itinerary, get money speak on “Seatbelts & Skidmarks - Where is Africa guests (4) from will (7) • UZLC hosts Advocate Mannie Zar who will talk on Going?” Time: 09:30. Cost R25. 3. In favour of folders, find outlines (8) 16. Somehow hasten to capital (6) “Stories from the Courts”. Venue: Our Parents Home. 8. Regrets the trick, we hear (4) 18. Equestrian breaks drier (6) Contact: Gloria on (011) 485-4851 or 072-127-9421. Tuesday (February 7) 9. Capone gives neck covering to champi- 19. Crypt given to medical degree (4) Sunday January 29) • The Morris Rutstein-SAZF evening Hebrew ulpan on (8) course starts. It terminates on Tuesday, May 29. 11. They all do, according to Mozart (4, 3, SOLUTION TO CROSSWORD NO 1 • Second Innings hosts Bonita de Klerk senior member Times: Every Tuesday night from 19:00 to 21:15. 5) ACROSS: 1. Soda; 3. Red Bulls; 8. Oust; 9. of Dept of Palaeantology, Wits, who will speak on Venue: Yeshiva College (in the classrooms) cnr 13. Breaks lines in east, having dementia Abdullah; 11. A narrow shave; 13. Arrive; “Australopethicus Sediba: Pushing the Boundaries of Long Ave & Ridge Road, Glenhazel. Secure parking. of the elderly (6) 14. Oddity; 17. Kettle of fish; 20. Over time; Human Evolution”. Venue: The Gerald Horwitz Registration: Monday February 6, at 18:30. 14. French capital is hot – and has admin- 21. Talc; 22. Praising; 23. Yell. Lounge, Golden Acres. Time: 10:00 for 10:30. Cost: Enquiries: SAZF, tel (011) 645-2531 (office hours). istrative branch of church (6) DOWN: 1. Stowaway; 2. Despair; 4. R20 members, R40 non-members. Contact Grecia 17. Make witch pack her around – and Elbows; 5. Brushed off; 6. Lulav; 7. Soho; Gabriel (011) 532-9718. • ORT JET in conjunction with Sasfin Bank introduces exert authority (5, 3, 4) 10. Gravitates; 12. Mythical; 15. Imitate; 16. the breakfast launch of the “Sasfin Financial • JH&G Centre, in honour of UN Day to remember the vic- Independence Course for Women”, with Natasja 20. Dine around road – it’s decreed (8) German; 18. Elena; 19. Soup. tims of the Holocaust , is screening “Against the Tide”, 21. French go east again, being at Hart and David Shapiro, where an outline of the 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 written and produced by Rabbi Marvin Hier and Richard course will be given. Time 08:00 – 10:00. Venue: liberty (4) Trank and narrated by Dustin Hoffman. Venue: Clive M 22. Aristocrat bears son, some- Sasfin Bank, Scott Street Waverley. No charge – Beck Auditorium, RCHCC. Time 19:30. Donation: R60 place is limited. RSVP: [email protected] how (8) (incl refreshments) Booking: Hazel or René (011) 728- 8 9 23. Breeding horse kicks up dust 8088/8378.After hours: (011) 728 8378. Wednesday (February 8) (4) 10 Monday (January 30) • UJW CT adult education division hosts Adi Phillips DOWN: 11 who will talk on “The Sunflower Fund”. Venue: • UJW House & Garden Circle meets at 09:30 for Stonehaven. Time: 10:00 for 10:30. Cost: R20 (incl 1. But you might use it to pay for 10:00. Phone (011) 648-1053 for further information the soft sell! (4, 4) 12 refreshments). Enquiries: (021) 434 9555 (morn- 2. Offspring, by degrees (7) • UJW adult education division hosts freelance journal- ings only). 13 14 15 4. It’s about money – and not ist and writer Heidi Holland on “100 Years of the ANC”. Sunday (February 12) long ago (6) 16 Time: 09:30. Cost R25. • Second Innings hosts Mandy Ramsden (who has 5. Devised badly after mould (7, Tuesday (January 31) 3) 17 18 climbed all the highest mountain peaks on all conti- 6. Get smallest amount in order • UJW adult education division hosts Estelle Sher, who nents) as guest speaker on “Feeding the Rat”. Time: 19 to prevent article (5) will speak on “Mozart’s Symphony no 38 - One of His 10:00 for 10:30. Venue: Gerald Horwitz Lounge, 7. Close embassy, but appear to 20 21 Greatest”. Time: 09:30. Cost R25. Golden Acres. Cost 20 for members, R40 for non- members. Contact Grecia Gabriel (011) 532-9718. be hiding inside it (4) • Torah Academy Nursery School is hosting a talk, 10. A loud piece of literature “Sole to Soul” - Healthy Mind, Body and Spirit”, by Monday (February 13) causes ailment (10) 22 23 reflexologist and teacher Liz Graham. Venue: TA 12. Shed her quietly, somehow, • UJW hosts Naomi Dinur who will talk on “Dura Nursery School. Time: 19:30. Entrance R20. Contact: Europe’s Ancient Synagogue – a Jewish Pompeii in (011) 640-7561 or cell 083-555-5100. Syria”. Venue: 1 Oak Street, Houghton. Cost: R20. Wednesday (February 1) Contact: (011) 648-1053. Sudoku Puzzle 28 Tuesday, (February 14) (Easy, difficulty rating 0.44) • UJW adult education division hosts Arlene Bernstein, former head of LifeLine, who will head a discussion • Second Innings Men’s Group hosts Menachem group. Time: 09:30. Cost R25. Note to readers: Kaye who will speak on “The Economy in 2012”. 23 1 • UJW CT adult education division hosts Dr Len Venue: Our Parents Home. Time: 14:15 for 14:30. Our bridge column and our Anstey, forensic pathologist, who will be talking on Contact Grecia Gabriel (011) 532-9718. Sudoku puzzle alternate “Living with the Dead” Venue: Stonehaven. Time: 4568 week by week. Wednesday (February 15) 10:00 for 10:30. Cost: R20 (incl refreshments). Enquiries: (021) 434 9555 (mornings only). • UJW CT adult education division hosts Riaan Manse 96248Answer - Puzzle 27 who will talk on “Leadership”. Venue: Stonehaven. Friday (February 3) Time: 10:00 for 10:30. Cost: R20 (incl refreshments). 612875439 28 • UZLC hosts journalist and TV personality Paula Slier, Enquiries: (021) 434 9555 (mornings only). 935124867 who will talk on “Everything & Anything”. Venue: Our Tuesday (February 21) 478396152 Parents Home. Contact: Gloria on (011) 485-4851 or 85 072-127-9421. • UJW CT hosts a “Card Afternoon” at The Forum, V 389467521 & A Waterfront at 13:00 for 13:30. Entrance: R75. Sunday (February 5) 257981643 Great prizes. Enquiries: F Davis: 082-426-7749 or N 53• Second Innings hosts Clem Sunter, future scenario Baruch: 083-298-6849. 164253978 presenter, on “The World and South Africa in 2012 Wednesday (February 22) 5 4239843512796 and Beyond”. Venue: The Gerald Horwitz Lounge, Golden Acres. Time: 10:00 for 10:30. Cost: R20 mem- • Second Innings hosts Gerald Zwirn (known as “Mr 596738214 bers, R40 non-members. Contact Grecia Gabriel Opera”), who will talk on “Be My Love - A Tribute to 6524 721649385 (011) 532-9718. Mario Lanza”. Venue: The Gerald Horwitz Lounge, Monday (February 6) Golden Acres. Time 10:00 for 10:30. Cost: R20 618* Answer to follow with members, R40 non-members. Contact Grecia next puzzle • UJW adult education division hosts Denis Beckett, Gabriel (011) 532-9718. AROUND THE WORLD NEWS IN BRIEF LAUDER OUTRAGED AT ITALIAN DEPUTY FINED FOR BLASTING ANTI- JEWISH CARTOON ROME - Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, has expressed “outrage” that an Italian parliament deputy and journalist was fined for writing an article sharply criticising a satirical car- toon that featured stereotypically Jewish depictions of a parliament colleague. Giuseppe Caldarola was fined 25 000 euro by an Italian judge for the article, which ripped the 2008 cartoon by Vauro Senesi appearing in the left-wing newspaper Manifesto. The cartoon, titled “Fiamma Frankenstein”, showed Jewish parliament member Fiamma Nirenstein with an exag- gerated hooked nose, and contained the symbol of fascist and the Star of David. Lauder called the ruling “a travesty and an insult”. Vauro, whose cartoon had trig- gered anger and protest when it was pub- lished, was acquitted by the same court on anti-Semitism charges. In a blog post Caldarola, who belongs to the centre-left politically, said his article criticising the cartoon had “been ironic about the radical left and used a phrase critical of Vauro’s cartoon, saying that it was as if he had written ‘dirty Jew’.” Nirenstein belongs politically to the cen- tre-right. (JTA) 27 January - 3 February 2012 SA JEWISH REPORT 11 LIFTS ACCOMMODATION TO LET/SHARE AROUND A-TAXI SERVICE THE WORLD Let Warren Pogorelsky chauffeur FOR SALE NEWS IN BRIEF you to your destination in Jo’burg ROYAL LINKSFIELD / POLL SHOWS Classifieds and back only R100 round trip. SANDRINGHAM STRONG ISRAELI To book your classified notice or advert contact: Tel (011) 023-8160, Tel: 082-399-6187 On the golf-course, free- SUPPORT FOR Fax 086-634-7935, email: [email protected] standing unit, 3 beds TUITION & EDUCATION DIASPORA VOICE IMPORTANT NOTICE - The Jewish Report runs adverts in the Classified section in good faith, (mes), 2 full baths, study however we cannot be responsible for the quality of services offered and claims made or 4th bed, open plan tiled ON SOME LAWS HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED ADVERT: lounge and kitchen, sep JERUSALEM - A 1. Only adverts sent via email to [email protected] will be accepted. 2. You will be advised dining (sits 12), double substantial majori- on cost & payment details. 3. Payment is prior to the advert appearing. 4. Our banking details: garage, 2 gardens, pool. ty of Israelis want REAL ESTATE the country's law- SA Jewish Report, Nedbank Randburg, Account Number: 1984 514 865, Branch Code: 198405 Asking R2.4 million Maids available makers to consider BUSINESS Diaspora Jewry DEADLINE for BOOKING and PAYMENT is Tuesday 12 pm. Call June (If deadline is missed the advert will appear (when payment is received) in the next edition) when devising new SCHOOL 083-226-3741 or legislation on Jew- NOTICES DEATHS HEALTH & BEAUTY (011) 640-4967 ish identity issues, BIRTHS www.rebs.co.za according to a poll. HASSIA AUDIOLOGIST TO LET Seventy-seven IT’S A GIRL! friend and confidante, per cent of respon- so precious to find and loved by KELLY NATHAN HOME SERVICES ROYAL LINKSFIELD ANGEL Manor Medical Centre / SANDRINGHAM dents to a survey us, passed away so suddenly. GENERAL carried out last JAYE 189 Kelvin Drive Upstairs unit with view, She was an inspirational week by the Ruder- Gavin and Jocelyn are thrilled Morningside Manor woman, a teacher, a true APPLIANCE REPAIRS plus garden and bal- man Family Foun- to announce the safe arrival of ambassador of Judaism, Tel: 0861-266-563 ON-SITE cony, 2 x lounges, 2 x dation, agreed that their precious daughter Alexia she restored wholeness in (0861-Book Me) Stoves, washing-machines, beds, 2 x baths, open it was extremely everyone. Jade Angel on January 9, www.knaudiology.co.za tumbledriers, dishwashers & plan kosher kitchen + important for She was a blessing. 2012. Sister to Danni and INDIVIDUALISED fridges. Free quotations! members of the Mourned and sadly missed by dining area, 1x garage, SERVICE FOR ALL YOUR Call Jason 082-401-8239 Knesset to consider Jesse. Grandparents Vivienne, Audrey, Max Nowitz and family. HEARING NEEDS 1 carport. Serwyn, Judy and Melvyn are R8 500pm + deposit. Diaspora views, The Jerusalem Post ecstatic. Grateful thanks to CONDOLENCE LIFTS Available February 1 Janice reported. Hakadosh Baruch Hu, and to Call June The 509 Israeli Paiker-Rubin BEST SERVICE Silver Doctors Apostoleris, Hay and 083-226-3741 or adults were an- We extend our deepest sympa- Modern spacious (011) 640-4967 swering the ques- staff at Morningside Clinic. thies to the Paiker, Rubin and vehicle, pax 7 + luggage repair & tion: “How impor- Baruch Hashem McCurdie families on the PIP FRIEDMAN tant do you believe untimely loss of their darling 083-267-3281 VACANCIES it is for Israeli law- IT’S A GIRL! Janice, devoted wife to David [email protected] replating EMPLOYMENT WANTED Rubin, adoring mother to makers to consider LEVY Michael and Daniel. Experienced, reliable driver the views of Jews in JAYE She will be greatly missed by able to lift you anywhere/any- (011) 334-1102 BOOKKEEPER the Diaspora when Cecil, Tamara and Rachel are her loving family and devoted time 24 hours. REQUIRED creating legislation thrilled to announce the safe friends. Courier work undertaken. such as ‘Who is a or 082-473-6040 Mature male or Jew?’” arrival of their precious daugh- Our thoughts are with you all. Please call Paul Peter, Corinne and Jessica Alter According to The ter and sister Rebecca Mia 083-542-6480 female (part-time). Jerusalem Post, the Levy on December 7, 2011. PAIKER-RUBIN JANICE OR TAMBO PLUMBERS poll was adminis- Grandparents Rene, Leon, We mourn the untimely passing Best efficient service. Must be computer- tered ahead of an Judy and Melvyn are ecstatic. of our loving and beloved Also shopping & collections literate event sponsored by Grateful thanks to Hakadosh Janice, wife to David and moth- Bennie 082-992-1443 the Israeli-Ameri- er to Michael and Daniel and CV MUST BE can Jewish Knesset Baruch Hu, and to Doctors beloved daughter of Sharon FAXED TO caucus in order to Moore, Davies and staff at Paiker. We extend our deepest 086-648-4568 raise awareness on Parklane Clinic. sympathy to David, Michael and Airport the important rela- Baruch Hashem Daniel Rubin, SharonPaiker, Shuttle tionship between Hillel, Alan, Edana and Mark VACANCIES Israel and world and their spouses and families. AVAILABLE MOWSZOWSKI G’hazel to Jewry. (JTA) We are heartbroken. From Nathan and Terry of Ra’anana, Janice's loving father and moth- Tambo DOMESTIC HELPER ISRAELI Israel, are delighted to er-in-law, Henri and Sonia R140 cleaning, ironing. EMBASSIES ON announce the recent birth Rubin, her brother and sister-in- Reasonable rates Recommended. HIGH ALERT of their first two grandchildren law, Barry and Melissa from all other areas Looking for 2 days a week job, FOLLOWING McCurdie and her niece and Tuesday, Thursday. in Israel: ANTHRAX SCARE nephews Danielle, Mark and SAM PHONE: To Jaqui and Marc Lawrence, Adam and great nephew (011) 728-5219 082-600-5213 JERUSALEM - a beautiful baby girl, Benjamin. 083-627-8516 Israeli embassies born on December 16, 2011 PROPERTY TO LET WANTED and consulates have raised their alert [email protected] PERSONAL ACCOMMODATION TO LET/SHARE IVAN WANTS MAID REQUIRED levels after several To Russell and Anna for elderly lady in Glenhazel. TO LIFT YOU! COTTAGE TO LET missions in the Mowszowski, a beautiful baby SOULMATES S African aged between 40 and HIGHLANDS NORTH United States and COUNTRYWIDE Punctual, reliable, 50. Cooking and a knowledge boy, born on January 19, 2012 MEET YOUR RENOVATED PRIVATE Europe received of kashrut required. 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JACK MILNER Germany. A gifted athlete, she competed in As the star of the first match- One can make a case for her local track and field competitions from the es, Ball was cheered on by his being compelled to compete, HOW FAR does an athlete have to bend his age of 10. She excelled in the high jump, and German fans. After being but to actually give the Nazi morality in order to achieve a dream? was sent to a special sports school in south- injured, he could not compete salute on the podium was prob- This was a question some Jewish athletes - ern Germany in 1931. However, when the in the rest of the series. ably crossing the line, even or those of Jewish heritage - had to answer at Nazis took power, Bergmann was expelled Ball, in a guarded yet reveal- though she was not brought up the 1936 Olympic Games held in Berlin. from her sports club and school. She left ing interview with Canadian as Jewish. These Games were to be the pride and joy Germany for the United Kingdom. journalist Matthew Halton, Athletes of colour and Jewish of Adolf Hitler, in which he was going to Forced to return to Germany, Bergmann explained his participation in athletes on visiting teams, expe- show the outside world the “brilliance” of his tied the German women’s national high jump the 1936 Games. When asked as rienced both welcome and Nazi machine. However, the Germans exclud- record in 1936. As soon as German Olympic to whether he considered him- rejection. “Non-Aryans” also ed all athletes of “non-Aryan” descent and officials were confident that the Americans self to be “primarily a Jew, or a elicited mixed responses when even requested of the International Olympic would participate in the Olympics, they sent German”, Ball replied: “I they demonstrated their athlet- Committee (IOC) that Jews, blacks and Bergmann a letter stating that her “poor per- belong to the Jewish faith, but ic prowess, especially the mixed-race athletes be excluded from visiting formance” meant that she could not be a to the German nation.” But, as African-American track stars teams. member of the German Olympic team. Halton noted, “Ball never spoke Was fencer Helene Jesse Owens obviously being That, however, resulted in a The Nazis offered Bergmann of the Germans as ‘we.’ It was the main protagonist in this threat of a boycott and, in order a standing-room ticket to view always as ‘they’.” Mayer coerced into regard. to avert it, the IOC extracted the track and field events. Both Mayer was born to a Jewish representing Germany Despite Nazi assurances that promises from the German devastated and defiant, Berg- father and a non-Jewish moth- at the 1936 Olympics racism would play no part in authorities that there would be mann refused the ticket and er in Offenbach, Germany, a in Berlin, or was she a the Olympics, the Nazis demon- no restrictions on the participa- left Germany in 1937. famous fencing centre. At the willing participant? strated overt racism in the tion of Jewish athletes. To Born to a middle class family age of 14, she was a runner-up choice of German Olympic ath- showcase German-Jewish ath- in Berlin, Rudi Ball’s father in foil fencing at the German championships; letes. Jews, Roma and Sinti, who had been letes, the Nazis manipulated and paternal ancestors were from 1925 to 1930, was national champion. active and successful members of German three athletes with Jewish Jewish, and his mother was Mayer won a gold medal in the 1928 sports culture before 1933, were barred from ancestry - Gretel Bergmann, from a Lutheran family. Con- Amsterdam Olympics. In a controversial ges- participation. Rudi Ball and Helene Mayer. sidered a “half-Jew” according ture, she waved the flag of Imperial First Athletes considered “half-Jewish” accord- They firstly ordered Berg- to Aryan laws, Ball was initial- World War Germany rather than the flag of ing to the Nazi state’s Nuremberg Laws of mann, who had moved to ly not allowed to compete for the democratic Weimar Germany. It would 1935, were manipulated by a regime striving to London, to return home to Helene Mayer gives the the German hockey team at not be her last controversial Olympics ges- temper its racism for international audiences. train, threatening that her fam- the 1936 Winter Olympic ture. Germany won more medals in the 1936 ily in Germany would suffer if Nazi salute during the Games. However, his friend In 1933, Mayer’s Offenbach Fencing Club Summer Olympics than any other country she did not comply. medal ceremony at the and star teammate Gustav expelled the “half-Jew” who was the club’s and Nazi leadership considered the Games a Bergmann was born in the 1936 Olympic Games in Jaenecke refused to compete most successful fencer. However, in 1935, domestic and international success. small town of Laupheim, Berlin. without him. Mayer received a formal invitation to fence at According to Hitler’s favourite architect, the Olympics for Germany. Mayer won the Albert Speer, “Hitler exulted over the harmo- silver medal and wore a swastika and gave nious atmosphere that prevailed during the the Nazi salute at the medal ceremony. Olympic Games. International animosity Junior Maccabi netball After the Olympics, Mayer returned to the toward National Socialist Germany was United States, and in 1937 she won the world plainly a thing of the past, he thought.” championship in Paris, defeating Schacherer- Even evil can look most enticing when trials coming up Elek. wrapped in cotton wool. THE 19th Maccabi Games will take place will run until 12:30. in Israel from July 18 to 30 next year and To qualify for the junior netball team Maccabi Netball South Africa officially players need to have been born in the year now begins the search for 12 juniors of 1995, 1996 or 1997. around the country to make the step-up The next set of junior trials will take and represent South Africa at the place in Cape Town on March 11. More Maccabiah. details for those trials will be released Junior Maccabi trials for Johannesburg shortly. will take place on Sunday, February 12 at The Maccabiah is an unforgettable expe- King David High School Linksfield. rience which every Jewish athlete should Registration will start at 07:30 and the cost strive for. is R180 per person. This includes Maccabi • For further information contact membership for the year 2012 as well as a Lisa Hack on cell: 082-778-8991 or on netball T-shirt. Trials begin at 08:00 and [email protected] Habonim hosts another hugely successful machaneh GEMMA COWAN South African Jews. Havdallah on machaneh is always a high- AFTER MONTHS of anticipation, the light and this year was no different. Some biggest machaneh that Habonim has seen in 1 100 chaverim stood in a circle and brought two decades, came to a close. With over 1 100 out Shabbat together underneath the Onrus people on site, including 800 channichim, stars, following which channichim danced Machaneh Bonim Atid proved to be a truly the night away at the famous Habo special one. Havdallah parties. Chaverim from as far as England, One of the major highlights of Machaneh Australia, Zimbabwe, India and of course Bonim Atid was the visit of Western Cape Israel, flew in to join us in Onrus for the Premier Helen Zille. On December 15, December holidays. Habonim Dror channichim were addressed Our team of 15 Israelis made up a dynamic by her. Zille spoke to the channichim and and energetic group and contributed hugely madrichim about her vision for the future of to the machaneh. South Africa. They were essential in providing a con- She answered a range of questions from nection to Israeli culture for both the channichim and even stayed afterwards madrichim and channichim and have for some one-on-one conversations. She undoubtedly formed long-lasting connec- acknowledged the role of past Habonim tions with Habonim chaverim. chaverim in the struggle against apartheid The channichim arrived on Thursday and the role of current members in the pur- December 8 and the excitement carried on suit of social justice in South Africa. She non-stop for three weeks. was introduced to the camp steering com- As always, Shabbat was a special experi- mittee and given a tour of the campsite after ence on the campsite with a range of servic- which she joined the grade 8s for a Habonim es offered to channichim. For the past few lunch. years we have also run a Limmud pro- Many other exciting events took place gramme for channichim in which guests are over the course of machaneh. invited to present on a topic related to The national executive for 2012 has been Jewish learning. elected and will host their first biannual These sessions give channichim a chance meeting in February. The team will be led to explore their Jewish identity and to learn, by Gabi Altamirano, chairman of engage and debate issues relevant to young Habonim.