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south african n Volume 25 – Number 19 n 3 June 2021 n 23 Sivan 5781

The source of quality content, news and insights t www.sajr.co.za Biden’s daughter-in-law in SA for mom’s funeral NICOLA MILTZ had a bad word to say about anyone. the family’s own pets. ”Our house was hospital after surgery, and stayed for a “My mother was a special angel who always sometimes called ‘Zoe’s Zoo’. This is where week in the country with her father, Lee. he daughter-in-law of United States put other people’s needs before her own. my sister Melissa got her love for animals,” She was accompanied by security guards President Joe Biden was on route to Even though she was small in stature, she was said Garyn. wherever she went, and the visit was kept South Africa on Wednesday to attend larger than life,” said Garyn. under wraps. She left South Africa with Ther beloved mother’s funeral in no idea that her mother would take a Johannesburg. sudden turn for the worst. Melissa Cohen-Biden, 34, who “When Melissa was here, our mother is married to the president’s son, was doing well. She couldn’t believe it Hunter Biden, was due to arrive in when we called her to say that our mom South Africa on Thursday morning, was gone. They were very close. She is just hours before her mother, Zoe heartbroken.” Cohen, was to be laid to rest. At the time of going to press, Melissa Zoe, 72, passed away on Monday was on her way back to South Africa. after a short illness. The family waited for her to arrive Although Zoe was the before the funeral could take place on machatenesta of the most powerful Thursday. man in the Western world, she was She left her baby, Beau, with Hunter a formidable women of strength and in Los Angeles where the couple live. inspiration in her own right. Said Garyn, “Hunter would have loved The mother of four was a well- to have joined her, but he stayed behind known and highly respected social with Beau. He adored my mother. They worker for the Chevrah Kadisha for got on very well from the moment they many years and had her own private met. My parents visited Melissa and practice where she specialised in Hunter in America, and spent time adoptions and surrogacies. with them there. Unfortunately, they Messages of support have didn’t get to meet Joe and Jill Biden at continued to stream in on social Melissa Cohen-Biden and her mother, Zoe Cohen the time.” media since her sudden passing. Facebook Source: Melissa’s brother, Dalan, and his wife, According to her legion of friends, The Cohens adopted Melissa when she Amy, who live in Atlanta, joined the couple Zoe touched the lives of countless people in He said Zoe insisted on fostering children was three years old. “My parents had three at the presidential inauguration. Their her bid to marry babies and children with at the family home every weekend. “We boys and all of a sudden, there was a little other brother, Joshua, lives in Canada and their forever homes, and helped hundreds had children from Arcadia and the Princess sister. Melissa changed the dynamics and has yet to meet the Biden clan. of couples become parents. Alice Adoption Home stay with us every completed our home. We adored her from This will be the first time the four According to her son, Garyn, a special weekend. We used to joke that my friends the minute she came into our lives,” he said. siblings will be together in a long time. place has been reserved for his mother at got confused between them and my real Zoe was diagnosed with a brain tumour “It’s wonderful for us, but our mom will Westpark Cemetery to honour her lifetime siblings. My mom felt it was important for on 22 April. She had surgery 10 days later, be missing,” said Garyn. achievements and contribution to the these children to experience what it was and passed away within weeks from a host As tributes continue to pour in, clinical community. like to be part of a family.” of complications. psychologist Mandy Rodrigues said Zoe was Her friends this week said she was “a She also adored animals, taking in A devastated Melissa visited her mother a “legend in the field of fertility”. little woman with a big heart” who never strays and abandoned animals as well as in Johannesburg while she recovered in Continued on page 3>>

NEED ASSISTANCE WITH SHOPPING, CHORES, LIFTS OR SIMPLY CRAVING COVID-COMPLIANT COMPANY? We are here to assist you. Contact us on 078 971 1460 Appliance Repairs on Site 2 SA JEWISH REPORT 3 – 10 June 2021 ers, ash Shabbat times this week shw Di Stoves Starts Ends s, ines, No ceasefire in SA antisemitism ge ach JHB 17:05 17:57 TALI FEINBERG id M r ing businesses to be boycotted, and several South African Jews. Its ongoing campaigns F sh more CT 17:27 18:21 a ryers & nti-Israel incidents continued to occasions where calls have been made at to demonise and boycott Jewish businesses W le D DBN 16:46 17:39 mb Call Jason occur around South Africa in spite public rallies for ‘Zionists to be kicked out of in South Africa, something it has been Tu BFN 17:06 17:59 of the ceasefre between Israel and South Africa’.” attempting for close on a decade, clearly shows 082 401 8239 / 076 210 6532 PE 16:58 17:52 Hamas,A with many turning antisemitic and For example, “a community member was its antisemitic intent. As much as it has pitifully FREE QUOTATIONS EL 16:51 17:45 targeting individuals and businesses. punched twice in the face after getting into a tried to mask its antisemitic boycott using One message was sent around the globe as verbal altercation with anti-Israel protestors the “Zionist” mask, it is exposed again and South African Jews the world over reeled at the on Louis Botha Avenue in Johannesburg. again. The call on Twitter to boycott Pick n Pay shameless attack on businesspeople who have In addition, a community member was Banmore (sic) because it has a Magen David South Africa’s best interests at heart. These threatened at a Johannesburg gym. over the kosher section shows that the boycott include the executive chairperson of Cape is against kosher food and therefore South Union Mart, Philip Krawitz, and the owner of African Jews. Baked on Grant let the façade Dis-Chem. slip when the owner told a community “Brother and sisters, this fght is far from member on the phone ‘I won’t buy from over. It’s time for us not to just talk the talk but Jews’. BDS, your colours are showing.” also walk the walk. We have Zionist enemies While the business owners mentioned in our midst and we have to educate ourselves in Darries’ message felt that they couldn’t and our families as to who they are and how respond for fear of a backlash, the SA Jewish we can counter them,” wrote Shukri Darries, Report was able to obtain a letter that the in a message riddled with spelling errors that executive chairperson of Cape Union Mart, the SA Jewish Report has corrected here. Krawitz, wrote to his staff, bringing sanity “Firstly, we cannot boycott all their products and hope amidst the hate to which he was because we will become overwhelmed once subjected. we discover how much of our country they “I’m greatly saddened by messages actually own. We have to be targeted in our through social media accusing me of approach and hit a few at a time,” Darries providing funds for the Israeli army and wrote, amongst many untrue points. “The therefore calling on Muslims to boycott money we unknowingly/foolishly or wilfully companies within our group,” wrote Krawitz. spend here is directly helping to keep our “It’s concerning that such stories can do brothers and sisters oppressed. We need the rounds without making any attempt to a slight mindset change to achieve victory establish the facts. These emails date back against these Zionists under our noses.” to 2014, when a similar smear campaign Another message making the rounds on was launched. There is absolutely no truth WhatsApp called for a boycott of the Benmore whatsoever to the allegation that I have Gardens Pick n Pay, accompanied by an image “Protestors gathered outside a community ever donated funds to the Israeli army. On of a Magen David hanging from the roof of the member’s home in Rouxville saying that they the contrary, I have always adopted a pacifst store (presumably above a kosher section). wanted ‘to take his house and bomb him’. They approach, and have never donated money Meanwhile, the South African Jewish Board took pictures of his house, and one also said, ‘I to any army anywhere in the world. I have of Deputies’ (SAJBD) David Saks reports that am a terrorist and will kill you’.” often stated that after the battle, peace talks “the 200 reported antisemitic incidents in Norwood bakery Baked on Grant has inevitably take place. Why, therefore, should South Africa recorded in May almost exceed advertised that the shop will “continuously one not start with the peace talks and avoid the those logged in the frst four months of the assess our supply chain to ensure that we don’t tragic loss of lives? year. In addition to direct antisemitic attacks support Zionists”. When a community member “Just as I respect all religions, I’m a on Jewish individuals or institutions, there queried this, she was told by the owner that proud Jew,” he continued. “I have a special has been a predictable upsurge in antisemitic she “wouldn’t buy from Jews”. spiritual connection with Israel, but have rhetoric on social media. This rhetoric has been Saks says the SAJBD is assisting community equally been a long time protagonist of characterised by an unusually high degree of members and examining its legal options to the creation of a Palestinian state living religiously-motivated antagonism. response to incidents. side by side with Israel in peace and “The incidents recorded to date include SAJBD National Director Wendy Kahn says, mutual co-operation. My publicly-stated one of physical assault, three involving threats “BDS [Boycott Divestment Sanctions] activities views on this subject have been quoted in of violence, four of verbal abuse, and six of have zero impact on Israel or on bringing the media as far back as 2002 (Cape Argus, direct abuse on social media,” he says. “There peace to the Israeli Palestinian confict. All it is May 2002). I have repeated these views have further been numerous calls for Jewish doing is attempting to intimidate and threaten Continued on page 7>> Torah Thought Rabbi Yossi Chaikin, Oxford Shul How to avoid blindness o you want to preserve your upon the land, saving them from a the Egyptians’ eyesight? Mishna Berura certain famine. A generation later, behaviour. Hashem (24,7) quotes an ancient his erstwhile VIP family, who had took us out of that Dcustom that will prevent blindness. been invited to settle in Goshen land, physically Passing the tzitzit over our eyes when as the king’s preferred subjects, and spiritually, removing us from and reciting the third paragraph of the were enslaved and committed to from us the evil of ungratefulness. shema will guarantee that we don’t hard labour. Tis was a blatant Te tzitzit, on the contrary, are all lose the ability to see. How are we to display of ingratitude – a total about gratitude, a reminder of the understand this blessing? lack of appreciation for Joseph’s 613 commandments given to us after Te final passage of this week’s contribution. the exodus. (Te numerical value of Torah reading teaches us the Instead, the Egyptians turned a the word tzitzit, 600, added to the mitzvah of tzitzit, the fringes we blind eye to the plight of the Hebrews number of strings, eight, and knots, are instructed to attach to the around them, never objecting to the five, that make up each of the four edges of four-cornered garments in injustices decreed upon them by fringes, serves as a mnemonic of order to remember all of Hashem’s Pharoah. Tis explains why one of the these obligations.) commandments. After spelling out ten plagues was darkness, a physical Hence, the custom to pass these the details of the laws of tzitzit, the manifestation of their ingrate fringes over our eyes each time we portion concludes with a seemingly sightlessness. Te Hebrew word call out the word tzitzit when reading unrelated reminder that Hashem for this plague is choshech, which is the third paragraph of the shema took us out of Egypt. written with the three letters chaf- every morning. Tis will ensure that Egypt is actually the embodiment shin-chet, letters which also spell the we aren’t struck with the blindness of the polar opposite of words shachach (forgot) and kichesh of the Egyptians. And, please G-d, remembering. Tis was the country (denied). the merit of the mitzvah will also that forgot all about Joseph and Te precept of tzitzit is about preserve our physical eyesight. all the blessings he had brought remembering – the antithesis of

Editor Peta Krost Maunder – [email protected] • Sub-editor Julie Leibowitz Journalists Nicola Miltz • Tali Feinberg • Mirah Langer • Photographer Ilan Ossendryver The source of quality content, news and insights Editorial co-ordinator Martine Bass – [email protected] Proofreader Kim Hatchuel Advertising Britt Landsman: 082 292 9520 – [email protected] • New business development manager Laura Kaufman [email protected] • Design and layout Bryan Maron/Design Bandits – [email protected] • Distribution Sandy Furman Subscriptions Avusa Publishing (Pty) Ltd. Tel: 0860 525 200 • Board of Directors Howard Sackstein (Chairperson), Dina Diamond, Herschel Jawitz, Shaun Matisonn, Benjy Porter. • Advertisements and editorial copy do not neccessarily reflect the views of the editor, staff and board of directors. Tel: 011 430 1980. 3 – 10 June 2021 SA JEWISH REPORT 3

Nigerian soccer star injured I want to in rocket attack on Israel buy your bobba! old or new, PAULA SLIER AND SASHA STAR were unharmed, but the 38-year-old was rushed we’ll pay you to hospital with injuries. Two weeks later, a wow price “I heard the boom, and then the pressure came, he is still going for check-ups as he is having for your car. and that was it. I was out,” is how former Kaizer problems with his hearing. He is also on heart Chiefs striker, Ibezito Ogbonna, remembers pills and doctors have identified sounds in his the moment after a Gaza rocket hit the Ashdod head. His daughters are suffering flashbacks. apartment building where he and his family “People, rescuers, paramedics, and the fire live. service responded immediately. Everywhere Call Alan: 082 850 0004 “Tere was the smell of gas. And everywhere was packed. Tey were trying to help everyone www.alfinauto.co.za was messed up. Te glass was all over. evacuate from the building because it was Everything was in a mess.” almost on fire. We were just lucky that the Te Nigerian soccer player says he’s lucky to rocket didn’t hit close to the building’s central be alive. It was around 14:00, and he, his Israeli gas network. It would be protect his people, unlike my own president wife, and two young daughters aged five and was only a few like a ghost of Nigeria, who doesn’t even give a f*** two-and-a-half, were in the middle of eating. meters off. If it land.” about his own people. So whoever is talking After a six-hour lull, Hamas started launching hit that, I don’t As for s*** about Israel protecting her own people barrages of rockets at southern Israel. Te think any of Hamas and against the terrorists is just talking sh***. ceasefire was still four days away. us would have those who “I hear people yippy-yapping, talking “All I can remember is that when the siren survived.” support its about the Palestinians. People don’t know came, I was just doing the usual. And then I was Ogbonna actions, he what we go through here – we who are in-between the washing machine and the dining came to live in has some citizens here.” table and there was glass everywhere in front Israel four years strong Ogbonna is also angered by accusations of me. I remember feeling a push like a pressure ago to marry words. that Israel is a racist, apartheid state. pushed me all the way to the sitting room, like it his long-time “You come “I’ve been traveling all my life. I’ve been to me first, to more than 35 different countries, and I and I have think this is the only place where I found Ibezito Ogbonna to protect love. I’ve been to countries where a white my family, boy just comes up to me to touch my skin, my land, like maybe I’m dirty or something. And against then there’re guys who talk shit because you. And I’m black. But I’ve never, even when I was then you playing football, had such an experience try to make here, like racism, or words from fans, girlfriend, Katia, whom he it look like we’re the ones who have been because I’m black. And so I think that met more than a decade humiliating you. I’ll do whatever it takes to whatever they’re talking, it’s because they ago when he played soccer take you out, and I give credit to Netanyahu haven’t been here to see how people live in for Hapoel Tel Aviv. He who has been doing whatever it takes to harmony. In love. As humans.” still has Israeli fans, not least because during the Biden’s daughter-in-law in SA for mom’s funeral four seasons he played for >>Continued from page 1 the club, he kept his title as a “king of goals”. “Zoe has been a constant in all our lives in the colourful childhood. “All my fans were calling field [of fertility]. How do you say goodbye to According to the family, Zoe studied social me and checking up on me someone who has always been a wise, humble, work at the University of the Witwatersrand all this time. I got the most and dedicated worker in the field you were and worked at the Princess Alice Adoption massive love I’ve ever got passionate about? Someone who contributed so Home for many years. She was in private in my life. My phone was much time not only to making us more aware practice for many years where apart from ringing off the hook for of adoption, but mentoring many of us. You adoptions, she also did grief and trauma picked me up from the seat.” days. Messages were coming. It was crazy. I’ve always taught me to act within the confines counselling. She often opened her home to After Ogbonna regained consciousness, never seen such a thing in my life, and if people of the law, no matter how many hearts were women who had nowhere to turn, and placed the first thing he did was look for his wife and here can have such love for each other, I don’t broken, and we shared so many cases over the thousands of abandoned children. She also children. think we will have a problem in this life.” years. worked with fertility clinics, and helped “My wife grabbed the kids and ran to the Ogbonna remembers some rockets being “I remember you as someone with integrity countless couples on the road to parenthood. bathroom. We didn’t even have enough time to fired at Israel when he lived in the country and so much wisdom and kindness. You always Due to COVID-19, the funeral will be run down to the bomb shelter and in the end, in the early 2000s, but nothing like what he made the needs of babies and children in your restricted to 100 people, but it’s expected we were really lucky that we didn’t try, because I experienced last month. care your number-one priority. Your name will many will be turned away as her popularity guess we would have got hit so badly, maybe we “Te rockets kept coming, like 300, 500 at a always be linked to those of us you have blessed knew no bounds, say her children. wouldn’t have survived. Te rocket pulled out time. Luckily we have the IDF [Israel Defense families with.” She is survived by her loving husband all the doors, even the security door was out. Forces] using the Iron Dome to protect citizens. Te Cohen siblings and their father will sit of 50 years, Lee, children Dalan, Can you imagine the pressure?” I give them the credit. Imagine if all of those shiva together at Garyn’s Johannesburg house, Garyn, Joshua, and Melissa, and eight Fortunately, Ogbonna’s wife and daughters rockets hit Israel? Nobody would be here, it where, no doubt, they will reminisce about their grandchildren.

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Joel Harris 082 926 0287 National Sales Consultant of the Year Joel Harris 082 926 0287 National Sales Consultant of the Year 2 2 Web Ref: RL76667 2 2 Web Ref: RL76319 Laureen Shalpid 083 789 0229 Laureen Shalpid 083 789 0229 Chrissie Hammer: 082 568 0440 Sandra Luntz: 083 679 1247 4 SA JEWISH REPORT 3 – 10 June 2021 Third wave batters community, foods hospitals TALI FEINBERG in ICU on oxygen. On the Saturday [after a week in than others,” Schoub said. “The third wave was predicted “What is worrying about this is that although teens arly in the morning of 28 May 2021, Lisa hospital], the ward sister said they were pleased with his to coincide with the winter months, when people are generally experience mild disease, they then go home Kowalsky warned the Johannesburg Jewish progress. But on the Sunday morning, they called to tell reluctant to be outdoors, or to open doors and windows and infect parents in their 50s who are much more Mommies Facebook group that there weren’t us he had had a heart attack and they couldn’t resuscitate to improve ventilation in indoor settings.” vulnerable,” Fanaroff said. Eenough COVID-19 beds in Gauteng. him.” Losing a child to the pandemic has been “a terrible Dr Darren Joseph, a specialist physician and “I have 10 patients I’m monitoring at the moment, Her desperately ill father was unable to fnd a bed, shock”, and she is still reeling. pulmonology fellow in the department of internal which is a lot for my very small practice. I haven’t had and she wanted to alert people to medicine at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, confrmed anywhere close to this number since the second wave. the extent of the third wave. “bed availability is at the moment a real challenge facing Two are on oxygen at home, some of the others are on “Even though we had paramedics both the public and private sectors”. cortisone and anticoagulants. Some of the patients that and a doctor at the house, we “Over the past few weeks, we have seen a steady and GPs are treating at home would have been admitted to couldn’t fnd a hospital in Joburg marked increase in the number of confrmed COVID-19 hospital if there was more bed availability. Every day, my or Pretoria to take him to as all the cases as well as in the proportion of PUI [person under day starts with multiple messages and calls from patients beds are full,” she wrote. “You can investigation] patients that ultimately test positive. This is who have been exposed to a positive patient and are imagine the panic and sense of in both public and private sectors,” Joseph said. now contacts. helplessness we went through. “My hospital’s COVID-19 high care and intensive-care “People are making up their own rules of quarantine “By an absolute miracle, a high- units are near full capacity and additional wards are in and really need to follow NICD [National Institute for profle doctor I’m fortunate to know the process of being reopened to facilitate more critically Communicable Diseases] protocols,” said Fanaroff. “If managed to convince someone ill patients,” he said. “The profle of patient we are you have been exposed, you need to quarantine for 10 from one of the hospitals to make admitting remains incredibly varied. Sadly, this includes days from the contact, regardless of having a negative a space for him in an intensive-care the admission of young patients with no known prior test during this time.” unit (ICU) at one of the hospitals,” illnesses. Dr Evan Shoul, an infectious-disease specialist at she wrote. “It’s heart-breaking that the third wave has arrived Netcare Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg, said, “We “What I’m trying to convey to all before many of the vulnerable in our communities have have been getting more calls from other hospitals that of you is that there are NO beds. The had the opportunity to receive vaccinations,” he said. are full and [are] sending cases through. We haven’t situation is scary and dangerous. You “Many of us are still emotionally and physically fatigued been able to take all the patents referred to us. We are cannot treat this virus lightly. Do not by previous waves. We are also seeing patients now who still trying to increase wards and ICUs so that we can take chances. Your life is at stake.” return several months after their illness with persistent manage as many people as possible.” Speaking to the SA Jewish Report Dr Carron Zinman assessing symptoms and functional impairment. These after-effects Zinman advises the community to get vaccinated, but on Monday, 31 May, Kowalsky said a COVID patient’s response to are something I feel people don’t truly appreciate.” warns that it doesn’t mean we can become complacent. her father was still battling in high ventilatory changes. Johannesburg general practitioner (GP) Dr Sheri “I know 20 people who had the vaccine and got care and might be taken back to ICU Fanaroff said, “In the third wave, we are seeing much COVID-19. The message is that the vaccine can protect if his oxygen levels don’t improve. Virology expert Professor Barry Schoub confrmed more school children being infected, especially in the you from severe COVID-19, but it doesn’t protect from “He just wants to come home. He is a ft and healthy that the country was entering a third wave of COVID-19. high school age group, many of them infected out of the getting COVID-19 and giving it to the vulnerable. We man, but his oxygen levels continue to go up and down. “Some provinces have been more seriously affected school setting. can’t change our behaviour just yet.” He was doing so well at frst. He went for a COVID-19 test because he was due to have a procedure, otherwise he would never have known. Then two days later, he started Israel’s new president – a friend of SA Jewry to deteriorate.” She said he was taken to hospital a number of times PETA KROST MAUNDER the SA Jewish Report he was passionate about region has changed and many of those countries because of dehydration after vomiting, but wasn’t the South African and Israeli connection and its that called for our annihilation 50 years ago are admitted because he wasn’t ill enough. Eventually, when srael’s new president-elect, Isaac Herzog, is a long-term importance. However, he is even more now some of our best allies. Meanwhile, it’s trying he needed to be admitted, she was “horrifed” when they great friend of South African Jewry and has been dedicated to the longevity of the Jewish people and to pursue a whole set of resolutions against Israel couldn’t fnd a bed. determined to mend ties between the South ensuring we have a solid future. worldwide.” Said specialist physician pulmonologist IAfrican and Israeli governments for years. “The South African government can contribute And then you have the situation, Herzog said, Dr Carron Zinman of Netcare Linksfeld Hospital, “What “He is a great friend to the Jewish community hugely toward the advancement of peace in the of “the average South African brainwashed by a we are seeing this time round is that if somebody comes here,” says Liat Amar Arran, the head of the Israel region if it wants to, but not if it cuts ties,” Herzog machine that tells it lies about Israeli democracy”. home with the virus, the vast majority of the household Centre in South Africa, who worked closely with him said. Herzog said he believed Israel-hatred should be gets infected. We’ll also have cases where the blood work in his role as leader of the Jewish Agency for the While he described the South African Jewish dealt with on three fronts. First, he said, “We have is mild, they’re getting better, and then 24 hours later, past two years. “He has strong relationships here in community as “hugely impressive”, he said it was made sure Jews are well protected and defended. their symptoms get aggressive and we can’t turn them South Africa, and has been tracking all the projects “being challenged dramatically with an unclear This is clear from the impressive organisation that around. he set for us when he was last here in 2019.” future”. He was worried about the “strong anti-Israel deals with this in South Africa.” “We’re seeing more cases under the age of 45 with South African Zionist Federation chairperson line from the African National Congress (ANC), which Second, he speaks of fghting antisemitism in the no co-morbidities who are really sick. Fifty percent of our Rowan Polovin said “President-Elect Herzog is a put a certain cloud over the ability of Jews and courts, and trying to get governments around the patients are in ICU, and 80% to 90% are on ventilators in great friend of the South African Jewish community, Zionists to express themselves and be able to thrive world to adopt the IHRA (International Holocaust one form or another. Last Monday [24 May], we had four and we look forward to strengthening our friendship as Jews”. Remembrance Alliance) resolution on antisemitism. resuscitations in two hours. Two were unsuccessful, two and partnership with him and the State of As for education, “this is complex in weren’t.” Israel.” a political climate that doesn’t want to Although Hatzolah’s numbers are specifc to the Herzog – the 11th president of Israel – hear. There are modern-day tools we Johannesburg community, the number of new cases comes from the so-called Zionist royalty, use like social networks, and we can try the organisation is dealing with is going up rapidly. with his father, General Chaim Herzog, and do our best to show the true story Last Friday, it had 123 new cases in the week with 213 having been a former Israeli president, of Israel.” patients on home oxygen (active and closed) and 349 his uncle, Abba Eban, Israel’s frst foreign When he was here, he spoke of admissions to hospital (active and closed). The week minister and ambassador to the United the Palestinian-Israeli confict as before, it had 103 new cases, with 211 on home oxygen, Nations, and his grandfather Israel’s frst “complicated”. and 333 hospital admissions. The week before that, there Ashkenazi chief rabbi. “What haven’t we tried? We were 66 new cases. Herzog, formerly the chairman of tried peace agreements, unilateral The numbers are lower in Cape Town, but that doesn’t the Israeli Labour Party, served as the withdrawals, economic packages, mean the virus isn’t leaving a trail of tragedy in its wake. opposition leader from 2013 until 2018. and other measures. There is an Fifty-year-old Bram Radowsky’s family described him He served as a member of Knesset between overwhelming majority in Israel who as almost “paranoid” about COVID-19. But a month 2003 and 2018, having held several want peace, but there is a total lack of ago, he let his guard down a little and attended a small ministerial posts. It was as the head of the trust in Palestinians to deliver. gathering to watch sport with friends. Two weeks later he Jewish Agency, effectively the leader of the “In 2005, Israelis were out there was dead, suffering a heart attack in his sleep as a result Jewish world, that he visited South Africa Israel’s new president-elect, Isaac Herzog supporting the unilateral pull-out of of mild COVID-19 pneumonia. in 2019. Gaza. We uprooted Jewish settlements “After the gathering, he was told that a person who Many of his supporters believe that although the Herzog said at the time he wanted to “strengthen in the process, we promised there would be a Hong was there tested positive for COVID-19,” said his brother, presidency is more of a fgurehead role, Herzog will Jewish communities and enable each and every Jew Kong of Middle East, but instead we got 10 000 Gordon Radowsky. “He went into self-quarantine and focus on building relations between Israel and the to feel free as Jews and to express their Zionism with missiles fred at us. didn’t have any symptoms. A week later, he tested Jewish world, and working towards peace in the no fear or harassment”. “Israelis are wary of trying this again. We have to positive and began to get symptomatic. He called an Middle East. He clarifed at the time that South Africa was fnd new ideas. A major development between 2005 ambulance, but they said he wasn’t sick enough to be When he was in South Africa, he told the known as the world leader in the so-called “new and today is that there is a strong political coalition admitted. So he drove himself to hospital and checked SA Jewish Report that he objected vehemently antisemitism”, which is classic antisemitism of moderate nations with Israel confronting Iran in himself in. The lesson is that if you believe you need to the South African government pulling out its intertwined with the delegitimisation of Israel. This the region. These nations – including Egypt, Jordan, advanced medical care, then get the help that you need ambassador to Israel and moving to downgrade problem, he said, stemmed from within the ANC. Saudi Arabia, and others – once wanted to throw us urgently. its embassy. He said he was determined to do “Its position is due to historical relations with the in the sea, but are now working with us.” “At no stage did any of us think we would lose everything he could to change this. Palestinian national movement,” Herzog said. “The It will be interesting to see what, as president of him,” said their mother, Rose Radowsky (80). “He was Herzog, a soft-spoken, no-nonsense leader, told problem is that it hasn’t acknowledged that the Israel, Herzog does to act on these beliefs. overweight but had no other co-morbidities. He was 3 – 10 June 2021 SA JEWISH REPORT 5 Is Netanyahu’s reign finally over? PAULA SLIER become the next Israeli prime minister that future. If he and Lapid aren’t able to form the like the economy, stabilising the recent an opportunistic government. A government he’s willing to do anything? next government, elections will need to be Hamas ceasefre, and strengthening a post of capitulation, a government of fraud, a hen Donald Trump was elected There’s a lot of backroom political held – the ffth in two years – and in such a COVID-19 Israel. It’s no surprise then that government of inertia. A government like president of the United States, wrangling going on in Israel at the moment scenario, Bennett is unlikely to muster a lot most analysts predict that should such a this must not be formed.” I remember some people – and no one knows how it will play out. of support. His voters will never trust him coalition government be formed, it will last Netanyahu has held on as prime minister beingW so fummoxed that they said anyone Netanyahu’s Likud party won the most again. only a few months at the most. for more than a decade, and while most of could now run for the top job. seats at the last elections held in March, What’s more, assuming that the two Bennett has justifed joining Lapid his Likud party remains unfinchingly loyal This week, I’ve been hearing much the but not enough to give it the 61 leaders do put together by arguing that Israel’s political crisis is to him, another personality worth noting is same in Israel. out of 120 it needs to govern. a government, it will unprecedented and “the madness must Gideon Saar. He defected from Likud about In a dramatic announcement, Naftali Yair Lapid, the leader of the comprise seven end”. But what is also mad is to think that out half a year ago. Like Bennett, Saar is on the Bennett, a former defence minister and opposition and chairperson relatively small of the nearly three million Israelis who voted right of the political spectrum, also holding leader of the Yamina (rightwards) party that of Yesh Atid, a centrist parties whose back in March, only about six mandates, and also with people on his sits on the far right of the Israeli political political party he agendas are 150 000 gave Bennett the nod, garnering list that Netanyahu is appealing to break spectrum, announced he was joining a founded in 2012, so wide him six out of 120 parliamentary seats. And away and join him. coalition with centrist, left-wing, and ranging he’s the kingmaker potentially set to become But if Bennett, Lapid, and Saar Arab parties. If he hadn’t actually – and often the country’s next prime minister. successfully form the next government, announced it in front of the clashing – Lapid won 17 mandates, which equals a Netanyahu is likely to go back to being the television cameras, no one that they will little more than half a million Israelis, while leader of the opposition, a post he held would have believed it. need to avoid any Netanyahu won the most support with 30 before the 2009 election. In such a position, After all, Bennett Naftali Bennett controversial issues. mandates – about one million people. Netanyahu is likely to be denied any chance is a former Israeli Bennett is a At the time of going to press on of making changes to his corruption trial, commander who champion of Jewish Wednesday morning, Lapid hadn’t yet currently underway, that would give him once said, “I have settlements in the West informed Israeli President Reuven Rivlin some sort of parliamentary immunity. Also, killed lots of Arabs in Bank, and openly as to whether or not he could form a with a majority in parliament against him, my life – and there is no rejects the concept government. it’s possible that legislation will be passed problem with that.” Except of a sovereign Legally, once he does this, he has a limiting the number of terms a prime he’s now joining forces with Gideon Saar Palestinian week to bring his government to a vote of minister can serve, or barring any candidate them, most notably a small Arab state. He confdence in parliament. A week is a long who has been charged with crimes from Israeli Islamist party, Raam, which advocates time in Israeli politics and at any time, a running for offce. has roots in the same religious stream as came in second. annexing politician can break rank and decide no Still, such a coalition won’t last long, and Hamas. Just two weeks ago, Bennett called However, unlike West Bank longer to support the Lapid-Bennett alliance. it’ll only be a matter of time before new on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Netanyahu, Lapid, with territory. All of Netanyahu has 53 seats and although elections will need to be held. Should that “not to end the current round [of fghting] in Bennett’s support, can these positions there’s a slim chance he can win more, one happen, there’s no knowing how Netanyahu Gaza before Hamas pays a heavy price”. form a majority coalition. Yair Lapid are in stark contrast would be foolish to rule him out just yet. He’s might fare. So even if he’s forced out in So what’s the ultranationalist leader’s Which is why Lapid and Bennett to what parties on the not called the magician by his admirers for the next week, he might show up again a intentions? Does Bennett hate Netanyahu have cut a deal in which Bennett left – and certainly the nothing. little down the line. For some time now, the so much that to facilitate his fall from offce would serve as Israel’s prime minister until Arabs – stand for. “Fraud of the century” is how Netanyahu political knives have been out for him, but he’s willing to forgo a lot of what he stands September 2023 after which Lapid would In fact, there’s very little that they agree described Bennett’s support for a for his part, Netanyahu has made it clear for, to the utter disgust and anger of his take over until November 2025. on other than ousting Netanyahu. Their “dangerous, left-wing government. This isn’t he intends to fght on. And that fght could constituency? Or is Bennett so desperate to But Bennett is gambling with his political work will probably be limited to issues unity, healing, or democracy,” he said. “This is continue to drag on for quite some time still.

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Tis is getting Chief Rabbi Dr Warren Goldstein stood up to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s anti-Israel statement in the media, and on really confusing. I feel the need to check 28 May, asked for Muslim leadership to join him in calling for tolerance and non-violence. The reaction was ferce. everything I read or hear because there seemsW to be so much fake news out there. Even 1. What was your response to Ramaphosa’s 7. What was the initial reaction when you contacted what would appear to be reliable sources don’t newsletter about Israel two weeks ago? the Muslim leaders? always seem to get it right. The essence of my letter to the president was to present the I phoned the senior leadership of the two main Muslim Yes I know, coming from a journalist and the facts, both in terms of the most recent Gaza war and then organisations, the Muslim Judicial Council and the Jamiatul editor of a newspaper, this could be worrying for in the context of the wider historical frame of the Israeli- Ulama South Africa, and asked them to issue a joint our readers. The truth is: I find it distressing. Palestinian confict, emphatically rejecting the apartheid statement with me calling on our communities to respect Having said that, we at the SA Jewish Report accusation against Israel which is utterly without foundation differences with regards to these issues. Both organisations ensure that we check and check again. I know you in reality. declined. expect it from us, and I’m grateful for that. What you don’t know about are the stories that 2. What was it that inspired you to respond to him in 8. What was their reaction after you put out the have fallen by the wayside because we haven’t been the Sunday Times? statement? able to prove them. Rather than take the chance of getting it wrong or publishing I believe passionately in the power of facts and the truth. The Muslim Judicial Council publicly rejected my call for a fake news, we let them go or hold them over until we have proof or proper The justice of the cause of Israel is served and strengthened joint statement on unity and tolerance. corroboration. by sharing the facts of the situation. I have shared my views If every story was a page, we would have a mountain of pages on our newsroom with the president in private meetings. But I felt it was 9. How did you feel about this? floor of stories we don’t publish. It’s sometimes disheartening for journalists who necessary to air these points in the public domain so the I’m disappointed because religious leaders need to be a force have put their heart and soul into getting that story for you when it doesn’t stand rest of the country could beneft because there is so much for peace and tolerance in the world. I’ve had a longstanding up to the truth test. We don’t take chances, and we do our utmost to avoid errors. misunderstanding, confusion, and even outright ignorance relationship with some of the most senior Muslim leaders But errors sometimes unwittingly find their way into our newspaper. of the basic facts. here, and we have worked well together with the National This week, someone wrote to us to ask “what has happened to the standard of Religious Leaders Council. Their rejection of my overtures is a journalism” as she pointed out that we had the word “infinity” when it should real pity. They’re letting down their own community and the have been “affinity” in a sentence. She was right. We made a mistake, and we country. apologised. This week, we were going to lead the newspaper with a story about an alleged 10. Ronnie Kasrils was extremely derogatory in his Jewish multi-billionaire who was about to give South Africa a lot of his money, opinion piece in the Sunday Times this week. What’s but decided to withhold the funds because the president made anti-Israel your reaction to that? statements. We picked the story up in a reputable Israeli newspaper. Kasrils’ response is the perfect example of how so much of We even managed to get a copy of the letter that was allegedly sent to the the anti-Israel lobby conducts itself – by delegitimising and president, and it was fairly convincing, not least of all considering that those denigrating their opponents instead of rationally debating who also got a copy of it were in important positions in the United States the issues and analysing the facts. I will continue to fght for government. It was an astonishing story and so convincing. the facts to be heard in a rational and respectful way. However, our exceptional journalist on the story, Tali Feinberg, had a hunch that there was something amiss. Ultimately, we learned that the man was a fraud 3. What response did you get from the community 11. Why do you think a man like Kasrils, who has and received articles to prove it. and others? Jewish roots, would do such a thing? Suffice to say, I’m still not 100% sure either way. If the man is a fraudster, he’s I received many warm messages from so many people – The real question is not how Kasrils interacts with me really good at covering his tracks. Either way, we are still digging. inside and outside the community – who appreciated that personally. The real question, which only he can answer, If it’s 100% fake, what was the person behind it trying to achieve? Think the other side of the story was being told openly and proudly is why he has such hatred for Israel. The irrationality of his about it? If you weren’t Jewish and you didn’t love Israel, what would you think on the pages of a national newspaper. hatred for the Jewish state comes through in everything that of a Jewish person who decides to withhold money that he had promised to our he does and says. economy because he wanted to “force” the president to be kinder to Israel? There’s 4. How do you interpret South Africans’ reaction a good chance it would reinforce antisemitic stereotypes, don’t you think? So, who to the 11-day battle between Hamas in Gaza and 12. Are you planning to react to what was said? If so, was behind it? Watch this space! Israel? how? Then, this week, Facebook removed a post that went viral, getting about 25 000 You must distinguish between the response of the ruling I don’t believe in mudslinging; rather, I speak to the issues. views. It was said to include an Israeli soldier kneeling on a Palestinian child’s party and that of the country as a whole, which is much more I’m not interested in responding to personal attacks. The facts head, reminiscent of the George Floyd saga – only worse as this was a child. The positive. The African National Congress has taken a one-sided speak for themselves. And I’ve laid out the facts very carefully words that went with it were: “An Israeli soldier kills a Palestinian child and the view of the confict, but in my experience, the majority of in my letter to the president. world has not moved for him[.] Share the picture until it rotates in the world to South Africans are tremendously sympathetic and supportive show the Zionist brutality in Palestine.” of Israel. 13. Following the past few distressing weeks, how It turns out that if you look carefully, you can see it isn’t an Israeli soldier at do we move forward as a community? all, but a Chilean soldier. What’s more, it’s not the first time this photograph has 5. Do you believe there has been a fair, unbiased The most important thing to realise as a South African gone viral under the guise of being an Israeli soldier. It happened in July 2020 and response in mainstream media? Jewish community is that this is a global problem, felt before that. The photograph was apparently taken in 2016 in Chile. This was pure The problem of media bias is a global one. It comes from by Jewish communities throughout the world. There’s fake news with the clear agenda of communicating how violent and vile Israel and a fundamental misunderstanding of who the aggressor is been a dramatic rise in antisemitic incidents everywhere. its people are. and who the victim is. At the heart of much of the suffering It’s clear evidence of the deep connection between the There are so many such ‘fake’ photographs, particularly with wounded children, in the Israeli-Palestinian confict is the militant theology of global movement to delegitimise and destroy Israel out there to make Israel look bad. It’s a clever tactic, unfortunately, because it Hamas, which openly seeks the genocide of all Jews in Israel with a virulent antisemitism that has emerged under the works. and the total eradication of the Jewish state. It’s a theology guise of anti-Zionism. Criticism of the state of Israel per Flip that around, and just how many factual stories aren’t being told for fear of that preaches the targeting of Israeli civilians and the use se can, of course, be made in good faith. But when that what they might lead to? There is a great deal of fear out there, and people who of its own people as human shields. I don’t think this is criticism becomes a distortion of truth to demonise Israel, prefer to stay under the radar, not wanting to make the news. understood properly. I frmly believe peace is attainable. As I it becomes a dangerous form of antisemitism. We were told that following the protest outside Beyachad two weekends ago, mentioned in my letter to the president, if the issue was land One aspect of the IHRA (International Holocaust there was a Hatzolah ambulance that was taking an elderly lady to the hospital. and the establishment of a Palestinian state, it would have Remembrance Alliance’s) defnition of antisemitism is to They needed to hurry for her sake. happened long ago. There have been multiple opportunities accuse the state of Israel of being founded on racism. The Allegedly, they got caught up in the anti-Israel protest, which slowed them down, which have been rejected time and again by the Palestinian apartheid accusation, ironically, is a form of antisemitism. but then managed to get onto the highway. This should have been their chance leadership. The suffering of the Palestinian people is a result Isn’t it tragic that the hatred of the anti-Israel lobby is so to get to the hospital fast, only people from the protest in large cars allegedly of its militant theological leadership. It’s a heart-breaking intense that it’s using the sacred memory of the victims of prevented them from take their offramp and causing distress. human tragedy. racism to perpetrate another form of bigotry. We believed this story to be true because if it was, the community and the world should know what certain people are willing to do to us while still insisting that 6. Last Friday, you called on Muslim leaders to 14. What message do you have for the community it is Israel and the Jewish nation that are bad. However, as long as nobody was join you in calling for tolerance, for people not to now? willing to corroborate it, we couldn’t tempt fate by publishing the story without it. threaten or harm each other verbally or physically We must live with pride and dignity in South Africa. We Again, if it was made up, it could have been much more elaborate and exciting, over the confict in the Middle East. Why did you do live in an open and free democracy, and we must be but if it wasn’t, we should be publishing it. However, it’s impossible to force people this? proud of our support for the state of Israel. We have to be to speak, even off the record. It’s so disturbing to see Jews around the world attacked and ready with the facts. We have no one and nothing to fear. I’m saying that, even as a reader, you should check the source of the story. Not living in fear as they enter shuls and schools. I contacted We can stand up to this pressure, and we do so as free, every journalist is as ethical as ours. And not every story is as it seems. South African Muslim leaders because I believe that all independent citizens of this country. We can be proud I wish you all a great month of June. South Africans, including Jewish and Muslim communities, Jews, proud of our Zionism, not only because our hearts should live without fear of threats of violence or intimidation. and souls are connected to Israel through our Torah, but Shabbat Shalom! Because of the emotions of this confict – which run higher also because of the facts which support the justice of Peta Krost Maunder than anything else I’ve seen – it’s vital for leaders to come the cause of the state of Israel. So, let’s go forward with Editor forward – especially religious leaders – to preach peace. strength and confdence. 3 – 10 June 2021 SA JEWISH REPORT 7 Professor of propaganda OPINION HOWARD SACKSTEIN

n associate professor of the University of the Witwatersrand Pro-Palestinian activists, not wanting to miss an (Wits) Family Medicine used a university WhatsApp group opportunity, utilised these images claiming that the with his students to propagate the following anti-Israel view. exuberant crowd singing and dancing at the Western Wall were, in AOn 19 May, Professor Shabir Moosa posted a discredited and fact, cheering the “burning of the Al-Aqsa Mosque”. inaccurate video to the Family Medicine WhatsApp group with It was this that Moosa used on WhatsApp. Junior doctors on the the note, “Watch this! Where is our condemnation? Zionists cheer WhatsApp group brought this post to the attention of the burning of Al-Aqsa Mosque.” SA Jewish Report because they believe Moosa had abused his position Te story behind this is linked to Yom Yerushalayim, the annual of authority over them by foisting his own and inaccurate views over celebration of the liberation of the Old City of Jerusalem. In 1948, them as his subordinates. Jordanian forces attacked and illegally occupied Jerusalem in defiance Tey believed Moosa had deliberately made medical interns, who of the United didn’t agree with his position, intimidated and Nations partition uncomfortable. plan declaring As the non-executive chairperson of the SA Professor Shabir Moosa Jerusalem an Jewish Report, I contacted Moosa that day, international city. explaining how this had been reported to me, Having captured and the inaccuracy of it. the Old City, Jordan “By sending this fabricated information ethnically cleansed to this group, by stirring racial and religious the walled city of its hatred, you have deeply offended many Jewish inhabitants, of your students and acted completely confiscated Jewish inappropriately,” I wrote. land, and built I said I wanted to give him an opportunity toilet latrines along to apologise before we ran the story. Instead, the Western Wall, he denied he was spreading propaganda and Judaism’s most misinformation, and justified his call. holy site. Jews “Te fire was on the platform,” he wrote. were forbidden “Whatever the nature of the fire, the dancing from praying at was completely inappropriate given the their most sacred fire. Te singing also spoke volumes about sanctuary, the the dancing. My question was simple, ‘Just retaining wall of how does anybody justify this? Where is the the Temple complex universal condemnation?’ Tis isn’t just any that had housed mosque. It’s the third holy space of Muslims both the First and across the world!” I want peace and tolerance! Second Temples. If you don’t condemn that dancing and In 1967, after Jordan attacked Israel during the Six-Day War, the singing, then it will be you that is stirring racial and religious hatred. Israel Defense Forces won back the city, bringing the Western Wall I urge you to publish this response in its entirety.” back into Jewish hands. I replied that clearly, the professor didn’t want to promote “peace Ever since, tens of thousands of Jews gather at the Western Wall and tolerance”. If he did, he would have no problem correcting his complex every year, singing, dancing, and celebrating the unification own inaccuracies. of the city. “How can anyone but a propagandist not understand that the Tis year, Yom Yerushalayim coincided with Laylatul Qadr celebrations below have happened every year since the liberation (Night of Power) which, by Muslim tradition, marks the time that of the Western Wall in 1967. What you have done is spread a false the Qur’an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. It also narrative stoking religious and racial intolerance and hatred,” I coincided with commemorations after Quds Day, marked on the last wrote. “It’s quite clear that you don’t want peace and tolerance as you Friday of Ramadan, the day declared by the Ayatollah of Iran as a day describe as you have been given the opportunity to correct your error, for the liberation of Jerusalem. yet you persist as a cheap peddler of lies, misinformation, and hatred. On Monday, 10 May, thousands of Palestinian youth gathered More importantly, you have abused your position on a work group to on the Temple Mount, attacking a police post and hurling rocks do this – you have embarrassed your students by your actions.” from the Temple Mount toward a road south of the compound. Te professor has now posed my photo on his propaganda page. Of Police entered the compound, where violent clashes took place course, by posting my photo and phone number without permission, between the two sides. Te BBC reported that protesters hurled Moosa committed a criminal offence in terms of the Protection of stones at the police at Damascus Gate in the Old City, and officers Personal Information Act. responded with stun grenades, rubber bullets, and water cannons. On the page, he wrote, “I refused to be cowed by his bullying.” In response to these events, Hamas, the Islamic fundamentalist Maybe that’s the same sort of bullying that he attempted to military dictatorship which rules the Gaza strip, unleashed a barrage impose on his interns, over whom he lauded his propaganda? of rockets towards Jerusalem, igniting a war between the two Meanwhile, given Moosa’s approach, I reported him to Wits adversaries. Medical School and requested disciplinary action against him. I Amidst these clashed on the Temple Mount, Palestinians fired can’t help thinking that our doctors deserve a better education, and fireworks, one setting a tree ablaze in the Al-Aqsa complex. certainly better educators. Film crews capturing the singing and dancing for Yom Yerushalayim panned up to see a tree ablaze on the Temple Mount. • Howard Sackstein is the chairperson of the SA Jewish Report. No ceasefire in SA antisemitism >>Continued from page 2 in person to Palestinian Prime Minister Jewish Israelis to learn to work towards building “As the holy month of Ramadan comes to an Mahmoud Abbas, to whom I was introduced in co-operation and coexistence.” end, I hope that you will use the closing hours to Cape Town. He supports the Barzilai Medical Center refect on the value of truth, and put an end to the “What is true is that I have donated funds in Ashkelon, “where Arab and Jewish Israelis malicious lies which are being spread in an effort in my personal capacity, both in South Africa are treated side by side”, and the Interfaith to damage our company and put jobs at risk,” he and in Israel, to entities endeavouring to build Intercultural Youth Programme in South Africa, wrote. “I wish all our Muslim staff Ramadan Kareem relationships between Jews and Muslims, “bringing together all faiths and races with the and Eid Mubarak. Let’s continue to work together to and Jewish Israelis and Arab Israelis,” wrote aim of providing an opportunity to develop build a family of mankind, in a world where we all Krawitz. He has supported the Peres Centre for understanding, co-operation, and coexistence”. respect each other, and fnd ways to unite through Peace through the Israel Tennis Centre, “where Krawitz said, “Our company employs hundreds our commonalities rather than divide ourselves children from disadvantaged Palestinian and of Muslim staff, many of whom occupy senior through our differences! Let’s continue to create Israeli communities in and around Jerusalem positions within our group. It’s sad that jobs, develop people, and build South Africa.” come together to participate in an educational misleading information has been put out in the programme which encourages the values of public domain working against the very ideals • To report antisemitism, cyber-bullying, coexistence and mutual understanding”. that we have striven for at Cape Union Mart. intimidation, or threats, email [email protected] He has also given to a technology centre in However, I have been greatly heartened by the (Johannesburg) or call, text or WhatsApp the Ramle, “an economically disadvantaged city incredible messages of support from Muslim staff Cape SAJBD’s #ReportHate Hotline on with more than 30% Arab residents. This centre members who know exactly what I stand for. For 079 994 5573, or complete its #ReportHate tool specifically aims to bring together Arab and that, I am extremely grateful! here: https://bit.ly/3hH1ZbU 8 SA JEWISH REPORT 3 – 10 June 2021 The many forms of Zionism Zionism, the term that has been bandied around by the anti-Israel lobby, isn’t a uniform approach to Israel. It has many forms resulting in differences even between individuals with similar political views, but it stands on the belief in the need for Israel, a Jewish state. The SA Jewish Report questioned two Zionists to show how different their views are. GAVIN ROME 7. What do you believe should happen JONI KOWENSKY 6. How do you feel about the occupied to solve this conflict between Israel and territories or Judea and Samaria? 1. What do you the Palestinians? 1. What do you “Occupied territories” isn’t a correct believe Zionism is? A good time out. No grand agreements or believe Zionism is? description of the three areas in Judea Zionism was an accords, but a defined period of time in A conviction that and Samaria, for which Israel, the United ideology that returned which both sides do their utmost to avoid Jews have an States, and Palestinian leadership agreed historical agency to the antagonising the other. As to how to achieve archaeologically to the borders during the Oslo Accords. Jewish people and led such a base, I’m sadly at a loss but I’m sure visible, ancient When Jews and Israelis can enter Area A, to the establishment there are those better qualified than I am connection to Israel, where Palestinians manage all military and of a Jewish state in the land of Israel. Today, who could formulate a realistic proposed with Judea (where Jews originated) being government infrastructure, without risk (like Zionism’s core principle is that it’s better framework. the epicentre for thousands of years. Israel Palestinians can in all the other zones), the for the Jewish people to shape their lives in has a right to exist within safe borders, situation will improve. You cannot look at the state of Israel than to remain scattered 8. Do you believe the Israeli government defend herself, and to be a religious Jewish these territories in isolation from Gaza. A minorities among the nation states of the is doing enough to solve this conflict? state (like its Muslim neighbours). Zionism solution can be reached only when Hamas world. What should it do? isn’t political, its borders and governance is and Fatah stop fighting each other so that No. Cessation of settlement projects in the political, but the principle isn’t. there is one peace agreement. 2. How do you interpret what happened West Bank would be the first step. Each new from 9 to 21 May in Israel? settlement makes the only possible route to 2. How do you interpret what happened 7. What do you believe should happen to An avoidable tragic paragraph in the annals of the end of the conflict (namely two separate from 9 to 21 May in Israel? solve this conflict between Israel and the the Jewish/Arab-Palestinian conflict. states existing side-by-side) increasingly Israel showed extreme restraint in waiting Palestinians? remote. for more than 500 rockets to be fired First, Palestinian leaders have to stop calling 3. Whose fault is it and why? before retaliating. The Iron Dome saved for Israel’s destruction and chanting “from Largely, the immediate “fault” lies 9. Do you support a two-state solution, thousands of people, and Hamas used the river to the sea”, proving that they want with Hamas and its eliminationist and and what does that mean to you? If you larger missiles and barrages than before. all of the territory of Israel and the country’s expulsionist “river to the sea” ideology. don’t, what do you support? Israel avoided civilian casualties in densely annihilation. Ten, when all their leaders can There are nevertheless underlying fault I support a two-state solution. Tis populated civilian areas, hitting more than negotiate as one, the Trump peace plan is lines for which both sides are to blame. would entail both parties ultimately 1 500 targets with less than 250 deaths the best bet. Te Palestinians would get more However, the spark for this latest awful one day making difficult and anguishing reported by Hamas. This number includes land, an extra island, a harbour, and airport, episode was Hamas’s cynical and missile compromises. In contrast, a binational Hamas’s own inflicted deaths from its 680 if peaceful. Neither party wins as much as firing exploitation of tensions in East state in which each community has semi- missiles that misfired, committing double they would like, both have to compromise. Jerusalem. autonomous and equal rights within a war crimes in firing at civilians from its However, until the Palestinians come to the own dense civilian areas. party, this isn’t possible. One such situation killed a Gazan family of eight. Israel 8. Do you believe the Israeli government continues to avoid civilian is doing enough to solve this conflict? casualties, while Hamas What should it do? uses civilian casualties as It’s in a very tough situation but a new method its modus operandi, helping may be needed as the cycle has repeated itself Hamas to win the world since Hamas’s violent overtake of Gaza. By over. Israel needs to prepare tackling Iran, the key funder of Hamas, it has better in terms of social greatly weakened it, and communication with media and education. regional allies has been strong.

3. Whose fault is it, and 9. Do you support a two-state solution why? and what does it mean to you? If you Mahmoud Abbas has been in don’t, what do you support? charge of Fatah/the Palestine Tough the mandate of Palestine was divided Liberation Organization into Jordan and Israel (one for Arabs, one since Yasser Arafat. Prior for Jews), Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza to elections, realising he already represents a three-state solution was losing, he arrested his where Jews compromised a great deal. I 4. What do you think about the way Israel federation of all of its citizens is a romantic opposition and announced that due to support the Trump peace plan in which Israel dealt with it? utopia which appears to be desired neither riots, elections were cancelled. Days later, yet again gives more land for peace, once Once Hamas had commenced its bomb- by the Jewish nor the Palestinian polities. his supporters stormed the Temple Mount, all preconditions to stop incitement and all-of-Israel missile campaign, Israel Also and in contrast, a Jewish state in which triggering incidents of violence throughout aggression have been met. reacted responsibly in fulfilling the basic the Arab residents of the West Bank aren’t Israel, falsely using a private rental dispute responsibilities of a nation state, namely to citizens and thus don’t have the right to vote in Sheik Jarrah as a pretext. Hamas saw 10. How do you feel about Benjamin protect its citizens from harm. I’m, however, would, in my view, amount to a perversion an opportunity to fire rockets into Israel, Netanyahu and his way of governing? critical of the ultra-nationalist East Jerusalem of the Zionist idea. unprovoked, as it does every few years. Netanyahu’s governance of Israel’s security settlement project and the government’s and foreign relations has been great. It would support for the establishment of belligerent 10. How do you feel about Benjamin 4. What do you think about how Israel be unfair to comment on Israel’s internal settler enclaves in Arab neighbourhoods of Netanyahu and his way of governing? dealt with it? governance with its complexities, diverse East Jerusalem. He has undoubtably achieved much: the Israel needs to focus on social media and population, and cultures, as I don’t live there. liberalisation of the Israeli economy, many hasbara (diplomacy). It has managed riots 5. Who do you support (politically) in years of uninterrupted economic growth, and attacks on Jews and Arabs in Israel 11. If you could do two things to improve Israel and why? and accords with Arab states. Unfortunately, equally. It dealt a large blow to Hamas’s more Israel, what would you do? Any of Labour, Meretz, or Yesh Atid. Each his exploitation of populist tools has had the than 100km of terror tunnels, and bought Tere needs to be an education drive among of these parties would better protect the effect of weakening Israeli democracy. Israel some intermittent peace. Fake media Palestinians to help break down the lies and institutions of democracy (a free press, the rule that sent all the terrorists into the tunnels, hate they were taught so we can unite in of law, respect for the constitutional role of 11. If you could do two things to helping it to save civilians, was genius. business, agriculture, and technology. Tere the Supreme Court, and tolerance for dissent), improve Israel, what would you do? should also be an Arab-led alliance to disarm which have been subjected to cynical, populist I would rather not answer this question. 5. Who do you support (politically) in Hamas and Fatah to monitor a free election subversion by the past decade’s governing Not living in Israel, I’m unqualified to Israel and why? and smooth transition to fairly elected coalitions. address the practicalities which this question Likud has always successfully defended officials. implies. Israel in the international arena. Global 6. How do you feel about the occupied support during the last conflict, as well 12. Who do you believe should be the territories or Judea and Samaria? 12. Who do you believe should be the as the Abraham Accords and warming next prime minister of Israel and why? I’ve been a lifelong opponent of the West Bank next prime minister of Israel and why? relations with Sudan, the United Arab Israeli politics are complicated, and it is tough settlement project. I remain of the view that I don’t “believe” in any person or politician. Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Morocco to say anything while not understanding life civilian settlement of the West Bank has been, Having said that, I have been impressed by and others, is a testament to this. Adding in Israel as an Israeli. Netanyahu has done to use the phrase of historian Barbara Tuchman, Yair Lapid’s non-confrontational and quietly an Arab member to the party, and being well where mentioned above, and Barkat nothing less than “the march of folly”. respectful leadership style. joined by former Jerusalem mayor Nir could be an exciting chapter in Israel’s story. Tere should, nonetheless, be no withdrawal Barkat, voted “mayor of the world”, who if this would lead to the establishment of a • Gavin Rome is senior counsel at the was elected by Arabs to be mayor for many • Joni Kowensky is the Head of Betar South hostile armed entity in the West Bank, as would Johannesburg Bar. He has acted as a judge of years, shows that the party isn’t as right Africa, Deputy Chairman of the SAZF and seem to be the case for the foreseeable future. the high court on several occasions. wing as some think. WZO General Council. 3 – 10 June 2021 SA JEWISH REPORT 9 Media’s version of truth as strange as Japanese fiction

OPINION CHARISSE ZEIFERT

ashomon, the Japanese movie by Akira (https://youtu.be/KJoPEkXLigw). Kurosawa, relates the story of a murder There’s more. whereby four different characters give The Citizen came out with an editorial Rtheir version of what happened. Three of them (https://citizen.co.za/news/opinion/opinion- claim to be the killer, placing themselves in editorials/2498678/israel-palestine-confict-we-wont- the centre of the story and provide first-person pick-sides-in-our-reporting/) stating that it wouldn’t eyewitness accounts of the event. Told in the pick sides on the confict and would report on the form of flashbacks, their stories seem to have no facts as it saw it. This is what our media should be – bearing on reality. Rather, the characters provide and many are – doing. personal, unconventional, and self-serving We will continue to strive to develop relationships versions of the same incident. with media, we’ll continue to monitor and engage I’ve thought a lot about this movie while them, and we’ll do our best to ensure that they monitoring coverage of the 11-day confict and present balance on the Middle East confict. afterwards. Ultimately, the Israeli-Palestinian confict shouldn’t Journalists all have their biases. Depending be used by self-serving journalists at the expense of on the media house they work for, such bias A scene from the the truth as if it were simply a Japanese movie (no could either be tempered or expressed. We all Japanese film Rashomon matter how good it is), in which the truth is simply know journalists who already have a jaundiced unobtainable. position on Israel. This latest war has simply given (BDS) organisation as a name-calling bully in her SAFM (https://iono.fm/e/1038530); and on eNCA, them new impetus to further vilify the country. interview with him on Channel Africa; Zev Krengel Avrom Krengel showed up his opponent from the • Charisse Zeifert is the head of communications for They never did see a reason to provide another rattled his BDS opponent in a debate with him on South African Transport and Allied Workers Union the SAJBD. perspective. They won’t now. A presenter at Power FM stated that as he equated Zionism with racism, he wouldn’t give “oppressors” a platform. Then, 702, the station that the majority of our community listen to, talked the talk but failed to walk the walk when it came to providing alternate perspectives. In spite of numerous requests, it gave the Jewish community the ultimate middle-fnger when, following two short interviews with anti-Israel commentators Ronnie Kasrils and Munir Nuseibeh, it then gave a full hour to the fringe views of historical revisionist Ilan Pappe. It did, later, do an interview with Daniel Pomerantz, the chief executive of Honest Reporting, who was given 12 minutes to state Israel’s case. The problem with this one-sidedness is that it embellishes an already demonised view of Israel, to the extent that their narrative eventually has no bearing on reality. Like the characters in Rashomon, the journalists are acting in a self-serving manner. Journalists and columnists are encouraged to have an opinion, but their opinions shouldn’t override their obligation to fair-minded, independent journalism. Let’s now look at news coverage. In an ideal world, it shouldn’t matter what your news source is, as all news should be factually correct. Sadly, this isn’t the case. Even news reporters and stations have their bias. The other day, 702 lifted its report on the confict from Al-Jazeera. The report was so distorted, it took me a couple of hours to try and verify it. I couldn’t. Fact-changing shouldn’t be our job. That should be done by the media. Our job as the Jewish organisations should be to ensure that the media provides both sides of story. The loss of life and the trauma of this latest Israeli war with Gaza is tragic for Palestinians and Israelis. There does, however, need to be an acknowledgement that there are (at least) two sides to this story. This is in the interests of the media profession, which has an obligation to ensure its listeners are fully informed. We all know that, as much as the war is being fought on the ground, it’s also being fought in the realm of public opinion. It’s not necessary for the media to endorse Israel, but if they wish to be credible, it’s necessary for them to ensure that they give both sides of the confict. In spite of what I have described above, it’s not all bad. In fact, there’s plenty of good. This time round, more media (print and electronic) have been scrupulous in approaching the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) and the South African Zionist Federation for comment, which we have readily supplied. To date, “our side” has appeared more than 40 times, be it in print, online, or radio/TV. Furthermore, where we have had the opportunity to debate, we have, in fact, won. Olga Meshoe Washington wiped the foor with her opponent from the Al-Jamai Party in a debate on Newzroom Afrika (https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=2-tWZCctmtY); Rolene Marks exposed her opponent from the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions 10 SA JEWISH REPORT 3 – 10 June 2021 Threatened, victimised, and isolated for supporting Israel

TALI FEINBERG continue until the end of the term. After want to paint that picture to learners.” “He has never met anyone Jewish, a couple of days, they saw that the group A community meeting was called at a and doesn’t have a single Jewish friend. retoria teacher Sudesh Mooloo’s ‘Stand with Sudesh’ was growing on local mosque on Sunday, 23 May, with But there have been so many messages family member says he fears for his Facebook, and he was getting support. So dignitaries, religious leaders and the from people who don’t know him that safety and that of his family after he their story changed that his contract was Pretoria Legacy Foundation. According have offered a lot of comfort. He is Pexpressed support for Israel and took a stand never terminated and that he was just ‘off to Maniza Essa, who wrote about the humbled by them. Meanwhile, people against Hamas during the recent confict. sick’. meeting on Facebook, “He [Mooloo] who do know him refuse to say, ‘I may Mooloo was allegedly told by the principal “They saw that they needed to be careful. explained that he had no intention of disagree with you, but I stand by you.’’’ of his workplace the next day that But he can’t go back because offending anyone and that his support for The family member says Mooloo is his contract was terminated his safety isn’t assured. This Israel wasn’t from a political perspective horrifed that the community calls for with immediate effect. was handled in such an but from a biblical perspective. human rights for Palestinians, but takes “Sudesh wrote a unprofessional way “He acknowledged that his biblical away freedom of speech from its own WhatsApp status saying, without following support for Israel didn’t mean he fellow South Africans. The family member ‘I’m not anti-Palestine. protocol, so what condoned its warfare actions against also wondered if speaking to the media I’m anti-Hamas. I stand safety does he Palestinians, especially not against might endanger the safety of Mooloo and with Israel’,” says the have? He has sent women and children. Sudesh further his family. family member, who an email to the acknowledged that he didn’t expect his Wendy Kahn, the national director couldn’t be named for school governing innocent post to garner such outrage of the South African Jewish Board of their own safety. “He’s body and school from the community, and explained Scholars at Laudium Secondary School Deputies, says, “The dismissal of Mr standing up in support of Sudesh Mooloo a person who will always Sudesh Mooloo principal asking for that he had come under extreme Mooloo for ‘daring’ to have a different express an opinion. He was a sit-down meeting to criticism from his own family, 90% of political view from those in power at the coming from a biblical standpoint, discuss the way forward, but he whom are Muslims, about the post. cohesion in the community should prevail.” school shows the appalling intolerance not a political standpoint. He’s a Christian. hasn’t heard back.” “Sudesh appealed for forgiveness from According to the family member, Mooloo and bullying prevalent at this time. To fre He believes others feel the same, but are too According to the family member, Grade the community, and welcomed those who wrote he was anti-Hamas because “it’s a someone because they dissent from your scared to express it.” 9 learners at the school organised a protest had assisted him to get a clearer picture terrorist group. But apparently you can’t say views is unconstitutional. Our Constitution Mooloo has taught Afrikaans, social to show their support of their teacher. “But of the reality happening in Palestine. The that. It gets people’s blood boiling.” states that ‘everyone has the right to sciences, and creative arts at Laudium the principal quickly shut it down. They meeting ended in unanimous support for The family member says the Jewish freedom of conscience, religion, thought, Secondary School (LSS) in Pretoria for 25 don’t want the kids to know that he was resolution of the issue, and it was agreed community has shown Mooloo “great belief, and opinion’. Mr Mooloo is being years. terminated because of his beliefs. They don’t that peaceful co-existence and social support”. deprived these basic rights.” Within minutes of him posting the WhatsApp status, messages started streaming in, condemning his words. “There were so many death threats. Most of his Farewell to country community’s unsung hero family ‘wrote him off’. His children were TRIBUTE MICHAEL KRANSDORFF victimised. He had to stop sending his little one to primary school. His daughter was erry Feldman, a greatly admired Parys exploitation. Although not religiously attacked on social media, and his wife at farmer, businessman, and Jewish communal In addition to being a successful businessman, inclined, he would conduct, her workplace. It came from all angles. He leader was taken from us this week, another Feldman was a South African patriot in the liberal without fail, Friday night services in shul in his started getting calls from family members Pcasualty of the coronavirus epidemic. tradition. In spite of his parents being victims characteristic short pants and short-sleeved shirt. swearing at him. Within an hour, he put an Feldman embodied the very best of South of farm violence in the early 1990s, he was Te maintenance of the Jewish cemetery was apology on Facebook, but it wasn’t accepted.” African Jewish country community values. A kol determined to do all he could to build a successful, another of his personal projects. “You’re a Nazi like your beloved Israel. d’mamah dakah (a still small voice which speaks harmonious, and multiracial future for the country. Recently, he took up the battle to keep a DAMN YOU”; “If you do not step down the word of G-d) is how Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft During the political unrest in Parys during the country community organisation alive, and immediately I am coming to the school to described Feldman in his eulogy, his friend and late 1980s and early 1990s, Feldman served on the helped to establish the Small Jewish Communities make sure you out”; “My mind is focused congregant of many years. local peace committee. His remarkable ability to Association, of which he was vice-chairperson. on jihad, not football [on a soccer WhatsApp A quiet, humble, modest individual, but so full of listen to everyone and always infuse calm helped to Deeply principled and not afraid of a fight, group]”; “SUDESH MUST GO. Our source kindness and of love, burning with encouragement avoid racial clashes and allowed for informed us that Sudesh Mooloo the coward to do the will of the almighty to make this world a practical, non-violent solutions. Tis that he is left the school early in fear of our better place, with no need for external pomp and earned him the enduring friendship Veronica and Perry Feldman action against him”; “I would treat you the circumstance to call attention to his fine qualities. of both the town’s most verkrampte same way an Israeli soldier treats a kid in Feldman grew up in the picturesque Free State Afrikaner nationalists and radical Palestine ... you should feel disgusted about dorp of Parys, situated along the banks of the struggle veterans. yourself. You whole reputation is gone down Vaal river. He matriculated from Parys High Over the past decade, during his the drain. Shame on you!”; “I wanted to School in 1961, and went on to study a BCom at “retirement”, Feldman took up the inform you that the contract between LSS the University of the Witwatersrand, where he contentious issue of land reform. and Mr Mooloo has been terminated. His graduated cum laude and won numerous medals. He believed that giving township last day at LSS was today” [by a member of He returned to Parys to join his father, Abe, in dwellers ownership of their homes the school governing body]. his successful farming business. His hard work, was key to enhancing human dignity These were just some of the messages meticulous planning, and inventiveness earned and building a more equitable and he received or were posted about him. An him the esteem of the South African farming sustainable economy. Trough the article in the Laudium Sun on 21 May 2021 community. Free Market Foundation’s Khaya headlined, “Calls for teacher supporting Never one to rest on his laurels, in the early Lam initiative, his team has raised Israeli atrocities to be fred”, said: “Calls are 1990s, Feldman and his wife, Veronica, joined millions of rands and worked with now growing for Sudesh, an educator at Searle and Lorna Sacks as business partners in local municipalities of all political stripes across he achieved this in spite of the opposition of Ladium Secondary, to resign from his post, Parys Biltong. Together, they grew this into one South Africa to transfer about 11 000 title deeds entrenched communal interest groups. Co- as it is believed he could infuence the of the largest suppliers of biltong, dried fruit, and to township residents. Even during lockdown, the committee member Anne Harris described him as youth with incorrect values.” In the article, nuts in South Africa. Feldmans continued to travel around the country the organisation’s “mastermind”, and lamented community members also criticised Mooloo. Even more impressive is that this was achieved promoting this tangible land-reform programme. that with his passing “we will all need to shoulder “How do you go against an organisation Family, Yiddishkeit, and community the burden of caring for the country communities [Hamas] that fghts against an evil regime were at his core. He was a devoted which were so dear and important to him”. [Zionist Israel]?” asked Yusuf Mustapha husband, and in more than 50 years of Feldman loved learning about Jewish history and of Radio 1584 and the Islamic Institute of marriage, they were rarely apart. Tey culture. He had a library of Jewish books to rival South Africa. raised two children, Batya and Ari, and a university, and made a point of connecting with “He is an upstanding member of his have five grandchildren, whom Feldman Jewish communities in the many off-the-beaten- community who has worked closely with doted on. He was a pillar of strength to track places around the world to which he and his the youth,” says the family member. “He his family and friends – the first person wife travelled. It was this same spirit that inspired went to that school, so did his father and you thought to call when you needed his mission to preserve and remember Jewish life grandfather. It’s a huge loss to him, and he help with almost anything. in the smaller towns across South Africa. has a family to provide for. But even if they Feldman served the Parys Jewish “An unsung hero of the South African Jewish asked him to come back, he wouldn’t be able community for many years. At a young community” is how Silberhaft described him. We to. If he disciplined a Muslim pupil, or gave age, he was a Habonim madrich, shall not see his like again. them a bad mark, it would be judged and organising Zionist activities for the scrutinised.” small but vibrant Jewish community. • Michael Kransdorff is a Harvard-educated financial The family member says the school Perry Feldman Always a man of action, he volunteered innovator and consultant, chairman of the JNF SA governing body came under public pressure to go to Israel to help out during the and Perry Feldman’s cousin. His great grandfather to fre Moloo. They “told him telephonically by focusing on building strong labour relations and Six-Day War. In later years, as the community was the found member of the Parys Shul and a former that his services would be terminated with empowering black women (who comprise 95% of dwindled, Feldman took responsibility for its chairman. 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ZIBUZA.NET SIGN-UP TODAY. 12 SA JEWISH REPORT 3 – 10 June 2021 Secular school scholars deal with anti-Israel sentiment NICOLA MILTZ along and coming together. We showed weren’t heated,” he said. isolated, intimidated, and harassed. She was “It was hurtful and insensitive because them how we could be on different sides and Said Carmen, “My kids have young mortifed by her friends’ Instagram posts they don’t know the full story,” he said. t has been a lonely experience for many hold different views, but we could still speak cousins in Israel who have been traumatised, which showed only one side of the confict, “Boys that I thought I was close to were Jewish scholars at secular private or to one another as human beings. It was so when my younger saw son disturbing and became quite anxious. Things have also putting up ‘Free Palestine’ posts on government schools following the recent powerful and profound for them,” Feldman videos of injured Palestinian children on calmed down, but she will never forget this their stories and this surprised me. There’s Iconfict in the Middle East. For some it said. social media, I explained that children were time.” nothing I can do about it, it’s their opinion,” has been tumultuous and for others, eye- Kai Amos, 17, the head of the Jewish suffering on both sides. This seemed to A father who spoke on condition of he said. opening. Student Association at Rondebosch Boys resonate.” anonymity has two sons at two different “There are a few other Jewish boys, but Schools are meant to be politically High School, decided that if kids came to A mother who wished to remain high schools in Johannesburg. For them, it they feel they’d rather stay quiet because impartial spaces, but there have been reports school wearing pro-Palestinian masks, he, anonymous said her 16-year-old daughter has been an opportunity to learn about the they don’t know enough and don’t want to of pro-Palestinian activism at some schools too, could show support for Israel. had found the past few weeks traumatic. confict, and has forced them to become say the wrong thing, even though they get and an atmosphere of intimidation and fear “Some of the Jewish guys and others “In the beginning at school she felt knowledgeable. upset. mainly online, said Professor Karen Milner, talked to the head teacher in charge about “I was concerned for both my boys “I like to talk about the confict and the Gauteng chair of the South African the best way forward [to encourage] because they were brought into real-world present an alternative view. I’m not afraid. A Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD). harmony at school. We met with the Muslim engagement and had to hold their own. Muslim boy in my class posted a lot of one- “We have been approached by several Student Association and the principal, and They faced the tension up front, and saw sided pro-Palestinian stuff online, and when people mainly concerned with online it was decided that we could have a week to frst-hand what they will come up against in I told him I was Jewish, he said that I didn’t bullying. This was directed at school children, show solidarity with whichever side.” future. It was intense. seem Jewish. In his mind, Jews are all scary university students, and adults at small Kai and his mother, Carmen, approached “The biggest issue is what is posted people who are violent and want to take businesses,” she said. the South African Zionist Federation, which online. It leaves little space for face-to-face everything over.” Incidents with school kids typically provided them with Israeli bracelets, masks, conversations which would give children Said Milner, “People are entitled to happen within chat groups or on formal and badges which were handed out to those the opportunity to explore their feelings. express solidarity with either side in the social-media platforms such as Instagram. “A who wanted to take part. Offensive and hurtful stuff happens between confict without being harassed and bullied.” child would experience online bullying and “It was a very enlightening experience. friend groups, and this becomes tricky. I She advises children and students mocking even though they responded to a There was no aggression, everyone was encouraged my children not to engage with to make sure they are informed when post politely,” Milner said. respectful. Discussions were held in any hate online.” engaging with someone who has posted From the Board’s reports, it never moved Memorial Hall during societies period One Grade 9 boy told the SA Jewish damaging lies online. beyond the online space, but “online before break, and a sizeable number of boys Report he felt “uncomfortable” when prefects “Engagement should be done in a bullying is still unacceptable, it’s a form of attended. These discussions were facilitated asked kids during early morning line-up to responsible, respectful manner. There is no Kai Amos of Rondebosch Boys High intimidation”, said Milner. by the head of the history society, and they School wearing his Israeli badge keep Palestine in their thoughts. beneft to getting into slurs and hate.” Schools have increasingly focused on the confict in the region, with some head Male sexual abuse happening under our noses, says Koleinu teachers taking measures to safeguard kids against prejudice and antisemitism. NICOLA MILTZ one who hears about it.” It forced teachers to confront the issue and Rees Mann of the South African Male see it as a learning opportunity, especially “Adult male-on-male abuse is a worrying issue as more Survivors of Sexual Abuse said the when children may have been subjected to incidents involving innocent teenagers and young adult damage caused by this type of abuse one-sided, often offensive, and sometimes victims are brought to our attention,” said Rebbetzin was devastating. antisemitic material. Wendy Hendler of Koleinu, an organisation that offers “Adult male survivors of sexual abuse Tzvi Brivik, the chairperson of the Cape a helpline for victims of all forms of abuse in the Jewish present with huge developmental SAJBD, said it had been an intense time community. and psychological issues. There can be for students at schools and universities like “It’s happening under our noses and in our community. mood and behavioural disturbances, the University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch We aren’t immune to this form of abuse,” Hendler said. many suffer from post-traumatic stress University, and the AAA School of Advertising. Highlighting National Child Protection Week which disorder, depression, and anxiety. “Kids have been targeted online with runs until 6 June, Hendler said it was important for the There is anger, rage, and often suicidal material which may not ft the description of community to address this unspoken issue. thoughts as they grow up. antisemitism, but still amounts to bullying,” “This is an area which is seldom discussed or even “The most important thing for he said. recognised in our community. Boys and young adults fnd adult survivors is to disclose, and fnd Brivik said there had defnitely been an it unbearable to confront and so diffcult to talk about,” someone they can trust who can show uptick in reports of offensive material being she said. them empathy, someone who will hear posted online over the past few weeks. “Male-on-female sexual abuse is starting to be and believe them.” “There has also been the misuse of reported and spoken about. It’s far more diffcult to Adolescents are more often targets academic WhatsApp groups for political contemplate the idea of male-on-male sexual abuse as it’s for male sexual abuse he said. One of ends. Students post anti-Israel material a taboo topic.” the biggest reasons for not reporting a on groups designed for sharing academic “Abuse thrives in secrecy,” Hendler said. “Secrecy keeps male sexual assault is the fear of being information.” the abuser safe. If adults know of abuse and do nothing seen as a homosexual. When students post an Israeli fag, he to report it, they become complicit, and it’s against the According to Hendler and Sack, there is no typical registered to provide services to persons in abusive said, it’s usually followed by a slew of online law.” profle of a sex offender, but a career offender is someone relationships or who perpetuate abuse, as well as family commentary “which can be very hurtful”. Hendler together with her partner, Rozanne Sack, who makes it his life work to gain access to children, members impacted by abuse. It’s mandated to investigate “Our approach in the Cape has always became aware of the rising incidence of sexual and other groom them, and ultimately sexually abuse them. all reports of abuse and neglect of children. been to try build bridges, and there have forms of abuse in the Jewish community several years “They are often the most personable, likeable people “For any community member who becomes aware been some good examples of this taking ago. who have gained the full trust and respect of the that abuse may be taking place, there is a procedure for place at schools in Cape Town.” Sack said that while all victims of sexual abuse community,” they said. obtaining professional and legal help for those who may Two Cape schools stand out in this regard. experience shame, for male victims, the level of shame The offender will probably choose a profession which be impacted. While such situations are deeply unsettling, Rustenburg School for Girls in and confusion is often greater as their masculinity and gives him access to children, for example a teacher, sports experienced, court-mandated, and non-court-mandated Rondebosch invited Rabbi Osher Feldman of sexuality is called into question. coach, or extra-murals teacher. assistance is readily available to the Jewish community,” the Gardens Shul together with two imams “They are often told by the perpetrator that they “He frstly identifes a target victim, often a vulnerable said Tania Leibovitz, group intake consultant at the Chev. and a priest to address the girls. wanted the sexual intimacy, that they are to blame, or child. He befriends the child, spending time with him or “Even if a person initially chooses to report the abuse to “There is a diverse student body, and the that they are gay. The child’s sexual identity is disturbed, her in the presence of the parents and gaining the trust another person, professional, or organisation, it must still school was struggling with how things were and they experience great self-doubt about their sexual of the parents. He then starts to spend time alone with then be reported to CKCSS or another designated child- playing out in the classroom, so they asked orientation. They often feel disempowered because as the child, showering him with attention, giving him gifts, protection organisation mandated to investigate the case. us to come,” said Feldman this week. males, they believe that they should have stopped the babysitting him, taking him on outings. He may show Failure to report an abuse is deemed a contravention of “Many girls were wearing ‘Free Palestine’ abuse and that they are weak for having allowed it to physical affection to the child in front of the parents as law,” she said. masks. It was clearly a big issue for them,” happen. a way of normalising the behaviour and desensitising “By far the most important factor in encouraging a he said. “Abuse happens in a community that allows it by them. He will groom the parents as well as the child, male victim to come forward is unwavering support and The faith leaders were led onto the feld turning a blind eye, sweeping it under the carpet, or showing them how much he cares for their child, and how belief in their experience,” said Hendler. where there were hundreds of girls. sending perpetrators overseas to carry on abusing in much he adds to the child’s life. He will entrench himself “Our community needs to do better in making it safe “We each said a prayer for peace and other communities. It’s only through education, raising as a special person in that family’s life. This behaviour for any victim of abuse to come forward, by not making spoke about the importance of peace in our awareness, reporting, and holding perpetrators criminally will continue for months or even years before he begins them go through secondary traumatisation, by not respective faiths. It was about transcending accountable that we will be able to stop the cycle of to sexualise the relationship with the child. By this time, making them feel as if their marriage prospects will be our differences for the purpose of a shared neglect, abuse, violence, and exploitation of children,” it’s often too late for the child to be able to resist the threatened, by not asking how they could have let it humanity, and recognising and respecting she said. perpetrator.” happen.” the humanity of the other. Family educational counsellor Rabbi Elimelech Gartner Sadly, even if the child wants to disclose the abuse, “What was probably more impactful said he was receiving reports of this type of abuse in the “no-one will believe anything bad of the offender as he is • All cases of abuse or suspected abuse can be reported to for the students was the way in which the community. beloved by the family and a highly respected member of CKCSS by contacting the intake line: 011 532 9701, or four of us interacted with one another in “Male-on-male abuse is a reality. This doesn’t mean it’s the community”. the Chev emergency helpline 082 499 1010 after hours. a respectful, jovial manner. It was an eye- widespread, but it’s happening, people are coming to me, The Chevrah Kadisha’s Community Social Services An anonymous sexual abuse reporting hotline has also opener for them to see us up there, getting and I’m hearing complaints. I don’t believe I’m the only (CKCSS) division is the only Jewish organisation been set up on 011 264 0341. Kia Sonet Begin your SUV life.

Begin exploring. Begin dreaming. Begin doing. Meet the all-new Kia Sonet. It’s the compact SUV that gets you there in style. Stay connected with an 8-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Plus charging USB ports for all passengers. Begin your SUV life and 쏾nd your inspiration. Visit kia.co.za to 쏾nd out more. 14 SA JEWISH REPORT 3 – 10 June 2021 “Liars and Fakes” brings Cape Town teen fame and fortune TALI FEINBERG Smith recently signed a record coach for a few years, and that was an artist services management hating our jobs. Then one day, deal with Platoon, a London-based extremely helpful – I learnt a lot. and digital music-distribution our mundane work just gets too ike most 16-year-olds, Mila record label. Her song is also Now, I’m working with producers company. It brought me in as an much, and we escape the diner Smith has a busy schedule, being promoted internationally, and other songwriters who help ‘artist in development’, which on our roller skates and cruise fitting in hobbies with including in Europe, Australia, me to refine my song writing means that it provided everything through the city. We land up at Lschoolwork. But unlike most and the United States. or give me support to continue in order for me to create music in an abandoned mall where we other teens her age, this Herzlia “I’ve been creating music.” studio with the goal of releasing transform into beautiful outfits High School Grade 11 musical for as Liars and Fakes is her first it.” and end the music video dancing pupil also long as I can official single as a solo artist. “I Making a music video during on the roof of a building in the has a chart- remember. It was in a band called Skyscrapers the pandemic was challenging, city. topping music became a more with two boys from my school Smith says. Te video shoot was “It was meaningful because single. serious thing from the age of 11 to 14. We postponed constantly because just like we change outfits, our Her passion from around released an EP, where our single, of COVID-19 and lockdown. mindsets change too – from being for singing and the age of Just Kids, got lots of radio play “Eventually, we were able to film unsatisfied and fake to being song writing 11 when I and we had a music video for it it when lockdown content and our true selves. led her to sign a started a too,” she says. regulations Considering Liars record deal, make band,” she Liars and Fakes “was written lessened, and it and Fakes a music video and says. “Song about someone who used me for was worth the has a bit release her song writing superficial gain as opposed to wait. It was of an 80s internationally, came chasing a real, genuine friendship”, an incredible, sound, the and it has now pretty she says. She’s “overjoyed” that the memorable whole music hit number one naturally single has been on the local pop experience.” video takes on 5FM’s Top 10 to me – charts, “where I’ve been for the Te video place on roller in South Africa pop no-one past four weeks in a row, one of was made skates, which chart. Mila Smith ever which at number one. I’m currently with the help was a major “My Jewish identity taught number two – and have been for of production highlight!” is a big part of who me how to do two weeks!” company Smith aims to I am and how I have it. I play piano by ear, so I come Regarding her record deal, Butterfly pursue a career grown up. It’s my connection to up with a melody and from there, she says, “I consider myself Films. It in music, singing, family, to family traditions, and it I establish piano chords. Once extremely lucky because it was an shows song writing, informs me culturally,” Smith told I have the chords, I compose opportunity that just came to me Smith and and performing. the SA Jewish Report shortly after the lyrics. I did take some piano at the right time. In 2018, my band friends “I would also love her debut solo single and music lessons at school in Grade 3, but I broke up and just as I wondered “working to score a movie video, Liars and Fakes, hit number didn’t pursue learning sheet music how I would be able to pursue at a soundtrack. In the one on 5FM. for very long. I had a singing music, I was contacted by Platoon, diner and meantime, there will be a remix of Liars and Fakes released Sleep webinar has some eye-opening facts on 18 June. In July, a new single and music video will be released. JULIE LEIBOWITZ Scheuermaier, an expert on sleep, circadian rhythms, part. So, too, does a poor diet and habits that “reward” My debut EP release is also in the and health at Wits. “This has been proven by studies in you for broken sleep, like waking and eating, looking at works, and that will hopefully take leep should come naturally, yet our inability to get the military, but it’s best to work to change your circadian your phone, or doing chores so that you don’t have to do place before the end of the year.” enough of it is an obsession of the modern age. rhythm beforehand.” them tomorrow. “Sleep is a smiley faced curve of death,” said We didn’t always do all our sleeping in one go. Recent studies have found a link between “long- SProfessor Neale Lange, an international thought leader “Before the advent of street lights, we had a bimodal COVID” and insomnia or excessive sleepiness, which in sleep at the University of Colorado and a graduate sleep pattern,” says Lange. “We would go to sleep at parallels the fndings after the Spanish fu epidemic of of the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). “Those dark, wake at midnight and interact over a candle, then 1918. “When they died, and were dissected, they found sleeping too much and those sleeping too little both die go back to sleep until the morning. And, we did just that their sleep and awake pathways were affected by earlier than others.” Lange was speaking at the SA Jewish fne for centuries. That said, humans have consolidated the virus,” says Scheuermaier. “Whether we’re affected Report’s webinar, Sleep, on 17 May. their sleep into a single period, and we don’t really fully directly by the toxicity of the virus [through the nose], Sleep helps to clear the brain of the metabolic products understand the implications of breaking up sleep. we’re not sure yet, but posttraumatic stress disorder [after that occur during wakefulness, Lange says, such as “All stages are important, but you are looking for stable a stay in intensive care, for example] is part of it.” amyloid beta and tal proteins which deposit themselves sleep in the early part of the night, so the second four Though treatment varies, doctors are united on what in the brain leading to constitutes good sleep hygiene. dementia, alzheimers, • Wear loose, comfortable clothing; and following recent • The darker the room the better; studies, Parkinson’s • A lower temperature helps us to fall asleep, Turning to her style, she says, disease. about 18 to 19 degrees is best, though women “I love an array of different looks. “The best investment tend to prefer a warmer temperature; I’m drawn to sporty, glam looks you can make to defer • Silence is best; and I will say that I love a power dementia is to invest • Your mattress should allow you to lie absolutely suit too! I’m not that into makeup in adequate amounts fat, and your pillow should support the space (but on a shoot or music video, of sleep at the correct between your head and shoulder; with the help of the makeup time.” • Avoid caffeine or stimulants before going to artist, I love it), and I keep my hair What’s the right bed; natural. I’m drawn to good quality amount of sleep? “The • Don’t drink alcohol just before bed as it will items that I feel good in and know A screenshot from the webinar clinical rule of thumb is help put you to sleep, but wake you up after a I’ll use for a long time.” nine hours as ‘normal’,” Lange says. “Enough to make you hours may have less slow-wave sleep. However, it’s better few hours; “Herzlia has been incredibly feel good, and this varies over life,” says Dr Kevin Rosman, to get broken than reduced sleep.” • A hot drink, meditation, progressive relaxation, yoga, helpful in my music journey due a neurologist and the founder of The Morningside Sleep You can sleep too much, and after an abnormal amount or “calm apps” are fne, but avoid vigorous exercise just to its unwavering support and Clinic. “By adulthood, you need about 7.5 to eight hours of time, the “battery stops accepting charge”, the experts before going to sleep; willingness to help me deal with a night.” say. Hypersomnia is a sign of depression. Insomnia, on • Get into a sleep routine. Just as it takes the body about my demanding schedule,” she says. We don’t have to do that sleeping at night, and we can the other hand, can cause depression and other mental- 30 minutes to boot up in the morning, it takes a similar “I was overwhelmed by everyone’s bank it up for lean times – up to a point. “A ‘nappocino’ is health problems. time to boot down, says Rosman. You can’t go from kind words and encouragement. a great idea, especially if you are sleep deprived during They blame our epidemic of sleep deprivation on a hyper alert (like working or studying) straight to bed. I’m beyond grateful to be part of the day or you suspect that the quality of your sleep is number of things, including modern technology and You need time to wind down; the Herzlia community.” poor,” says Lange. “Increasing your quantity of naps is social expectation – particularly careers like healthcare or • Get enough sunshine during the day, especially just Her advice to others who want perfectly fne. Ultimately, a nap should be for the duration the law, where we are awarded by society and the system after you wake up in the morning, says Scheuermaier, to follow a similar path is “put of 30 or 90 minutes.” He explains that 90 minutes allows if we can function without sleep. as this helps to set your circadian rhythm; yourself out there. We are living at you to get to a stage of sleep inertia, or deep sleep, but The internet and television are big culprits, giving • If you suffer from “sleep maintenance insomnia” where a time where you have the world 30 minutes while restful, doesn’t allow you to get to that teens 24-hour connectivity on their phones and you wake and can’t get back to sleep, don’t reward at your fingertips. Make use of stage. undermining their whole notion of sleep. The blue and yourself by eating, looking at screens, talking, or doing it! Whether that means posting a “The rule of thumb is that you can pay back sleep white light coming off your screens “literally screams at chores. Go into another, dimly lit, room, and read video on Facebook or Instagram or within 48 hours, so it’s good to catch up on weekends, your brain that it’s awake”, they say, though blue-light something boring like a dictionary; simply performing for family and but you may not be paying back Monday, Tuesday, and blocking amber-coloured glasses can help. • Taking sleeping tablets once in a while is OK, but every friends, it can have a big impact. Wednesday.” Disorders and diseases like restless leg syndrome, night is too much, as it suppresses slow-wave sleep; It’s also important to have faith in “You can bank up sleep a few days before a sporting nocturia, trauma, irritable bowel syndrome, obesity, • Lastly, of course, seek help from the experts if you don’t yourself and your own ability. You event [which starts early],” says Professor Karine depression, sleep apnoea, and COVID-19 also play their come right. are your own biggest fan!” 3 – 10 June 2021 SA JEWISH REPORT 15 Judaism helped me survive Survivor, says contestant MIRAH LANGER contestants weren’t allowed to tell many people they had The season ahead will be a “rollercoaster ride for the The season will begin airing on 3 June, and Eliason been selected. “It’s like winning the lottery and having to viewers. There are going to be so many shocks, and I is preparing herself for the public exposure: “Being on roud ex-King Davidian and corporate lawyer, wait six months to claim your winnings!” she joked. don’t think anybody can predict what’s going to take Survivor is the most raw and vulnerable situation to be in. Amy Eliason, has joined a new tribe, taking her Her motivation for taking part in the challenge was to place. There was never a dull moment.” Knowing that the public will be able to see all of that is place among the castaways of the latest season of prove to herself that she had “the strength of character She said viewers should also know that the show scary at times, but also liberating and exciting. PSurvivor South Africa: Immunity Island. it takes to not only survive but thrive in the toughest isn’t fabricated. “I can honestly say that Survivor was “I hope people are kind and remember that I’m not “I knew on Survivor I would call on my faith to give me environment. I wanted to make my family proud of completely real – the emotions, the experiences, the just a character on TV but also a human being who was strength. I believed that this would help me immensely me, but mostly, I wanted to make myself proud of me,” challenges – everything!” just trying her best.” when things seemed to get dark,” said Eliason about her said Eliason, who also writes poetry and plays poker as strong identifcation with Judaism. creative outlets alongside her professional career path. “I also tried to remember that I wasn’t just Taking part in Survivor was the latest adventure Yeshiva proud of student leaders representing myself on the show, but the community brought on by her “inquisitive nature”. “I’m always eshiva College has appointed its new student and, of course, my family. I think that helped to keep me seeking to experience new things. Survivor ended up leaders for 2021/2022, and the school wishes grounded and stable,” the 33-year- being more of a challenge than I ever expected, and the them mazeltov and every success for the year old told the SA Jewish Report pride that I have now is incomparable,” she said. ahead.Y The girls: Ariella Friendland, Ariella Feinblum, Talya this week. The eighth season of the South African version of Shlesinger, Tali Kozinsky, Carrie Goldstein, Batsheva Levy, A born and bred this international reality TV show was also the frst Hannah Farber, Liora Rsodenberg. Joburger, Eliason season to be flmed on South African soil. Eliason The boys: Josh Sachs, Asher Levenstein, Gidon Ralph, grew up in a religious was one of 20 chosen to spend 39 days on the Benji Chazen, Daniel Sacks, Joseph Levin, Joshua Liat Lew Gabriel Kohlberg home and attended Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape in pursuit of Hirschowitz, Jonathan Lewis. Head Girl Head Boy King David Victory R1 million. Amy Eliason Park. She then went Eliason said that when it came to planning for Pirkei Avot programme kicks of at KDPSVP and Ariel on to complete a BCom the experience, the COVID-19 lockdown waylaid tudents at King David Ariel and King David Honours in fnance and her best intentions. “When I originally applied Primary School Victory Park (KDPSVP) were on then her law degree. She for Survivor, I was in the best shape of my life. I was Friday, 28 May, introduced to an interactive now works as a director at a training at least fve times a week, and I felt prepared for Slearning programme to do at home with their families major international law frm. the experience. Then lockdown hit in March, and I ended at the launch of the Pirkei Avot – Ethics programme. Eliason said that while she always watched and loved up spending months on my couch, eating like it was a Students were also gifted magnifcent books to Survivor, she had never previously considered taking sport, and forgetting what a dumbbell looked like. So, it’s take home, and directed where to draw daily practical part, “but one day I was at a braai with friends, and the safe to say I didn’t feel prepared at all for the island once lessons from Torah. call for applications came on TV, and somehow I knew it all became real!” Weekly prizes and incentives are on offer to keep that I had to enter and that I would be selected. It was Refecting on her experience of the show, she said the everyone motivated and excited. The programme will almost written in the stars. When I got the call confrming most surprising thing she learnt was that “people can culminate with a national arts and culture competition, I was in, though, I nearly had a heart attack!” surprise you – in the best and worst ways. But also that in which students are encouraged to express their What made it even more diffcult was that at frst, the I’m stronger and braver than I ever imagined”. talents in any form based on what they have studied in the fve-week programme. Letters Devorah Wineberg, the director of Tzivos Hashem and co-ordinator of National Pirkei KASRILS THROWS JEWISH PEOPLE UNDER THE BUS Avot programme and arts and culture Dear Ronnie Kasrils solely on the upliftment and wellness of the community. competition addresses students I’ve read your post in the Sunday Times. The rabbi was also the innovator of a security system It’s with much pain that I’m called to draft a response. which has kept us safe for many years, and a project In the name of peace and dialogue for a better future which has unifed and brought us much joy. for all, let me begin with an understanding of your view. The issue I have with you is your lack of sensitivity to Rather than correct you, I wish to connect with you. the rabbi and Jewish community in an atmosphere of So, Israel is the ultimate re-incarnation of the devil, intensifed antisemitism and global violence towards the the perfection of an apartheid regime, an occupier Jewish people. beyond measure, the quintessential case study for Your noble humanitarian, egalitarian, and progressive colonialism, and the most inhumane entity above and liberal views don’t add value to the healing of a fracture, beyond Assad in Syria, Hezbollah in Lebanon, above but rather increase the dividedness and brokenness. and beyond the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant On this defcit in the strategic import of your so-called (ISIS) in Mozambique, and Boko Haram in Nigeria, to passionate call for justice, you fail miserably. You behave mention only a few of the competitors for this prestige like the very Israel you so (incorrectly) label an apartheid, competition for obsessive focus and singularity. genocidal country. You use your now outdated, expired, In the spirit of dialogue, I’ll entertain your point of heroic stance towards apartheid to stand against your view. own people, however wrong, in a conceptual genocide Let’s say that Israel is the devil. and apartheid against the Jewish people and yourself. The problem I have is the way in which you throw us When faced with the dilemma of truth versus peace, Jewish people under the bus. you choose truth – which is debatable – and it’s not Chief Rabbi Dr Warren Goldstein is a learned and peaceful. sensitive man. Throughout COVID-19 and lockdown, we How noble. Indeed, so just! were privy on a Sunday afternoon to webinars focused – Dr Joel Shapiro, Johannesburg

WE ARE LOSING SUPPORT DUE TO INCOMPETENT PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGN Anton, What I simply cannot understand is the total I read your recent article on the Israeli and incompetence of the Israeli/Jewish system in this Palestinian confict and the media relating thereto. regard. Although it’s obviously erudite and well thought out, I We have some of the best marketing and advertising disagree with you totally regarding your statement that companies in the world, and instead of using their Israel is starting to lose the media war. know-how and experience, they choose to ignore these The mass media has never been on the side of Israel, and issue incompetent and unintelligible “reports”. and basically never will be. Until someone competent is put in charge to handle The mass media is on the side of whomsoever it feels one of the most important aspects of any confict – will best suit its pockets. As has always been the case, in public relations – we will continue to lose support. these instances, it’s the Palestinian cause. – Clive Varejes, Johannesburg

THE BIGGEST LOSERS IN VIOLENT ACTS ARE THE PERPETRATORS Whether momentary, temporary, or permanent, antisemitism is mental illness. When it translates into violent acts against Jews and worse, their murder, it’s an inexcusable crime, an unforgivable one. The biggest losers are the perpetrators themselves, who invariably infict their rages on members of their own families – spouses, siblings, and children – and they are hated, whether openly or secretly by them. The perpetrators of this terror, which harms all around them, die a lonely death. Just as bigotry in all its form is hateful, the words of my late father come to mind: not to discriminate against someone for something he cannot account for by birth, whether race, religion, or sex. I would add disability to the mix. Like any anger, any rage, the inconvenience of it is forgetfulness, such as in this latest upsurge in the Gazan- Israeli confict about who began the violence. This is a time to heal, to return to sanity. – Alison Goldberg, Johannesburg Untitled-3 1 2021/06/02 12:43:28 16 SA JEWISH REPORT 3 – 10 June 2021 The Good Jew list

’m not a “Good Jew”. I know this because my name doesn’t appear on the ever-increasing list of “Good Jews” published in various forms. The Ilist of “Good Jews” is determined by those who are INNER VOICE desperate to separate their obsession with Israel Howard Feldman with any allegation of antisemitism. It’s a modern version of “Some of my best friends are Jewish”, or The petition, Glaser is correct, was changed after “I can’t be racist, because I voted for Obama.” people placed their names. And not in a subtle way. The Not in My Name organisation is case in As Glaser (correctly) points out, it’s one thing to point. It wasted little time in dredging up anyone criticise the actions of a country or a government, who had ever met a Jew, and who could claim to and an entirely different matter to deny its right to be one because they drove through Glenhazel one exist. Another matter entirely. Friday, and paraded their names with the pride of And if Glaser was hoodwinked, who else might a protestor with a Hezbollah flag. Only, in its haste have been? I wonder what academics and “Good to hoist it, it failed to go through the list. If it had Jews” Price and Suttner would feel about that. done so, it would have seen what I saw, which was We are no stranger to this. In every generation, the least sounding “Jewish” name imaginable. there are those who have risen up to destroy us. In The fact is, according to the 2019 Kaplan Survey, and believe without question that the Jewish state AM Quisling appears at the bottom right. every generation, they have used “social justice” as 90% of South African Jews have an attachment to has a right to exist and defend itself. Most Jews I couldn’t ask my mom as she’s no longer an excuse. And in every generation, the “Good Jew” Israel. Whether Orthodox, Conservative, or Reform, wouldn’t appear on the “Good Jew” list. around, but I have no recollection of hearing about list has been used as a tool to convince those in whether they agree with every action or hardly I, for one, am not a “Good Jew”. And that makes the Quislings from Sannishof, or Yeoville, or Bethal, doubt that some of their best friends are Jewish. any, they believe that Israel is central to our faith me proud. or even Emmarentia. The name, however, sounded vaguely familiar, and so in the absence of a “Jewish A column of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies geography” expert, I turned to Google as the next best thing. Which is when I realised why I knew the Open season on Jews name. s expected, the Gaza conflict resulted in products. These actions very obviously amount Quisling is a term originating in Norway, which a sharp upsurge in antisemitic attacks to incitement to cause harm on the basis of both ABOVE BOARD is used in Scandinavian languages and in English the world over. The focus of the South religion and ethnicity, and as such, are expressly Shaun Zagnoev for a person who collaborates with an enemy AfricanA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) over prohibited in South African law. occupying force – or more generally as a synonym the past week has been on following up several Such is the intensity of the anti-Israel frenzy SAJBD, and that includes safeguarding the right for traitor. The word originates from the surname of the more serious instances of anti-Jewish whipped up in times of heightened conflict in the of its members to support and identify with Israel of the Norwegian war-time leader Vidkun Quisling, abuse and intimidation. We assisted a university Middle East, many consider it to be open season without being threatened, racially abused, or who headed a domestic Nazi collaborationist student in laying criminal charges against two on anyone who takes a contrary position. In unfairly disadvantaged. regime during World War II. classmates who cyberbullied and threatened him, practice, that usually means Jews, although we are Striving to inject more balance in the media is Someone was clearly playing with them. And and are assisting a community member who was now also seeing people outside of our community another area in which the Board, in tandem with in all their seriousness, and in all desire to name threatened in a Johannesburg gym and subjected targeted, most notably a Laudium school teacher the South African Zionist Federation and other names, it never occurred to them to check. to disturbing rhetoric. We have further worked who was reportedly fired for expressing what was communal organisations working in that field, I wonder what academics like Max Price or closely with children at non-Jewish schools, no more than a mildly pro-Israel view. continues to be much involved. This week, we have Raymond Suttner who are “Good Jews”, would feel university students, professionals, and business Fortunately, in a democratic society, the law co-ordinated a united response by leading Jewish about that. people who have likewise been victimised. states otherwise, and in cases where people organisations to a scurrilous and thoroughly It didn’t stop there. Integrity clearly wasn’t a Another area of concern has been the growing have crossed the line, the Board has always gone disgraceful attack on our chief rabbi that appeared cornerstone of this petition. One of the signatories prevalence of calls for Jewish-owned businesses to to whatever lengths necessary to hold them in a leading weekly newspaper over the weekend. to the list, Rachel Glaser, posted the following be boycotted. It’s noteworthy that the ostensible accountable. Among those who have learned this This, together with the many interviews and message in response to the publication of the distinction that Boycott Divestment Sanctions to their cost are former Deputy Foreign Affairs comments provided by our spokespeople and “Good Jew” list. “I signed the petition based on (BDS)-aligned activists routinely make between Minister Fatima Hajaig; Bongani Masuku, the opinion pieces published have at least got our the text in Mailchimp, but I’m not ‘opposed to the “Zionists” and Jews has been distinctly absent international relations secretary of the Congress community’s voice out there and ensured that the state of Israel’ per the QR scanner request. I think it regarding these initiatives. Those responsible have of South African Trade Unions (COSATU); and media’s coverage of issues hasn’t been one-way should be changed to ‘actions of Israel’ as opposed quite unabashedly identified those they wish to international relations secretary and former traffic. to ‘the state of Israel’ as it makes it look like Israel target on the basis of them being Jewish. In one COSATU Western Cape leader Tony Ehrenreich. shouldn’t exist. I don’t agree with this. Please case that has come to our attention, a store was Upholding the right of the Jewish community • Listen to Charisse Zeifert on Jewish Board Talk, change the wording as it wasn’t in the petition. singled out for boycott because it stocks kosher to dignity and equality is the core mandate of the 101.9 ChaiFM, every Friday from 12:00 to 13:00. Thank you.” Tis column is paid for by the SA Jewish Board of Deputies

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A S L E L STOR 99 97 99 135 EFRAT TIROSH BACKSBERG GRAPE JUICE MUSCAT & RED 99 PINOTAGE I&J 4 HAKE FILLETS 400G EACH 750ML 1L EACH 58 99 99 32 MCCAIN BUTTERNUT & 7 SWEET POTATO MIX 750G 99 ILABLE A A NESTLE MILO 200ML V T A 211

A S L E L STOR DELAVI SMOKED 99 NORWEIGAN 32 99 Yummy! SALMON 500G EACH NANDO’S 45 PERI-PERI SAUCE CARDIN EXTRA HOT 99 99 MARGARINE 250G EACH 500G 24 Parev /28 Chicken 99 Hot cup of soup & cocktail bagel 42 FRY’S 4 GOLDEN CRUMBED 49 37 99 SCHNITZELS 320G EACH 50 MONTAGU 99 49 THE OLD STONE MILL MANGO TAHINI 250G 147 28 STRIPS 100G OSEM CHICKEN SOUP GLAD UTILITY EACH & SEASONING MIX BAGS MEDIUM PAREV 1KG 25’S EACH 99 ILABLE A A V T 99 A 46

A S 99 L E 99 L R 15 STO 99 PRI MEVORAH 31 15 20 TOMATO PASTE BOKOMO MALTABELLA TRIGZ ASSORTED 260G EACH ORIGINAL 1KG FLAVOURS 85G EACH OK ALUMINIUM FOIL 5M EACH TUFFY CLEAR BAGS 20’S CONCIERGE SHOPPING SERVICE KOSHER AT EVERYDAY PRICES [email protected] Actual of ers may dif er from visuals shown. We reserve the right to limit quantities. 1 Long Avenue, Glenhazel While stocks last. E&OE Of ers valid till 9 JUNE 2021 or while stocks last 011 440 9517 | www.kosherworld.co.za