New Film Sheds Light on a Truly Remarkable Man Theatre Production
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VOLUME 34 No 7 AUGUST 2017 www.cjc.org.za Jewish Community raises R240 000 for Theatre production brings victims of #CapeStorm and #KnysnaFire Holocaust history to life More than 2 900 people were left The Cape SAJBD with its affiliates When last did destitute by the storm and 10 000 the SAZF, SAUJS and the UJW, issued you hear of a displaced by one of the most a rallying call to the Jewish community German town destructive fires in recent memory to assist, and to date, we have raised that stages a play in Knysna and over R240 000 recounting the as well as sent Plettenberg lives and deaths truckloads of Bay. The of its most well- donated and known Jewish two natural new household residents in the disasters goods to those brought in need, in the Holocaust? The last photo taken of the whole Cohn, Bucky and Levy the affected affected areas. family together, before the two older Levy siblings left to work in Port Elizabeth. communities The greatest his is town, hosted by its officials and service has been Texactly what to their knees. shown a play about their family’s provided by the has happened in the town of Altenburg, Germany in May 2017, history, but this is exactly what the ith one Plett Shul whose Julie Berman (SAZF), Hazel Levine (UJW) and Josh where sold-out shows depicted Liebrecht brothers did this past of the volunteers, W Hovsha (BOD) with staff from Pick n Pay Gardens Centre the story of the Cohn, Bucky and May. It all started when Altenburg’s key mandates sending off donated goods to Plett the unsung Levy families, who went from official historian, Christian of the Cape heroes, have prosperous business owners to Repkewitz, began looking into the SAJBD being ‘to co-ordinate social worked tirelessly and compassionately murdered refugees in Auschwitz. history of the Jewish family that welfare projects on behalf of the wider to help meet the needs of the Jewish The Cape Town Jewish owned 12 properties in the town, society, particularly in times of national families affected by the fire, as well as community has a direct link to who became refugees and were emergency’, they responded with a the greater community, by setting up a this history, as Cape Town locals killed in the Holocaust, and who community-wide appeal. smaller, more intimate relief centre that Michael and David Liebrecht are had left an impact on the village’s Josh Hovsha, Director of Cape SAJBD has helped minimise the overwhelming the second-generation survivors businesses, arts and culture and said “We were proud to lead the Jewish trauma victims have experienced. The of this family. history. community appeal; who have responded silver lining has genuinely been the Indeed, it is not often that a with overwhelming chesed by offering up outpouring of support and respite to family are invited to a German Continues on page 6 whatever help they could give, including these communities who have suffered monetary donations, household goods significant hardship over the past few and counselling services.” weeks. Riding a wave of success obert Berman has been awarded his Western Province Bodyboarding New film sheds light on a truly Rcolours for the fourth consecutive year. He will be representing Western Province at the South African Bodyboarding Championships in Durban on 30 remarkable man September. Robert was the Western Province Bodyboarding Champion in the It’s been almost 15 years since love, dedication, humility, humour Juniors category in 2016. the death of the much beloved and an unwavering commitment blind chazzan and teacher to Jewish customs, education and Cantor Abraham Immerman z”l, spiritual life. who died in Cape Town on 7 April Will this remarkable man and his legacy withstand the test of time? 2003, aged 96. With this in mind, and to celebrate his life, a unique new film has been nown as ‘Der Blinde Chazzan’ created. Produced by journalist- and ‘The Man with the Computer K filmmaker Lisa Chait it is a beautiful Brain’, due to his remarkable narrative tapestry capturing memory, Cantor Immerman Cantor Immerman’s magic and impacted thousands of lives in and the powerful messages of his life. around Cape Town during over 60 Based on the only known video years of dedicated service. He is interview he ever gave, conducted described as a ‘legend’, ‘an icon’ by Chait herself in the late 1990s, and ‘a truly special man.’ the film is entitled ‘Legacy of Light’. Question is, what do younger In it, Cantor Immerman shares generations today know about stories and insights from his life, Cantor Immerman? How do we interwoven with comment and Rosh Hashana Greetings form inside this issue keep his legacy alive and pass perspective from others. Send Yom Tov wishes to everyone in the community these High Holidays with our on the values that he modeled? Rosh Hashana Greetings service. For R150 you can ensure that every Jewish home in Values such as determination, Continues on page 35 Cape Town receives your wishes for a happy, healthy New Year and a meaningful fast. 2 Cape Jewish Chronicle August 2017 CONTENTS VOLUMEVOLUME 34 33 No No 7 5 AUGUST JUNE 2016 2017 Contributors Featured articles Page 3 Lindy with a why Page 5 Letter to the Editor Page 4 Community Noticeboard A Golden opportunity for Shabbat times Mikyla Subscriptions Page 6 Theatre production brings Page 7 Limmud Holocaust history to life Page 8-9 SA Cape Jewish Board of Deputies Page 10 Yom Tov Greeting Services Page 12 SA Zionist Federation Page 20 The Jedi Tedi story — Raising Page 14 Youth Movements awareness of CRPS Page 15 Mensch Page 34 Jewish families describe Page 16 Israel Centre horror of Garden Route fires Telfed Page 35 Legacy of Light — Cantor Page 17 Temple Israel Immerman Page 18 Union of Orthodox Synagogues Page 39 Thoughts from across the pond Page 20 Family Announcements Page 42-43 Maccabi updates from Israel Page 21-23 Cape Jewish Seniors 38 Page 24 Jewish Community Services Glendale Page 25 Nechama Melton Page 26 Astra Bnoth Zion WIZO Glendale Page 28-30 United Herzlia Schools Page 31 The Herzlia Foundation Page 32 Jacob Gitlin Library 30 Page 33 South African Jewish Museum Page 34 Cape Town Holocaust Centre Page 36 ORT JET Page 37 Union of Jewish Women Giftime Page 38 Simcha Snaps Page 40-41 Chronic Ads Page 42 Using my Nudel Page 43 A view from the bar 14 24 PLEASE NOTE The Cape Jewish Chronicle’s CJC EDITORIAL BOARD CSO emergency number for Chairman: Lester Hoffman. Ex-officio: Ben-Zion banking details: security and medical emergencies Surdut. Committee: Julie Berman, Geoff Cohen, Standard Bank — Branch: Thibault Square; Branch Barbara Flax, Josh Hovsha, Barry Levitt, Eric code: 020 909; Account no: 070 703 493; Acc name: 24 hours Marx, Myra Osrin, Rowan Polovin, Jonathan Silke. Editor: Lindy Diamond, Secretary: Tessa Epstein, The Cape Jewish Chronicle Trust; Acc type: Current 086 18 911 18 Advertising: Anita Shenker, Layout: Desrae Saacks 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. 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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 August 2017 3 Lindy with a why Why ‘dumping in’ is not OK People love a good kvetch. It’s comfort. When you cathartic, helps us bond with each speak to people other, and seems slightly less in larger rings, personal than straight-up gossip. your goal is to release frustration ut there are rules to kvetching, and reload so you Band clinical psychologist Susan can maintain your equilibrium and Silk and arbitrator and mediator Barry continue comforting the people Goldman’s ‘Ring Theory' acts as a closer to the centre. guide to how to kvetch sensitively. Don’t say things like “At least they They discuss this theory in an article had a good life” or “At least you have for the LA Times, and after the this time to say goodbye” Or “At response I received for my column least s/he isn’t in pain anymore” to last month entitled ‘Why you can’t people in smaller circles than yours. look on the bright side of someone Don't say, "You should hear what else’s trauma’, I thought a reference happened to me", and please don’t to it would make a good follow up.