November 14 2014 / 21 Cheshvan 5775 Volume 18 – Number 39 Jack south african Ginsberg, art philanthropist, celebrated (page 5). Jewish Report www.sajr.co.za Photo: Flash90 Photo: Vehicles used as a terrorist weapon The scene where a car crashed into Jerusalem’s Ammunition Hill in a Palestinian terrorist attack on October 22 when Abdel Rachman al-Shaludi rammed his car into a crowd at a Jerusalem light rail station, killing two people, one a three-month-old baby and the other SA-born Dalya Lemkus. In a new pattern of using vehicles as “terrorist weapons”, on November 5 another terrorist, Ibrahim al-Akari used his van as a weapon against pedestrians, killing two more people. The seemingly randomness of the attacks is particularly terrifying. The two terrorists have both been lauded as “heroes” by Palestinian Media Watch. Stronger action by American lawmakers has been urged to curb this trend. See page 7 BDS support: 2 Progressive Cosas students get their Sevitz leaves UOS after Sackstein: SA Jews have Through memorial, rabbis cause huge furore wings firmly clipped restructuring become ‘slacktavists’ Mauritian Jewish presence instead of ‘activists’ will live on Although our Progressive rabbis Cosas is “extremely angry The first inclination of changes bend over backwards to reiterate at Woolworths’ pigheaded at the UOS, came last week on How is it that we have a No longer can or will a wall, or a their support for gay congregants, management”, and stressed that the Kashrut-SA Facebook page, community that has gone from the man, have the power to deny you I am increasingly uncomfortable their “logic behind the pig head on which Sevitz has built a huge most politically activist in the past, your freedom, your privacy, your with their trend politicising their initiative was not against particular following, when he posted a to the most passive of bystanders right to life, your right to live with pulpit. people”. resignation statement. today? your family in your own home. 3, 6, 10 4 2 6 8-9 Your key to success in Glenhazel SOLD IN SOLD IN SOLD IN SOLD BEFORE 2 DAYS 3 DAYS 1 DAY SHOWDAY 011 731 0300 For exceptional marketing, unparalleled service and positive results call Helen FIRZT! www.firzt.co.za Helen Rosin 083 325 6343 • [email protected] 2 SA JEWISH REPORT Community 14 – 21 November 2014 Darren Sevitz leaves UOS after restructuring ANT KATZ sation at the end of November.” the operational capabilities of the Sevitz told SAJR the following day UOS and its service to the South The popular executive director of that “because there was a lot of chat- African Jewish community.” the Union of Orthodox Synagogues ter” on the Facebook page, he felt he The statement is signed by Lev- (UOS), Darren Sevitz (pictured), is had to say something. itt, “on behalf of the Executive leaving the organisation after 14 “I would like to thank the organi- Geoff Sifrin Photo : Committee”. years. This has been done “in order sation, its member shuls and our Sevitz would not add to his origi- to maximise efficiencies and im- special SA Jewish community, for nal statement. prove levels of service delivery to the wonderful years of partnership During a recent interview Sevitz the community”, UOS Chairman and support,” he wrote. “I wish the told SAJR that the Kashrut-SA Fa- Jonathan Levitt told Jewish Report UOS the greatest success with its fu- cebook Group had grown to over Online on Monday. ture endeavours on behalf of the SA 3 500 members and continued to The UOS, said Levitt, “has em- Jewish community.” grow daily. On an average day, said barked on a strategic restructure” At the request of Jewish Report Sevitz at the time, he would field and as part of this restructure, the last week Friday, Levitt prepared a anything from 20 to 50 questions UOS “decided to replace the position statement over the weekend. - excluding around 10 private mes- of executive director with two new Sevitz said last Friday he had ap- sages per day. positions”. preciate the sentiments expressed in He pointed out, however, that Levitt paid tribute to Sevitz for the online support, because it made the Facebook Group was seasonal. serving the UOS “with dedication”. him realise the extent to which he “When it comes to Pesach and De- Asked if he had anything to add to had affected people’s lives positively. cember when people are in unfa- the UOS statement, Sevitz, would The statement by the UOS execu- miliar territory”, there was a huge not comment further. Read the full tive committee, reads: uptick in numbers. Also, when new story on our website… “In order to maximise efficiencies products were launched, the Face- The first inclination that there and improve levels of service deliv- Kashrut. as the many wonderful contribu- book page saw more activity. was going to be changes at the UOS ery to the community, the UOS has “Darren Sevitz has served with tions he has made to the success of Sevitz said he had always prided structure, came at 21:09 last Thurs- embarked on a strategic restructure, dedication as executive director for the organisation during his tenure. himself on answering questions in less day night on the Kashrut-SA Face- which was led by an independent ex- the past 14 years and although he “We wish him great success in his than five minutes. “If it takes more book page, on which Sevitz has built pert consultant. was offered a senior position in the new endeavours. time, I am either in a meeting or I had a huge following, when he posted “As part of this restructure the new structure, he decided instead “Plans are in place to manage the to research the answer,” he added. the a statement of his resignation: Executive Council and Management to leave the organisation in order to organisation in the transition until “After having had the privilege Team decided to replace the posi- pursue new opportunities. the new positions have been filled • The Sevitz story on our website and honour to serve as the executive tion of executive director with two “The UOS Executive Council and by candidates of excellence. elicited dozens of comments of support director of the UOS for more than new positions: Head of Finance and Management Team acknowledge “We are confident that the re- within 24 hours – and climbing. 14 years, I will be leaving the organi- Group Services as well as Head of Darren’s years of loyal service as well structure will significantly enhance See www.sajr.co.za Living a truly good life of living a good life is possible and attainable. Despite all that happened to her, Rashi clearly correct perspective and get on with the business However, it requires toil and effort on our part states all of her years were equally good. How of living life. to get there. can we make sense of Rashi’s words? Sarah lived with the perspective that her dif- Rabbi Shmuel Bloch This week’s parsha discusses the death of Rabbi Pliskin answers by quoting the great ficulties will not define and shape her life. She Director of Programming Sarah and Avraham’s determined efforts to have Chasidic Rebbe, Rabbi Zushia of Anipoli (18th overcame and surmounted them by seeing the at Arachim SA her buried in Maaras Hamachpelah, the cave of century) who explains that Sarah mastered good in every situation and seeing G-d’s care Machpelah, in Chevron. the attribute of constantly saying “Gam Zu and love at every step of the way. Living with A good life. It is something we all want and “Sarah’s lifetime was one hundred years, LeTovah” which translates in English as: “This such clear vision she truly did have a good life. intrinsically desire. As parents we do everything twenty years and seven years; the years of too is for the good.” Try say “Gam Zu Letovah” - “this too is for and anything to ensure that our children lead a Sarah’s life” (Genesis chapter 23 verse 1). Rashi This phrase is attributed to a sage in the the good”, once a day and you too will come to good life. (1040 - 1105) explains that the last phrase in Talmud, Nachum Ish Gamzu. Whatever circum- realise how good your life really is. Transitioning from children to adults, we the first verse “the years of Sarah’s life” is com- stances befell him, he would recognise it as com- base most of our major life decisions on one ing to teach us that all the years of Sarah’s life ing from Hashem and always see the good in it. Shabbat Times consideration: will my choices cause me to have were good. Nachum Ish Gamzu provided a model for Parshat Chayei Sarah a good life or not? We are constantly seeking However, Rabbi Zelig Pliskin raises a very us to follow to generate a perspective that November 14 / 21 Cheshvan and searching for the means to guarantee that perplexing question: How are we to understand everything in life happens for a reason and that November 15/22 Cheshvan we live a good life. that Sarah’s life was good? Even a cursory read- Hashem only ever causes things to happen for 18:15 19:07 Johannesburg When we reflect deeply and contemplate ing of the book of Bereishis shows that Sarah’s our benefit. 18:15 20:04 Cape Town life itself, we realise how precious life is and we life was filled with ordeals and difficulties! It is critical to note that the phrase “this too 18:10 19:04 Durban understand that we do not want to look back She was childless for so many years.